[kevinbmcnamara]

I am experiencing a different "action required shift to park" issue with my 2016 Volt.

Two weeks ago,I was returning from work and I pressed the power botton to shut down the vehicle and received the "action required shift to park message. The vehicle did not power down when the shift to park message was displayed. The shift lever was securely in park, yet the message displayed. The power button had to be cycled several times before the vehicle would shut down. Unlike the other "action required shift to park" threads here on the Forum, I did not experience any reduction or loss of propulsion at any time. OnStar was called while the message was displaying, and the vehicle was refusing to power off, but OnStar reported no codes. I scheduled a service appointment at that time, then waited two weeks for the appointment. The issue repeated on every power down, sometimes requiring five or six power on/off "reboots" before the Volt would turn off.

I just returned from the service appointment. The dealer was able to replicate the issue, receiving the shift to park message when the power button was pressed, and the vehicle failed to turn off. The dealer also reported that no codes were displayed. The dealer reported that there were two different service bulletins related to the shift to park issues, and that they would contact GM engineers, then contact me to schedule another service appointment based on the engineer's recommendations for an appropriate fix for the problem. I was told that they would need the car for an entire day for that appointment.

I wish to emphasize that there were no reductions or loss of propulsion at any time during the display of the "action required shift to park" messages. The Volt was securely in park, and the sole anomaly was the vehicle's failure to shut down.

Has anyone else experienced this failure?

Thanks
Kmac

 

[obermd]

Without knowing what the two service bulletins are my best guess is the sensor that tells the BCM computer where the shift lever is currently located has either failed, or far more likely, moved out of position. I think the latter is more likely because you're not experiencing any other issues at this time. In addition a CEL code will get set when this sensor fails. It won't set if the sensor is simply out of position. If it's the sensor it's probably a 1-2 hour repair tops. If it's one of the two service bulletins I can see it potentially taking a lot longer. I suspect your dealership's "all day" estimate is based on one of those bulletins.

The good news is that the service department was able to duplicate the issue.

 

[llninja]

Whatever you do, don't try double tapping the power button while moving. You're just asking for trouble.

 

[jbakerjonathan]

Whatever you do, don't try double tapping the power button while moving. You're just asking for trouble.

If he is still monitoring this forum, Folgerite might want to say something about that.

 

[obermd]

Whatever you do, don't try double tapping the power button while moving. You're just asking for trouble.

For those of us new to the Volt, what happens?

 

[llninja]

For those of us new to the Volt, what happens?

The first press gives you a warning, the second powers the car off leaving you with no brakes, no power steering, etc. Another press will power it back on, but if you are flying down the highway it is dangerous.

Many gen 1 owners have accidentally done this while reaching for the drive mode button, not too far away from the power button. The reason for the double press is a triple press is needed from normal to hold mode. I did that once, never again. So now I stay in Normal most of the time, don't switch modes unless stopped or doubly certain I've got the right button, and even then one press at a time with several seconds in between to make sure it is indeed switching modes. It's not a problem with gen2 because the drive mode button is far away from the power button.

 

[obermd]

The first press gives you a warning, the second powers the car off leaving you with no brakes, no power steering, etc. Another press will power it back on, but if you are flying down the highway it is dangerous.

Many gen 1 owners have accidentally done this while reaching for the drive mode button, not too far away from the power button. The reason for the double press is a triple press is needed from normal to hold mode. I did that once, never again. So now I stay in Normal most of the time, don't switch modes unless stopped or doubly certain I've got the right button, and even then one press at a time with several seconds in between to make sure it is indeed switching modes. It's not a problem with gen2 because the drive mode button is far away from the power button.

Ouch - no brakes and steering is a major issue. Gives new meaning to "double tap".

 

[jbakerjonathan]

The first press gives you a warning, the second powers the car off leaving you with no brakes, no power steering, etc. Another press will power it back on, but if you are flying down the highway it is dangerous.

Many gen 1 owners have accidentally done this while reaching for the drive mode button, not too far away from the power button. The reason for the double press is a triple press is needed from normal to hold mode. I did that once, never again. So now I stay in Normal most of the time, don't switch modes unless stopped or doubly certain I've got the right button, and even then one press at a time with several seconds in between to make sure it is indeed switching modes. It's not a problem with gen2 because the drive mode button is far away from the power button.

