[colchiro]

Seems strange to me that only my right rear door button still works. The left rear one was replaced over a year ago.

They spent 90 minutes today investigating and was told about $150 each, not including labor. I told them they can use the existing door handle.

What's your experience?

 

[Prohidium]

I had two replaced. They ordered the whole assembly and had to paint to match the car. Dealer said they cannot just swap out the buttons but I think others online said they could. Both under warranty and hopefully I am good now as my warranty is over.

 

[colchiro]

I see a mod moved this. I noticed after posting it was in the wrong area. (Thanks)

The only thing I can think of is during a cold spell I had a car wash where they wipe down the car with towels and use compressed air on the windows and locks. It was shortly after that I noticed my driver side locks quit working.

 

[voganni]

You might try spraying some wd-40 or other water displacing stuff around the button. When I got my Volt the RR door didn't work, but that was because the button was unplugged inside the door. I don't take my car to automated car washes!

 

[Rampage_Rick]

Had the driver's door button replaced under bumper-to-bumper warranty. It's the only one that gets any significant use.

Had the left-rear and right-front buttons replaced at the tail end of my extended warranty just a few months ago. They get very little use, and it was a bit odd how close they failed.

I believe the replacement part includes the unpainted door handle, but for obvious reasons it's preferable to swap the new switch into the original painted handle. None of mine required any painting. Wonder if they'll wise up and supply the switch separately?

 

[colchiro]

I had the left-rear replaced under B-to-B and used that one all the time to save wear and tear on the other ones. The rest rarely got used.

 

[LANMAN]

After about 2 years, my drivers door button started having issues, so I started using the rear door button. After about six months all the buttons, except the rear passenger door failed. The dealer replaced the 3 handles under warranty, and less than a year later the 4th stopped working, but past warranty at that point.

 

[colchiro]

I had my 3 door switches repaired under my extended warranty ($100 deductible).

Parts: $364
Labor: 343.

Diagnosis was: "Door switches shorted and module ignored their inputs."

I assume this means the buttons were stuck down, possibly due to a broken spring. I had them save the parts so I can check them out some warm day.

Since my warranty expires in July, I suspect the next one I'll have to replace myself.

 

[gergg]

Mine stopped working a few months ago, I used some graphite powder down along the buttons and that seems to have "fixed" them.

 

[begreen]

So this problem is starting to show up in our 2013 Volt. The car has 27,000 miles on it, has always been garaged, never run through a car wash. The issue is with the driver's side door button, the one we use 99% of the time. All door's lock if another door button is used or the key fob is used. Some research shows that this is a fairly common issue with GM cars, not just the Volt.

The idea that the whole handle assembly has to be replaced ***and then painted*** is nuts, especially considering this is a common issue. Given the short life expectancy of a commonly used part, why hasn't GM come up with a better solution like a replaceable switch?

Question: Are the passenger and drivers side handles interchangeable (if flipped)? I read somewhere that is possible, but need verification. The passenger handle is very rarely used to lock the doors, so if possible I would swap them.

 

[El Dobro]

Both front handles are the same and both rear handles are the same.

 

[colchiro]

So this problem is starting to show up in our 2013 Volt. The car has 27,000 miles on it, has always been garaged, never run through a car wash. The issue is with the driver's side door button, the one we use 99% of the time. All door's lock if another door button is used or the key fob is used. Some research shows that this is a fairly common issue with GM cars, not just the Volt.

The idea that the whole handle assembly has to be replaced ***and then painted*** is nuts, especially considering this is a common issue. Given the short life expectancy of a commonly used part, why hasn't GM come up with a better solution like a replaceable switch?

Question: Are the passenger and drivers side handles interchangeable (if flipped)? I read somewhere that is possible, but need verification. The passenger handle is very rarely used to lock the doors, so if possible I would swap them.

My left rear was the first to go (shortly after I acquired my 12 Volt) so I got in the habit of unlocking the rear door to get in the drivers door.

 

[begreen]

My left rear was the first to go (shortly after I acquired my 12 Volt) so I got in the habit of unlocking the rear door to get in the drivers door.

That's what I am doing now. Key fob still works too, but I never used that in the past. Maybe I will now. Has GM redesigned this for the 2018 Volt (Cruze, etc.) It seems like a chronic weakness.

 

[begreen]

Both front handles are the same and both rear handles are the same.

Thanks! That helps.