[AntiChevyVoltOwner]

I know it's actually a darn good car. I really want mine back..there is nothing like it out right now. It's a shame the cancelled it.

 

[phattyduck]

We are not sure yet what the failure mode was on the modules. If it was just poor soldering as was suggested that is easy to fix. Parts are hard to come by currently and all it takes is one missing component for the module and it can't be built.

I would expect it is a latent manufacturing issue. The challenge to make more new BECMs would be chip availability, most likely... Though I did see somebody theorize some BECM vs. 12V battery system (bad 12V battery, low voltage, or 12V battery charger issues interacting with an overly sensitive BECM) as a possible cause of BECM failures which would be interesting.

-Charlie

 

[borntoluce]

I would expect it is a latent manufacturing issue. The challenge to make more new BECMs would be chip availability, most likely... Though I did see somebody theorize some BECM vs. 12V battery system (bad 12V battery, low voltage, or 12V battery charger issues interacting with an overly sensitive BECM) as a possible cause of BECM failures which would be interesting.

-Charlie

My BECM failure moments happened on extreme cold days, and I did have slightly low 12V battery voltage, which made me assume the problem was just the 12V getting old. From what I've read, cold brings out the BECM issues because of the solder contracting, but it'd be interesting if it had to do with 12V battery interactions (ex. BECM having to function outside of its parameters in some way to compensate for 12V battery condition).

 

[clint fisher]

My BECM failure moments happened on extreme cold days, and I did have slightly low 12V battery voltage, which made me assume the problem was just the 12V getting old. From what I've read, cold brings out the BECM issues because of the solder contracting, but it'd be interesting if it had to do with 12V battery interactions (ex. BECM having to function outside of its parameters in some way to compensate for 12V battery condition).

I just got mine repaired after a 50-day wait. Yay!

I measured a direct correlation between 12v rail voltage and BECM anomalies.
Mine also manifested first in cold weather with the original battery. It wasn't bad, just not super fresh.

I also found a workaround to drive reliably with a flaky BECM:
(at least it didn't fail on ME. YMMV

• Keep headlights ON while driving (this keeps 13.7v on 12v rail and doesn't let the 12v battery float).
• Disconnect -12v lead for overnight or longer storage (to not further cook the electronics while waiting for replacement).
• Do not charge past ~75% SOC, unless travelling immediately after charge. (BECM seemed more flaky at 100% SOC, perhaps using more current to balance full cells?)
• Connect quality battery maintainer to 12v battery while car is not in use. I crafted a little notched-wood block thingy that I could rest the hatchback on so that the cord wouldn't deform the seal.

In this way, with Headlights-ON, I was able to drive without fail. Sometimes I'd park and come back and I'd see 1 mile on the Guessometer and it would start counting up to the actual miles and I'd be good to go.

Before I discovered the healights-ON workaround, I found that Reduced Propulsion Mode charges the 12v battery with almost 15v so I could run in RPM for a few minutes, then, turn the car OFF, and then on again, and the Guessometer will count up the traction battery miles.
I also used my GooLoo 4000 boost pack, which does 15v, to boost the 12v battery enough so that the BECM was happy.

FWIW, immediately after the warranty diagnosis, I installed a brand-new and fully-charged 12v battery.
At first, I thought I fixed it, but a few hours later, it happened again.

Hoping this info helps someone not have to get towed.

Some say the problem is cracked traces or solder joints. I'm not so sure.
In my experience with electronics, always-on electronics fail sooner than not-always-on counterparts. AFAIK, The BECM is always-on, or at least has sections that are.
It is well-known that semiconductor atoms can slowly migrate across transistor junctions over time, and eventually cause the junction to fail.
I have seen printer network-interfaces-cards fail well before the printer, because the NIC needs to remain always-ON and cannot sleep like the printer can. Replace the NIC, and the printer is happy again.
Those are just my observations and conjecture.

 

[desertwinddust]

I hope everyone contacts the NHTSA about this problem. Should be a recall. My 2017 appears to have the same issue with the BECM but it has gotten worse. Had to disconnect 12V battery cable because there is an 8 amp parasitic drain on 12V battery with vehicle off, all doors closed and fob not anywhere near the car. Concerned that vehicle will catch fire with that large a drain, possible dangerous short.

 

[dvb]

Greetings!

My 2017 Volt is dead too due to BECM problem. It's about 42k miles on it.

Does someone know if the Voltec warranty covers vehicles outside US and Canada?

As for 12V battery influence, maybe changing it to LiFePo4 battery will do the thing? Weight reduction as a bonus.

 

[borntoluce]

Greetings!

My 2017 Volt is dead too due to BECM problem. It's about 42k miles on it.

Does someone know if the Voltec warranty covers vehicles outside US and Canada?

As for 12V battery influence, maybe changing it to LiFePo4 battery will do the thing? Weight reduction as a bonus.

If you're trying to keep under warranty, I'd stick to something close to OEM 12V so that you're not opening a door for a warranty denial.

 

[Dr. Manhattan]

I checked into the Dead BECM club on here on page 8 (#153) at the end of January. I finally got the call that my replacement BECM had arrived at the dealership on 4/25. I got my car back on 4/29...so, roughly three months total without the Volt...though I did talk them into letting me keep it in my own garage while waiting for the part.

A couple of days ago, I had just gotten back from dropping my other DD, a '17 Malibu Hybrid, at the same dealer to have the 19-NA-206 Shift-To-Park repair issue addressed. Pulling into my garage, the Volt flashed Shift-To-Park as well! So, all in the family, heh? Go, GM!

 

[Steverino]

Stands to reason if a faulty micro switch is used in more than one car, they can both experience a problem. Other's have repaired their own for a few dollars and some time.

 

[phattyduck]

Stands to reason if a faulty micro switch is used in more than one car, they can both experience a problem. Other's have repaired their own for a few dollars and some time.

The base mechanism is the same in a bunch of GM vehicles - just different trim/knobs snapped on the top.

-Charlie

 

[smt674]

Volt is back! 2017 repaired in Mass, roughly 80 days in the shop. Happy to be back on the road.

 

[zimmerdale]

Our new-to-us GM Certified 2017 Volt was diagnosed with a bad BECM in Feb. 2022, three months and 3k miles after we bought it. The GM Certified warranty says waiting more than 10 days is a significant inconvenience, and it guarantees a loaner with "no hassle" when there are warranty repairs.

We waited two months for a replacement BECM. Took the car in the first day they had available, and they said it would take 5 hours to drop the battery and replace the module. A few days later they told us that they found (or broke) two more things that needed to be replaced. The first, a clip, came in the next day. The second, an electronic cable, was again, unbelievably, backordered with no ETA. Our car sits in the shop, still waiting for yet another part.

We asked for a loaner at the very beginning and were told there were none. We were offered the option to rent a car at our own expense, and then later submit the bill to GM so they could "consider" reimbursing us. They said the standard rate is $46/day. Rentals in our area were $90/day at the cheapest. If we had taken them up on that offer, we would now be out more than $8k and still have no ETA when we get our car back. Thankfully we were able to borrow a family vehicle for some of the time, but it has been a real hassle.

After three months and repeatedly unreturned phone calls to the dealer, we finally got a loaner last week.

I did reach out to a lawyer who is interested in a class action suit. He reached out to a national firm who is also very interested and thinks it's a strong case. Nothing signed yet.

Message me if you're interested in more info.

 

[Steverino]

I did reach out to a lawyer who is interested in a class action suit. He reached out to a national firm who is also very interested and thinks it's a strong case. Nothing signed yet.

Message me if you're interested in more info.

I think this is the 6th or 10th musing about a class action lawsuit. I have yet to see any action taken. Keep us posted...

 

[bareboneii]

My 2018 went in last month for a BECM replacement. I still have not gotten a date for the replacement from the dealer. The dealer did get me an enterprise rental after a week.

 

[mechanical_marl]

My 2017 has been in the shop for a month waiting for a BECM replacement. At least they found me a Spark loaner a day diagnosis. "Propolsion Power is Reduced" Battery showed a full charge but only 2 kW of total power.

 

[don.hill30522]

My 2017 Volt started with parking brake light, check engine light and reduced power warnings shortly after 50,000 miles. In my first three trips to closest dealer that actually had a Volt tech for service they swore it wasn't the battery control module but claimed they fixed it all three times. On the 4th time after the center console also went dead they now say the battery control module needs replaced but can't find one and no loaner offered. It has been at the same Chevy dealer over a month now and they won't even return my calls. How do you file a lemon law complaint? No more GM vehicles in my future. GM dealers don't even have trained techs available to deal with anything not gas driven. How can they enen sell Bolts? Would have to be a fool to buy one.

 

[Steverino]

1) Pick a different dealer. Make sure they have a certified Volt technician
2) There's a global parts shortage affecting all auto manufactures, including GM.
3) There's a guy in the <insert brand here> forum who will never buy another <insert brand here> because the <insert brand here> dealer is not up to par and/or can't get parts.

My Bolt has been awesome. GM gave me a new battery with more miles than my original and extended the car life by at least 5 years. Of course, I had to wait about 8 months due to the supply chain issues, but I understood that. Still love the Volt, but the Bolt has been great, We are in a unique time period regarding replacement parts, and aggravating time. It's not affecting cars only. Home appliances, furnaces, air conditions. windows, lots of things are being negatively affected. I think it's short sighted to blame the manufacturer (yet).

 

[Armi_volt]

Looks like my 2018 Volt (at 50,445 miles) is up for BECM issues. I don't have an appointment until Thursday so it hasn't actually gotten the diagnosis yet but all the codes are pointing in that direction.

Might try the workaround suggested in here if the wait is going to be long.

Anyone in CA - Bay Area have any experience with this issue and had a long wait time for the BECM?

Update: Don't make service appointments through Chevrolet app. I showed up today and they said I have to call for Volt service?
When I showed them the email I have with appointment date and time, they said that they cancelled that appointment.

Another week till I get it checked....

 

[wkiri]

I'm sad to report that my 2017 Volt has also had a BECM failure (38k miles). It's been at the dealership since 6/30/22. Each week they call to tell me there is no update and no ETA on the part. What a surreal limbo! I'd rather know that I'm number XXX on the list waiting for this part, but there is no XXX. How is that possible? I was heartened to read here that some folks did get a new BECM (after months though!). I really want my Volt to come home.

The dealership was kind enough to get me a rental car (a Spark, like some other folks), and I am grateful for that (although it's a gas engine). But I don't know what to expect down the line. I'm still paying insurance etc. for the Volt.

I finally called Chevy Service and they referred me to their Parts Delay Department, who had no further information either. When pressed about what might come, the man I spoke to said that after 60 days of inability to service, they can consider a buy-back. I don't know what kind of value they would pay out, and I'd rather just have my car, which was working great before this point. But if they truly can't fix it then I hope they would provide some kind of compensation.

Here's hoping for better news! I'm sharing here so I can follow this thread and find out the outcome of other folks' stories too. It's sad to see so many failures of this part and so many people waiting for such a long time.

 

[melissam]

My 17 year old's 2017 Volt Premier has been in the shop since July 26 for a failed BECM. No ETA on when we will get it back. They gave us a 2022 Equinox but my kid won't drive it as he refuses to pay for gas.