[asimmonds]

I got my new 2017 Volt LT exactly two weeks ago last thursday when driving home from work it just died right on the street. It was the culmination of a sort of stressful two weeks because from the beginning the car had been doing strange things which I was struggling to figure out. But at this point i am now hearing that annoying little voice saying I had been a fool to buy an electric car. I also haven't owned an american car in 40 years. I had researched it all so carefully and felt that the Volt was a special car that I could trust to help me to better the world in many ways. It's been reassuring to find this forum and see that other people have had this problem and come out ok. When I first got the car I noticed that the front instrument displays would dim and brighten up on occasion. Also in three instances after walking away from the car I looked back to see that it appeared to still be on. I assumed that I had a senior moment and forgotten to turn it off. Now i'm not so sure. I may also have forgotten to turn it off the day it died. (My elderly aunt says to put a sticky over the power button to remind me.) Lastly the bluetooth would continuously unpair with my phone after about one day of working normally. My volt was towed to a dealer who tells me a short was found in the 12 volt batt but even with a charged up 12 volt the car won't start. That was yesterday friday. The tech went home at 4:30 and won't be back till monday. So here I am hearing voices and driving around in a rented Nissan Versa the size of a rollerskate waiting for monday. Reading the posts though has been helpful. Maybe I'll also have some luck to report next week. Maybe Chevy will pay for the rollerskate.

 

[asimmonds]

Thanks to everybody for the replies. It cheers me up to hear the remarks and gives me hope while i wait. Update on my dead 17. The dealer now says that a new transmission has been ordered and it will take another week to install. So at this point after reading some of the threads i don't know if it is a battery, fuse, inverter or transmission problem or all of the above. I see that some people had their cars swapped out and some dealers have not been able to get the cars to start after all manners of repair including a new transmission. Also this seems to be happening to alot of owners all over the country. If this goes past the month out-of-service lemon law time period i may have to decide to pull the plug on my volt. The good news is that yes Chevy will pay for the rollerskate.

 

[asimmonds]

2nd Update on my dead 17. Well i got her back. She was 12 days in the shop. And like some others have reported she seems to be running better than before. Maybe its just my imagination but she seems to run quieter and smoother. She turns off now when i press the power button without recycling several times first. The repair receipt states that the 12 volt was tested, failed & was replaced; and also a new transmission was installed (receipt attached below). I am extremely relieved that the car is back and working well. However, it is still very concerning that others report several repeated "loss of power" incidents in their 17's and the causes are so varied. The ones on the highway at high speeds are frightening. I have to think twice about letting my wife drive this car. I noted that Consumer Reports rates the reliability of the 17 at 10 out of 100. Dismal. It's a shame because i love the car and what it can do. I haven't used gas since i got her back! And that is awesome. Oh well the adventure goes on. I feel like i've joined a great family or tribe maybe of Volt (V as in Victor-not B as in...) owners that is very supportive. The family includes all those great youtube video posters that i love watching. The next chapter for me will be getting a spare doughnut tire & jack for long trips. I wonder if that adds too much weight? If not maybe i should carry the spare all the time? Hmmm

 

[asimmonds]

P.S. The blue tooth still doesn't work. It won't pair my phone at all now. But i guess that's for another thread.

 

[asimmonds]

Thanks to all you senior members for your comments they are taken to heart. And maybe my luck has changed because the blue tooth started working correctly again and I really like being able to text while i'm driving home. This morning however, after opening and closing the hatch to put something in the back the doors would not unlock. I had to open the car with my phone app. I then went back into the house and borrowed the second remote from my wife which worked fine. When I got out of work my own remote worked again. So there you go. Its all a miracle to me. But yes my sweet electric grin is back on my face.