2018 Chevrolet Volt: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
222 NHTSA owner complaints · 2 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
Avoid the 2017 Volt, which has 695 complaints and a score of 47 against 93 complaints and a score of 94 for the 2014; the years to buy are 2014, 2015 and 2019, and 2013 and 2018 are CAUTION verdicts. The first-generation car (2011 to 2015) settles after a 2013 with 308 complaints, and the second generation from 2016 has one bad year in an otherwise clean run. Read the full note on the model page. 2018 specifically: 222 complaints on record, score 63/100 — read the year table on the model page to see where it sits among its siblings.
Read the guide
Used Chevrolet Volt, Bolt EV and Nissan Leaf: the years to avoid, including 2018 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 222 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 27.75
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The Vehicle had a the BECM fail at 64,000 miles. This is a known issue that GM still refuses to recall, and is refusing to warranty
I was investigating a thumping sound coming from the vehicle when going over bumps. I discovered that the left fuel tank strap had completely broke into two pieces and was no longer holding up the tank. The fuel tank straps are not readily viewed on the vehicle until you lower/remove the underbody aerodynamic material. It appears that the underbody aerodynamic material may have been contributory by retaining dirt and…
My 2018 Chevy Volt started making a creaking and clanking noise when driven at low speeds. Dealer diagnosed the problem as being the rear shocks and bushing. Replacing these did not fix the problem. Not sure if this is a safety issue or not.
Recalls: 2 campaigns (2 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 18V673000 | Seat Belts:Rear/Other | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from being properly secured. |
| 18V576000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 42 MPGe · estimated annual energy cost $1,450 · EPA range 53 mi
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electrical System86 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Power Train84 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Fuel/Propulsion System71 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Engine50 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other40 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Service Brakes9 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
Other Chevrolet Volt years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Chevrolet Volt?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (86 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Volt a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 63/100, computed from 222 NHTSA complaints and 2 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2018 Chevrolet Volt's most common problem?
86 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2018 Chevrolet Volt sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2018 Chevrolet Volt cost to run per year?
About $3,767 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $18,835 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Volt have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for the 2018 Chevrolet Volt, 2 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 26/09/2018. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2018 Chevrolet Volt really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 222 complaints, 2 recalls on record
- 222 NHTSA complaints on record (27.8/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (16.9/yr)
- 2 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems