2014 Chevrolet Volt Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe a "service airbag" warning traced to the passenger-side occupancy sensor, and separately a loss of propulsion or reduced-power condition that appears when the car switches from battery to gas engine. Many airbag complaints are filed between roughly 30,000 and 100,000 miles and often mention a quoted repair cost. Propulsion complaints span very low mileage (a few hundred to a few thousand miles) up to well over 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Service airbag light (passenger seat/occupancy sensor)

   • 29 complaints (31%)
   • median 67,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $880 (median of 15 quotes)
   • filed 2017–2023

   Owners describe a "service airbag" or airbag warning light that comes on intermittently and later stays on, sometimes while driving and sometimes at startup. Several complaints say the dealer or repair shop traced it to the passenger-side occupancy/presence module or sensor, or to front impact sensors, and quoted repairs in the hundreds of dollars. Some owners report the warning returning after a 12-volt battery replacement, and others say the seat sensor replacement did not resolve the light. Mostly reported between roughly 20,000 and 106,000 miles on vehicles several years old, with no accident or spill reported in many cases.

   What to check: Before buying, switch the ignition on and confirm the airbag warning light does a normal self-check and then goes out; ask whether the passenger presence module or sensor has been replaced and keep the receipt. Owners often ask the dealer to scan for stored airbag fault codes rather than waiting for the light.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I'm receiving intermittent warnings to service the airbags. This comes as a surprise since this is fairly solid state and not something that gets depleted such as oil, brakes, or tires. I have no idea who the manufacturers are of the airbags but would like to know if they are takata. Chevrolet should not be dodging responsibility with safety equipment.”

   NHTSA complaint #11140776, filed 2018-10, 51,917 miles

   “Airbag sensor light is on. Garage has already replaced left front and right rear impact sensors. Problem still exists. Garage has already spent 2 days trying to figure out problem. No luck. I just discovered, via a google search, that this is a common problem with my VOLT. There should be a recall!”

   NHTSA complaint #11372420, filed 2020-10, 88,270 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Reduced propulsion power / engine not available on gas

   • 33 complaints (35%)
   • median 47,300 mi at 3.6 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2025

   Complaints describe the message "propulsion power reduced" and "engine not available, service soon" appearing, often right as the battery depletes and the car hands over to the gas engine, with the car slowing sharply despite throttle input and sometimes shutting down entirely. Some owners said a software reprogramming of the hybrid propulsion or HPCM2 system was performed but the condition returned; others reported an electronic control module replacement. A few describe the same loss of power occurring in hold mode or while climbing a slight incline. Reported from delivery mileage (under 100 miles) up to about 107,000 miles, frequently at highway speeds and often at the battery-to-engine transition.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether any propulsion-control or hybrid software updates have been applied and whether the vehicle has a stored history of reduced-power events during a test drive. A scan tool check for hybrid/engine control module codes before purchase is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received the chevy VOLT 2/20/14 at around 10:45 am. My partner and I had a very important meeting at 12:30 p.m. In jersey city, nj so we left directly from the dealership in the brand new VOLT, 7 miles on the odometer. At approximately 12:00 p.m. The car alarmed with two messages: 1. Engine not available and 2. Propulsion power reduced. The alarms/engine failure came at the most inopportune time---while on the new jersey turnpike in a construction zone and no available shoulder. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10565236, filed 2014-02, 66 miles

   “On 2/17/2020, I was driving on I-5 northbound at about 10 pm near burlington, wa. My speed was about 60 MPH on a relatively flat highway. Weather was normal for the time. No rain, no wind. Shortly after my car switched from the electric-powered over to gas-powered, the car started to rev very high and quickly decelerated even though my foot was fully pressed on the accelerator pedal. Propulsion power reduced message came on, followed by engine not available, service soon message came on. The cel also came on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11319754, filed 2020-03, 82,628 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Instrument cluster and center display going dark or

   • 5 complaints (5%)
   • median 42,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2015–2019

   Owners report the driver information display or center screen going blank or rebooting while driving, sometimes staying dark after startup so speed, fuel, battery level and turn-signal information cannot be read. Some describe a cluster of simultaneous false warnings (battery and fuel showing zero, odometer switching units) and others report the head unit rebooting repeatedly. Dealers in some complaints could not reproduce the problem or find a cause. Mostly reported between roughly 25,000 and 61,000 miles, with some at very low mileage; occurrences described as random and often shortly after startup.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, watch whether the cluster and center screen stay lit and readable through a full start cycle. Note any stored warning history and ask whether the displays have been replaced or reprogrammed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Starting up the car in the morning, the display panel went dark. I turned off the vehicle and tried starting up the vehicle again with no change. The display panel is dark. I am not able to see gas information, battery information, speed, and turn signals.”

   NHTSA complaint #11176666, filed 2019-02, 42,000 miles

   “The screen that displays speed, fuel remaining, etc goes dark at random times while driving. It happens most often when I first turn on the car and lasts for several minutes. Occasionally it happens when I have been driving for a while.”

   NHTSA complaint #11021531, filed 2017-09, 25,000 miles
4. 4
   Brakes

   Brake pedal to the floor and stability/ABS warnings

   • 6 complaints (6%)
   • median 16,340 mi at 3.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2019

   Complaints describe the brake pedal traveling to the floor with reduced or no braking, often while backing up or at low speed, accompanied by ABS, StabiliTrak and brake-assist warning lights. Some owners report a hydraulic circuit leak diagnosed remotely, or that the condition cleared after the car was shut off and restarted. In several accounts the car was still able to stop with much greater pedal effort. Reported from under 3,000 miles up to about 140,000 miles, often during low-speed reversing or braking in a parking area and city streets.

   What to check: Check brake fluid level and look for wetness around the master cylinder and lines, and confirm the ABS and StabiliTrak lights go out after startup. Ask whether any brake hydraulic components have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on the freeway at 65 miles per hour. As I began to brake because of traffic, 3 lights came on the vehicle. Stabilitrak failure, ABS and brake assist failure. When the lights came on, there was a loss of breaking. I almost crashed. Had I been closer to the vehicles, I would have had an accident. Fortunately, I keep a distance from the vehicles in front of me at all times. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11197276, filed 2019-04, 140,650 miles

   “On wednesday, december 13, 2017, I was backing up from a starbucks parking lot when I hit my brakes hard to avoid another car (also backing up). The car was in reverse gear at the time I applied the brakes full force. Fortunately, we did not hit each other and I drove on and exited the parking lot. At the first intersection I noticed my brake and stabilitrack warning-indicator lights came on. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11057506, filed 2017-12, 18,680 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   No heat in electric mode / defroster ineffective

   • 6 complaints (6%)
   • median 50,800 mi at 4.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2020

   Owners report the electric cabin heater failing, which leaves no heat and no windshield defrosting while the car runs on battery power; running the gas engine provides only limited heat in cold, low-speed driving. Some complaints link the loss of heat to a failed coolant pump and note the part was back-ordered. Others describe a total loss of power steering or multiple service messages following similar failures. Mostly reported between roughly 30,000 and 68,000 miles, with the visibility impact noticed in cold weather and electric-only operation.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: On a cold start in electric mode, turn the heat and defroster to full and confirm warm air reaches the windshield within a few minutes. Ask whether the heater/coolant pump or resistor pack has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The electric heating system failed on my VOLT which disabled the windshield defroster, creating a dangerous visibility situation. The VOLT has two heating systems, the traditional waste heat from the engine's cooling system and an all-electric resistor pack. When the car runs in all-electric mode, the engine does not engage and the traditional heating system is ineffective. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11160660, filed 2018-12, 68,000 miles

   “The waterheater pump on the car is out at just 53l miles and chevy states that this is not their problem even though we cant get the part because it is back ordered due to so many individuals with the same problem. The reason this is a safety issue is that the car can not defrost the window for visibility. This is an issue and there are several VOLT owners that are having the same problem due to their fault waterpump system.”

   NHTSA complaint #10935519, filed 2016-12, 53,000 miles

Buying note. For this model year, the most common owner concerns are the airbag occupancy-sensor warning and propulsion power loss at the battery-to-engine transition, so a pre-purchase scan for stored codes and a check of the airbag warning light are worth doing. Confirming service history for software updates, brake hydraulics and the cabin heater gives a clearer picture than mileage alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.