Is the 2016 Chevrolet Volt a bad year?
170 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 51, 5.1× a quiet Volt year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 32k–49k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 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 40,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 77 (45%) | 24k–90k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel systemSTANDS OUT | 65 (38%) | 15k–50k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 51 (30%) | 32k–49k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 48 (28%) | 14k–70k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed control | 6 (4%) | 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 40,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 170 complaints: 2 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 1 reports an injury · 5 say the car was towed.
15 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Car says "Shift to park" At random, when car is already in park. Prevents you from powering off the vehicle, and have to sometimes wiggle the shifter before it will detect it is actually in park.
An error appears "Shift to park" When parking. The car does not recognize that it is shifted to park thus it continues to run.
Unable to turn off car when shifter is physically shift to park, but dash warning has a "Shift to park" Warning.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 40,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Volt: 1
The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury in a crash.
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: 492
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Chevrolet Volt. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Correct a customer concern of seeing an intermittent Shift to Park message displayed while vehicle is in Park
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
Diagnostic Aid information for Speed Limited Message or Reduced Propulsion Power Message With no DTCs
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery Energy Control Module
Pedestrian alert sounds
Neighbouring years
2015 Volt: 44 complaints, keep it · 2017 Volt: 702 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Chevrolet Volt year
2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · All Volt years side by side
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Questions
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Volt a bad year?
170 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 51, 5.1× a quiet Volt year. At 40,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 32k–49k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Volt?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (77), fuel system (65), transmission and drivetrain (51), engine (48), speed control (6). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 32k–49k miles.
How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Volt have?
1 recall campaign list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 17V-621). 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.