The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has recently announced that it will be launching an investigation into approximately 73,000 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid cars. The investigation comes in response to numerous complaints about the vehicles experiencing abrupt power loss, failures to restart, and other related issues.
The investigation will specifically focus on the model years 2016 through 2019 of the Chevrolet Volt. According to the NHTSA, there have been a total of 61 complaints tied to the battery energy control module (BECM), with some owners reporting little to no warning before the power loss or reduced power mode occurred.
General Motors (GM), the manufacturer of the Chevrolet Volt, had previously released a technical service bulletin advising that if vehicles fail to restart, the BECM may need to be replaced and reprogrammed. However, GM has not issued any recalls for the affected vehicles. It's worth noting that GM has already halted production of the Volt as of early 2019.
In response to the investigation, GM has expressed its cooperation with the NHTSA and stated that it believes appropriate actions have been taken to address customer concerns regarding the battery energy control module. GM also assured that it will continue to support the agency's review of the matter.
The NHTSA has highlighted that this issue may pose a safety risk, particularly if the affected vehicles are unable to move with the flow of surrounding traffic. The seriousness of the situation varies depending on the stalled vehicle's ability to restart.
Some owners have reported significant delays or difficulties in obtaining replacement battery modules after experiencing power loss issues. On the other hand, GM has mentioned having sufficient replacement parts in its supply pipeline.
One owner in Los Angeles shared their experience, expressing that their Chevrolet Volt "suddenly, and unexpectedly lost propulsion while driving. The vehicle is no longer able to turn on or drive." Another owner stated that their Volt would randomly stop driving on electricity and would not exceed speeds of 35 miles per hour on the highway.
As the investigation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the NHTSA and GM will address the reported power loss issues in the Chevrolet Volt. For now, owners experiencing such problems should reach out to their local GM dealers for assistance and support.