Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 696 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Volt, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 99 | 14% |
| Power train | 85 | 12% |
| Unknown or other | 52 | 7% |
| Engine | 47 | 7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 46 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 36 | 5% |
| Power train | 27 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 26 | 4% |
| Power train | 25 | 4% |
| Power train | 18 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the "Propulsion Power Reduced" and "Shift to Park" messages were intermittently displayed on the instrument panel. The v
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that he had experienced a recurring loss of propulsion that would occur shortly after vehicle startup, which was attributed to a failure with the Battery Energy
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Chevrolet is denying that my car is included in Special Coverage Bulletin N232432680, because of where it was built. The car is now in Kentucky, which is not a CARB state. Was the reason for a vehicle not to be include
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Battery Energy Control Module Malfunction Module replaced but not covered under Special Coverage N232432680
NHTSA complaint: Power train
While driving down highway rapidly slowed to 15mph. "reduced propulsion" was displayed with significant battery and gas left. Caused cars to swerve and pile up behind me. The car was inspected by dealer and received a va
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
In March 2026, our 2017 Chevrolet Volt (89,300 miles) would not charge nor start, and had to be towed to an authorized Chevrolet dealership in Portland, Oregon. The dealership diagnosed an internal fault in the Battery E
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
While driving at highway speeds over 100 miles away from home with my child in the vehicle, the car experienced a sudden, catastrophic loss of propulsion power and entered 'Propulsion Power Reduced' mode, dropping vehicl
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Received "reduced propulsion" message, with no engine detected. Car slowed to a near stop while driving on the Interstate highway. Very dangerous to have that suddenly happen. Message popped up randomly with no prior war
NHTSA complaint: Power train
| Reliability raw | 73 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 79 | good |
| Depreciation | 57 | average |
| Performance | 39 | below average |
| Efficiency | 64 | average |
| Safety | 100 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 696 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 99 of them (14%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 73/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2017 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.