Reliable Auto DB

2016 Chevrolet Volt reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2016 Chevrolet Volt holds 169 complaints after 11 years, a rate of 3 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Volt years here — under the median of the other years, which is 10. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Frontal.

2012 Chevrolet Volt
Photo by SsmIntrigue, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

169

Per year

3

Recalls

1

Years on the road

11

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (77 of 169), then Fuel and propulsion system (63) and Powertrain (51). Those filings include 2 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2015 and 2017

The 2015 Volt has 44 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2017 has 698 complaints, 26 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2016 Chevrolet Volt. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall air bags, frontal 2017-10-05 · NHTSA campaign 17V621000
Summary General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado, and 2016 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
Remedy GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17387.

Complaints by component (169 total)

Electrical system
77
Fuel and propulsion system
63
Powertrain
51
Engine
48
Speed control
6
Service brakes
4
Electronic stability control (ESC)
3
Air bags
2
Forward collision avoidance
2
Steering
2
Back-over prevention
1
Engine and engine cooling
1
Exterior lighting
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Seats
1
Suspension
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 9 more Show less
Crash-flagged

2

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

420162201732018132019292020152021122022162023512024112025132026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) on my 2016 Chevrolet Volt has failed. The vehicle and the component are currently located at my home address and are available for inspection upon request. As of writing this…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-06-30
  • "I purchased the above-listed 2016 Chevrolet Volt through Carvana, relying on the contractual promise that the BECM was covered under Special Coverage N232432680 for up to 15yrs or 150k miles. The vehicle has suffered…"
    Electrical system, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-06-22
  • "My 2016 Chevy Volt started experiencing the "Propulsion Power is Reduced" issues associated with a faulty BCEM unit. I brought my vehicle in for service at a Chevy dealer and they confirmed that the BCEM needed to be…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-05-11
  • "I have a 2016 Chevy volt. It had to be towed to a Chevy dealership because it will not drive. The BECM module has failed, as is apparently the case with so many volt owners. GM, as a result of lawsuits about this car,…"
    Powertrain, Electrical system · filed 2026-03-20
  • "Vehicle displayed reduced propulsion and shift to park while driving on highway then suddenly stopped. Dealer said battery failed after a year of diagnosing issue. Issue may be BECM which has extended warranty service…"
    Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-03-19

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2016 Chevrolet Volt 4 DR FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Volt 1.5L, 4-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Front-wheel drive 43 42 42 MPG / 420 mi range $1550

Specs and fitment

Second generation, 2016–2019
Body styles Hatchback
Oil SAE 5W-20 (0W-20 may be used as an alternative) , 4.2 qt capacity
Tire size 215/50R17

Compare

Previous year 2015 Chevrolet Volt Next year 2017 Chevrolet Volt See every Chevrolet Volt model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Volt reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2016 Chevrolet Volt holds 169 complaints after 11 years, a rate of 3 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Volt years here — under the median of the other years, which is 10. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Frontal.

What are common problems with a 2016 Chevrolet Volt?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (77 of 169), then Fuel and propulsion system (63) and Powertrain (51). Those filings include 2 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Volt more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2015 Volt has 44 complaints, 4 per year, and the 2017 has 698 complaints, 26 per year. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2015. The 2016 has fewer complaints per year than the 2017.

Has the 2016 Chevrolet Volt been recalled?

The 2016 Chevrolet Volt has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2016 Chevrolet Volt?

Owners have filed 169 complaints about the 2016 Chevrolet Volt with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2016 Chevrolet Volt get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2016 Chevrolet Volt is 42 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

How much oil does a Chevrolet Volt take?

First-generation US manuals list about 3.7 qt with filter (dexos1 5W-30). Second-generation manuals list about 4.2 qt with filter (5W-20).

What generation is the 2017 Chevrolet Volt?

Second generation (2016-2019).

What tire sizes does a Chevrolet Volt use?

First-gen US pages list 215/55R17; second-gen pages list 215/50R17.