RecallRadar

HomeChevroletVolt → 2013

2013 Chevrolet Volt Recalls & Complaints

3

open safety recalls on record

Critical

448 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.25 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Critical15V145000

Electrical System:Ignition

If the engine runs for an extended period of time in an enclosed space, there may be a build up of carbon monoxide, raises the risk of personal injury.

Remedy & full details

GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine management software to limit the time that the stationary vehicle can be left in the ON position, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14617.

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Volt vehicles manufactured August 25, 2010, to June 26, 2013. If the driver exits the vehicle without turning off the electrical system, the battery may drain low enough that the gasoline engine will automatically start itself to recharge the electric battery.

Critical23V516000

Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module

inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy & full details

Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag module, free of charge. On some 2013 Volt vehicles, the steering wheel will be replaced as well, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2023. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232413120.

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Camero, Sonic, and Volt vehicles. The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.

Serious18V397000

Hybrid Propulsion System

If the voltage drops, the vehicle may lose propulsion, raises the risk of crash.

Remedy & full details

GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the HPCM2, free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18215.

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. An update to the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2 (HPCM2) may have disabled the cell balancing function causing a low-voltage condition.

Complaint volume

448 this model-year 9 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

17Crashes
2Fires
18Injuries
0Deaths

Across 448 complaints. Severity Index 0.25.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Air Bags160 · 36%Fuel/Propulsion System53 · 12%Electrical System52 · 12%Engine37 · 8%Seats31 · 7%Power Train24 · 5%Service Brakes19 · 4%Unknown Or Other15 · 3%
  1. Air Bags — 160 reports
  2. Fuel/Propulsion System — 53 reports
  3. Electrical System — 52 reports
  4. Engine — 37 reports
  5. Seats — 31 reports
  6. Power Train — 24 reports
  7. Service Brakes — 19 reports
  8. Unknown Or Other — 15 reports
  9. Vehicle Speed Control — 6 reports
  10. Steering — 5 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

2011 (1) · 2012 (2) · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 (1) · 2016 (1) · 2017 · 2018 (2) · 2019 (2)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.