Chevy Volt Power Loss Problems That May Impact 73K Vehicles Results in NHTSA Investigation

NHTSA has received more than 60 reports involving problems with sudden power loss in Chevy Volt vehicles, resulting in an investigation to determine whether a recall is necessary.

Federal highway safety officials have opened an investigation into the safety of more than 70,000 Chevrolet Volt vehicles, to evaluate problems where vehicles are suddenly losing power, which may increase the risk of a car accident.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened the Chevrolet Volt investigation on November 29, after receiving dozens of complaints from customers involving battery energy control module (BECM) failures, which may cause the vehicles to stall or experience a significant decrease in power.

Officials warn that the vehicles may experience battery module failures with little to no warning, and may prevent the vehicle operator from being able to restart the stalled vehicle in traffic, creating a roadway and safety hazard.

Chevy Volt Power Loss Investigation

According to the Preliminary Evaluation (PE) opened by ODI, the agency has become aware of at least 61 field reports impacting model year 2016 through 2019 Chevrolet Volt vehicles that experienced loss of motive power, including stalls, reduced power states, or a failure to start. The investigation includes about 72,926 vehicles from model years 2016 through 2019 equipped with BECMs.

General Motors has released Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 18-NA-261, stating that a no-start condition or a malfunction of the indicator light with various diagnostic trouble codes is possible. The problem appears to be caused by an internal issue with the BECM, which would have to be replaced or reprogrammed.

As officials continue to actively investigate the Chevrolet Volt power loss failures, customers are being instructed to report any adverse events to the manufacturer and to be cautious of any sudden reductions in loss of power or dashboard cluster illuminations.