Folgerite felt so strongly about the danger involved in an inadvertent press of power button that he wrote a letter of complaint to the NHTSA. http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread...-ignitions...&highlight=start+button+location

 

[obermd]

Folgerite felt so strongly about the danger involved in an inadvertent press of power button that he wrote a letter of complaint to the NHTSA. http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread...-ignitions...&highlight=start+button+location

I can actually understand Folgerite's frustration. I was driving my mom's BMW and could not figure out how to turn the car off. You have to put it in park, then let off the brake, then push the power button. In that order or the car will not turn off.

 

[llninja]

Ouch - no brakes and steering is a major issue. Gives new meaning to "double tap".

Actually, it's not really no brakes or steering, just no power brakes and power steering as the pumps are off. I think you can still turn the wheel hard and mash the brake pedal to the floor and it will work. The parking/emergency brakes also work. Suffice it to say, don't play with drive mode too much wheel you are in a hurry in a gen 1.

 

[obermd]

Actually, it's not really no brakes or steering, just n power brakes and power steering as the pumps are off. I think you can still turn the wheel hard and mash the brake pedal to the floor and it will work. The parking/emergency brakes also work. Suffice it to say, don't play with drive mode too much wheel you are in a hurry in a gen 1.

The location of the drive mode button in the gen 2 makes a lot more sense now.

 

[jbakerjonathan]

Remember that when you are moving, you must keep the parking brake toggle pulled continuously to keep the parking brake active. Once you release the toggle, the brake will release. Of course, when stationary a pull of the toggle will engage the brake and it will remain engaged until you push the toggle in to release the brake (or begin to drive which will cause the brake to release automatically, not something that I do).

 

[USe-car]

I am experiencing a different "action required shift to park" issue with my 2016 Volt.

Two weeks ago,I was returning from work and I pressed the power botton to shut down the vehicle and received the "action required shift to park message. The vehicle did not power down when the shift to park message was displayed. The shift lever was securely in park, yet the message displayed. The power button had to be cycled several times before the vehicle would shut down. Unlike the other "action required shift to park" threads here on the Forum, I did not experience any reduction or loss of propulsion at any time. OnStar was called while the message was displaying, and the vehicle was refusing to power off, but OnStar reported no codes. I scheduled a service appointment at that time, then waited two weeks for the appointment. The issue repeated on every power down, sometimes requiring five or six power on/off "reboots" before the Volt would turn off.

I just returned from the service appointment. The dealer was able to replicate the issue, receiving the shift to park message when the power button was pressed, and the vehicle failed to turn off. The dealer also reported that no codes were displayed. The dealer reported that there were two different service bulletins related to the shift to park issues, and that they would contact GM engineers, then contact me to schedule another service appointment based on the engineer's recommendations for an appropriate fix for the problem. I was told that they would need the car for an entire day for that appointment.

I wish to emphasize that there were no reductions or loss of propulsion at any time during the display of the "action required shift to park" messages. The Volt was securely in park, and the sole anomaly was the vehicle's failure to shut down.

Has anyone else experienced this failure?

Thanks
Kmac View attachment 136889

Hey Kevinb, What ever happened about the problem. Mine started doing the same thing yesterday. Let me know.

 

[kevinbmcnamara]

UEe-car: sorry to hear of this issue rearing it's ugly head in the 2017 MY. Here is my update so far...

I got my 2016 LTZ back yesterday after eleven days in the dealer shop. I had dropped my vehicle off on July 17th and was given a 2017 Malibu as a loaner. The service department wasn't very communicative when I called regarding the status of vehicle, and I sensed that they were stumped by the issue. On July 20th, the service advisor called me and told me that the Volt would be ready the next day. The service advisor stated that the technician discovered that "a bracket that holds the shifter cable had become loose" and once adjusted and tightened, the action required shift to park message did not display and the vehicle would shut down as expected.

I picked up the vehicle on July 21st, drove it home (three miles) and hit the blue button to shut down.......guess what??? SAME ISSUE!! I returned to the dealership and was given back the Malibu keys. After several days of not hearing from my service advisor despite multiple voicemail messages left on his machine, I requested another service advisor I knew from my prior Oldsmobile Alero ownership experience at that same dealership. He was much more communicative, and took the time to ask what occurred during the sequence leading up to the shut-down failure. I told him that once the shift to park message displayed, the vehicle would not shut down, the shifter handle would be locked in place, and you would not hear the sound of all the doors unlocking. The only solution was to hit the blue start button, reboot the vehicle, and try again. Many times, there would be fifteen to twenty reboot sequences before I would get a successful shut-down with that shut-down immediately confirmed by the sound of all of the vehicle's doors unlocking.
This suggested to me that the shifter assembly was not communicating its proper position to the BCM and that a micro-switch or other sensor was non-functional. After calls to TAC, the service advisor told me that TAC had been receiving "several reports" of the shifter issue and was recommending a replacement of the shifter assembly. The dealer ordered a new shift assembly (part (F) 13509998), and I drove home.

