The Trouble With Chevrolet Electricals

Electrical issues make up roughly 11% of all Chevrolet owner complaints. The majority of the issues have been reported by Impala owners.

The complaint we hear about most often is passlock problem, won't start and security light is on in the 2002 Impala.

Common Electrical Problems

  1. Chevrolet Bolt Fires

    GM is asking 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt owners to temporarily limit their battery's charging capacity so the battery's defective cells won't spark a flame and make the EV extra crispy as it charges to 100%. A more permanent solution is expect…

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  2. Engine Power is Reduced

    Defects with Chevy's accelerator pedal sensor and electronic throttle control system are triggering a sudden and dangerous 'Engine Power is Reduced' warning message which can lead to the car suddenly losing power and having limited accelera…

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  3. Delayed Acceleration Problems

    Many Chevrolet generations suffer from delayed acceleration due to a slow response in the drive-by-wire electronic throttle system. The throttle lag can be frustrating at best, but can also leave drivers in dangerous situations. Unfortunate…

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  4. Passlock Security

    One of Chevrolet’s solutions for stopping thieves from driving away with a car is, coincidently, doing the same thing to the actual owner.

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Where Electrical Complaints Happen

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

Worst Models

Recent Electricals News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. Tagged
    #lawsuit
    Posted on
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    carcomplaints.com

    Another owner is suing GM following their decision to cap the Bolt's battery capacity at 90%, even if that's a temporary fix to prevent fires.

    The automaker recalled the Chevy EVs last November after learning that the batteries can spark a flame as they are charging and nearing 100%. By temporarily capping them at 90%, GM can stop those fires while they search for a more permanent solution.

    But a plaintiff in Michigan says Bolt owners need to contend with range anxiety and diminished resale value while they wait. Call me crazy, but a temporary restriction on range feels a lot more desirable than a permanently charred engine.…

  3. Tagged
    #lawsuit
    Posted on
    Source
    carcomplaints.com

    General Motors has been sued for last month's Bolt EV recall which temporarily limits the battery's capacity to 90%, bringing the car's range down from 238 miles to roughly 214.

    The plaintiff says the software update is giving him "range anxiety" and that's only heightened by the impending cold weather months which can also limit range. Last I checked, winter was going to happen regardless of the recall and it could just be me but I'd be more anxious about the possibility of my car catching on fire than losing 14 miles of range.…

  5. Tagged
    #recall
    Posted on
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    carcomplaints.com

    General Motors is recalling roughly 68,700 Bolt EVs to temporarily limit their battery capacities hoping it'll prevent further battery fires.

    The automaker has confirmed five fires are the result of a defect inside the EV's high-voltage battery systems. The batteries contain cells from LG Chem and as they approach a 100% charged state there's an issue that can cause a short-circuit and spark a flame.

    The issue has been under investigation by the safety regulators since last month.…

  6. Tagged
    #news
    Posted on
    Source
    carcomplaints.com

    The National Highway Traffic Safety Administation (NHTSA) has opened a federal investigation into the 2017-2020 Bolt EV following three reports of fires while the cars were parked and unoccupied.

    All three reports seemed to have happened as the car was charging or parked with nearly a 100% charge.

    The investigation will determine if the nearly 78,000 vehicles are too dangerous to drive or park in an enclosed structure.

  7. Tagged
    #recall
    Posted on
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    carcomplaints.com

    The 2013 Volt is being recalled after reports of reduced engine power and propulsion.

    General Motors says a previous software update to improve the car actually did the opposite by disabling the cell balancing function, resulting in a low-voltage condition. Killing the voltage of the volt? Classic Chevy move.

  8. Tagged
    #recall
    Posted on
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    carcomplaints.com

    There’s a problem with the power window switches in more than 200,000 Express and GMC Savana vans.

    GM says liquid can enter the switch and corrode it, leading to high electrical resistance. The resistance can cause the switch to overheat, smoke, melt and cause a fire, although the automaker isn't exactly sure what is causing the corrosion.

    Spill a coffee, get a fire. That’s a really bad day.

  9. Tagged
    #recall
    Posted on
    Source
    carcomplaints.com

    The Malibu Hybrid comes with a manual service disconnect (MSD) switch that mechanics can use to shut off the high-voltage battery when working on the car.

    That's smart and safe. Can you imagine if that switch could just magically turn itself off while driving? The sudden stop, the lack of power, the traffic swerving around you, new curse words you never even knew existed. Good thing that never happens, right? RIGHT? Oh yes, it can happen. And it has.

    GM is recalling some 2016 models because the MSD switch can come loose and cut power to your car while driving. The automaker points out it doesn't affect low-voltage functions like airbags and seatbelt pretensioners, which is good when you suddenly find yourself stopped in the middle of the road.

    The affected Malibus were built between 10/27/2015 and 06/03/2016.