Is the 2013 Chevrolet Volt a bad year?
306 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Volt years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2013 Chevrolet Volt are in line with other Volt years. Air bags and electrical system stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2013 Volt owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 76,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 161 (53%) | 60k–97k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 61 (20%) | 16k–84k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Seats | 31 (10%) | 58k–87k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Brakes | 19 (6%) | 9k–78k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 53 (17%) | 19k–71k miles · mostly behind | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Engine | 37 (12%) | 19k–72k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 24 (8%) | 21k–67k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Body structure | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 76,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 306 complaints: 8 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 7 report an injury · 9 say the car was towed.
4 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Apr 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Vehicle has stoped in the middle of the street on several occasions. During this time the vehicle will post an error on the dash screen.
While driving at 40MPH on a straight road, I went to change the drive mode, but I accidentally hit the power button.
My chevy volt was at a car wash and the attendant was able to turn the car off while still in "D" Gear. The car is able to roll and move while in this gear.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 76,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2013 Chevrolet Volt: 3
The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
An update to the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2 (HPCM2) may have disabled the cell balancing function causing a low-voltage condition. If the voltage drops, the vehicle may lose propulsion, increasing the risk of crash.
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. If the engine runs for an extended period of time in an enclosed space, there may be a build up of carbon monoxide, increasing the risk of personal injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 550
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2013 Chevrolet Volt. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Driveline Clunk Noise and what is acceptable and what is considered normal operation
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Will need to be provided to TAC to aid in diagnosing if a vehicle comes in with misfire and DTC Codes P0300 - P0308 and/or P050D
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Pedestrian alert sounds
Passenger Sensing System
Neighbouring years
2012 Volt: 245 complaints, keep it · 2014 Volt: 93 complaints, keep it.
Every Chevrolet Volt year
2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · All Volt years side by side
Other Chevrolet models: Chevrolet Astro · Chevrolet Avalanche · Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 · Chevrolet Aveo · Chevrolet Blazer · Chevrolet Bolt EV · Chevrolet Camaro · Chevrolet Captiva · Chevrolet Cavalier · Chevrolet Cobalt · Chevrolet Cobalt SS · Chevrolet Colorado · Chevrolet Corvette · Chevrolet Cruze · Chevrolet Equinox · Chevrolet Equinox EV · Chevrolet Express · Chevrolet HHR · Chevrolet Impala · Chevrolet Malibu · Chevrolet Malibu Classic · Chevrolet Malibu Maxx · Chevrolet Monte Carlo · Chevrolet S10 · Chevrolet Silverado · Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD · Chevrolet Silverado 2500 · Chevrolet Silverado 3500 · Chevrolet Sonic · Chevrolet Spark · Chevrolet Suburban · Chevrolet Suburban 1500 · Chevrolet Tahoe · Chevrolet Tracker · Chevrolet Trailblazer · Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT · Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 370 · Chevrolet Traverse · Chevrolet Trax · Chevrolet Uplander · Chevrolet Venture. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2013 Chevrolet Volt a bad year?
306 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Volt years. At 76,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Chevrolet Volt?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: air bags (161), electrical system (61), seats (31), brakes (19), fuel system (53).
How many recalls does the 2013 Chevrolet Volt have?
3 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 23V-516), Hybrid system (NHTSA 18V-397), Engine (NHTSA 15V-145). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.