I have not driven it yet today, so I can't say if it is finally fixed. USe-car, I saw your question in the forum and as a private message
this morning, and made your post my priority response this morning. As a side note, I used the same amount of gasoline during my eleven days with the Malibu as I had used during the nineteen months and 16,272 miles I have owned my Volt.

 

[USe-car]

Thanks, kevinb. I'm going to the dealer on Monday. I think I can shut it down successfully until then.

 

[kevinbmcnamara]

As I stated USe-car, best of luck with your visit to the dealer!

I wish to thank all of the GM-Volt forum members who have been kind enough to document and detail all of their prior experiences, both positive & negative, during their ownership of their Volts. This forum has been a valuable learning tool, and I truly believe that I now have a greater understanding of the Volt and its capabilities as compared to the average dealership employee as a result of my participation in this forum. I am constantly amazed by how well my Volt operates, and can easily state that this is, by far, the best vehicle I have ever owned. I cannot imagine ever being satisfied by a pure ICE propulsion vehicle in my future.

Thanks to all!

Kmac

 

[jupitermoon]

The first press gives you a warning, the second powers the car off leaving you with no brakes, no power steering, etc. Another press will power it back on, but if you are flying down the highway it is dangerous.

Many gen 1 owners have accidentally done this while reaching for the drive mode button, not too far away from the power button. The reason for the double press is a triple press is needed from normal to hold mode. I did that once, never again. So now I stay in Normal most of the time, don't switch modes unless stopped or doubly certain I've got the right button, and even then one press at a time with several seconds in between to make sure it is indeed switching modes. It's not a problem with gen2 because the drive mode button is far away from the power button.

You must be talking about Gen I...the power and mode buttons are no where near each other.

 

[quirkySquirt]

As I stated USe-car, best of luck with your visit to the dealer!

I wish to thank all of the GM-Volt forum members who have been kind enough to document and detail all of their prior experiences, both positive & negative, during their ownership of their Volts. This forum has been a valuable learning tool, and I truly believe that I now have a greater understanding of the Volt and its capabilities as compared to the average dealership employee as a result of my participation in this forum. I am constantly amazed by how well my Volt operates, and can easily state that this is, by far, the best vehicle I have ever owned. I cannot imagine ever being satisfied by a pure ICE propulsion vehicle in my future.

Thanks to all!

Kmac

Glad I'm not the only one still enamored by the Volt even with a recurring issue (mine is the afterfire bang). It's really a great car 90% of the time. If I didn't have any issues, it'd be 95% of the time (still some interior trim rattles).

+1 to awesome forum. Your post among many on here has kept this place my go-to for anything Volt related. Forget the dealer, people here know what they're talking about.

 

[kevinbmcnamara]

update #2
I have been driving my Volt as normal for three days now, and so far, I have not had a repeat of the action required shift to park issue. The local dealership replaced the shifter assembly and I have not had a repeat of the issue yet. I did notice that the "feel" of the new shifter assembly seems to have less of a full-notch travel action transitioning from D to L, but all functionality is as it should be.

I should add that my "normal driving style" for the past year has been 100% low gear allowing near one-pedal operation and maximum regeneration. I would like to think that my use of the 100% L position was NOT a contributing result or cause of the deficiency or function failure of the shifter assembly. I respectfully ask all other Volt owners to weigh in on the topic, certainly if you are experiencing the action required shift to park issue, or if you drive in Low as I do

Blue Skies to all

Kmac

 

[USe-car]

update #2
I have been driving my Volt as normal for three days now, and so far, I have not had a repeat of the action required shift to park issue. The local dealership replaced the shifter assembly and I have not had a repeat of the issue yet. I did notice that the "feel" of the new shifter assembly seems to have less of a full-notch travel action transitioning from D to L, but all functionality is as it should be.

I should add that my "normal driving style" for the past year has been 100% low gear allowing near one-pedal operation and maximum regeneration. I would like to think that my use of the 100% L position was NOT a contributing result or cause of the deficiency or function failure of the shifter assembly. I respectfully ask all other Volt owners to weigh in on the topic, certainly if you are experiencing the action required shift to park issue, or if you drive in Low as I do

Blue Skies to all

Kmac

As you know, my car is at the dealer right now for repair of the same problem. I drive in low about 50% of the time and frequently shift between drive and low. Thanks for your help on this issue.