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2016 Chevrolet Volt

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Volt.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2016 Chevrolet Volt is a passenger car equipped with an automatic transmission utilizing variable gear ratios and an engine requiring 3.7 quarts of 5W-30 or 0W-30 oil. Within the model’s 2011–2019 complaint history, this year’s 169 owner-reported issues sit well below the 2017 high of 690 yet significantly above the 2019 low of 34, indicating a moderate reliability profile prior to the generation’s most problematic period. Electrical system concerns constitute the top complaint area for 2016, accompanied by a single recall, establishing this model year as a transitional data point between the line’s early volatility and subsequent refinement.

Model year2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-30 / 0W-30OEM · verified

EPA efficiency43/42/42 MPGeEPA · verified

EPA electric range420 miEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 630 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12699847. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 630 CCAOEM · verified

Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

Tire sizeP215/50R19OEM · verified

Wheel / rim7.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12699847
Engine air filter	23437180
Spark plug	12637197
Battery	88866188
Front wiper blades	84015316 alt 84306924
Serpentine belt	12636132
Thermostat	12649163 alt 12635761
Cabin air filter	13508023

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	180.3 in
Overall width	71.3 in
Overall height	56.3 in
Wheelbase	105.9 in
Curb weight	3543 lb
Track (front / rear)	60.6 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	43 / 42 / 42 MPGe
Electric range	420 mi
Charge time (240V)	4.5 hr
Electric motor	48 and 87 kW 3-Phase AC
Energy use	31.0 kWh/100mi
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Volt of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.1–7.8 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.10 sec — 2016 LT Hatchback

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
2016	LT Hatchback 1.5L I-4 + Elec 111-kW 18.4-kWh	7.10 sec	15.60 sec	149 hp	FWD
2016	Premier Hatchback 1.5L I-4 + Elec 111-kW 18.4-kWh	7.50 sec	15.90 sec	149 hp	FWD
2016	Premier Hatchback 1.5L I-4 + Elec 111-kW 18.4-kWh	7.80 sec	16.10 sec	149 hp	FWD
2017	Premier Hatchback 1.5L I-4 + Elec 111-kW 18.4-kWh	7.40 sec	15.80 sec	149 hp	FWD
2017	Premier Hatchback 1.5L I-4 + Elec 111-kW 18.4-kWh	7.50 sec	16.10 sec	149 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.7 qt of 5W-30 / 0W-30 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 15.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission Fluid	DEXRON(R)-VI GM P/N 89020661
Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	Dex Cool
Engine Coolant Capacity	7.4 qt
Engine Oil	5W-30 · SAE 5W · synthetic · SAE 0W
Engine Oil Capacity	3.7 qt
Power Steering Fluid	GM part number 89021185

Engine torques

Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	15.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs	89.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts	6.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts

26.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order

1-3-4-2

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	2.10 lbs
Oil Group	POE
Oil Type	GM part number 88862657 or equivalent.
Oil Capacity	6.10 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	630 cca

Service checks

Engine Compression

100 min psi

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque	Front: 21; Rear: 21 Use; Front: 30; Rear: 27
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque	Front: 111; Rear: 74 Use; Front: 111 Tighten; Rear: 74 Tighten
ABS Sensor Torque	6.6 / NS
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement	Front: .906; Rear: .315
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after Refinish	Front: NS; Rear: .323
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation	.0002
Maximum Rotor Runout	.0016

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages

Install a new nut and tighten to 111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 45 degrees, Step 3: 185.0

111 ft. lbs

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

18.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 75

18 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 97,500 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Accelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (inspect fluid level)
Every 22,500 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 mi	Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 97,500 mi	Spark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Chevrolet Volt represents the first model year of the second-generation redesign, and its federal record reflects a clear inflection point in the generation's complaint arc. Complaints had been declining steadily from a 2013 peak of 308 down to just 43 in 2015, but 2016 sees a rebound to 169 complaints — a roughly fourfold increase — before spiking dramatically to 690 in 2017. The target year carries one recall and two investigations, which is moderate for the generation, but it sits at the front edge of a troubling upward trend that didn't subside until 2019's low of 34 complaints. Top complaint areas cluster heavily around the Electrical System (21), Power Train (19), Fuel/Propulsion System (17), and combined Power Train/Electrical (14), with two crash complaints and one fire complaint also on record; the data does not specify root causes for any of these. TSBs, meanwhile, follow a steady decline from 1,714 in 2011 to 629 in 2019, with 2016's 1,333 TSBs consistent with that downward trajectory rather than indicating a unique service burden. As a first-year redesign positioned just before the generation's worst complaint year, the 2016 Volt carries meaningful risk; buyers would likely find better reliability value in the later second-gen years (2018–2019) or the mature first-gen years (2014–2015).

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

1333

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

169

Owner complaints

2 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15’16’17 ’18 ’19

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 169 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System21

Power Train19

Fuel/Propulsion System17

Power Train,Electrical System14

Unknown Or Other13

Engine12

Electrical System,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System12

Electrical System,Fuel/Propulsion System9

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

17V621000Air Bags:FrontalReported 05/10/2017

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado, and 2016 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. The driver's frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1333 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
PIT3271Q	2026-04-01	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP6104	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V	2026-03-09	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U	2026-01-08	Unknown Or Other	This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT5214G	2025-11-20	Unknown Or Other	This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Volt. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 47 battery Vehicles taking 3.7 qt Engine oil filter 12699847 Engine air filter 23437180 Spark plug 12637197 Battery 88866188

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2016 Volt take?

3.7 qt of 5W-30 meeting GM Dexos 1 specification or equivalent. Where temperatures fall below -20 degreesF, GM recommends using either an SAE 5W-30 synthetic oil or an SAE 0W-30 oil., per the factory manual.

Does the 2016 Volt have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What is the EPA range and efficiency of the Volt?

EPA figures are 43 city / 42 highway / 42 combined MPGe. EPA electric range is 420 miles.