ChevroletVolt2018Overview/chevrolet/volt/2018/base/

2018 Chevrolet Volt

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 Volt.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2018 Chevrolet Volt is a passenger car equipped with an automatic transmission featuring variable gear ratios, requiring 4.2 quarts of engine oil with a viscosity rating of either 0W-20 or 5W-20. From a reliability standpoint, the 2018 model recorded 214 total owner complaints with Power Train cited as the top complaint area and 2 recalls issued, placing it between the model's complaint peak of 690 in 2017 and its lowest complaint count of 34 in 2019 within the 2011-2019 complaint history range. This positioning suggests a trajectory of improving reliability through the model's lifecycle, though the Power Train complaints and recall activity warrant attention when evaluating this model year.

Model year201920182017201620152014201320122011

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20 / 5W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque103 ft-lbsOEM · 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 · 600 CCA battery, OE oil filter 25206377. 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 · 600 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215/50R17OEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter25206377
Engine air filter23437180
Spark plug12637197
Battery88866188
Front wiper blades84306924 alt 84015316
Serpentine belt12636132
Thermostat12649163 alt 12635761
Cabin air filter13508023

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length180.3 in
Overall width71.3 in
Overall height56.3 in
Wheelbase105.9 in
Curb weight3543 lb
Track (front / rear)60.6 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)60/40

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined43 / 42 / 42 MPGe
Electric range420 mi
Charge time (240V)4.5 hr
Electric motor48 and 87 kW 3-Phase AC
Energy use31.0 kWh/100mi
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular 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
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2017Premier Hatchback 1.5L I-4 + Elec 111-kW 18.4-kWh7.40 sec15.80 sec149 hpFWD
2017Premier Hatchback 1.5L I-4 + Elec 111-kW 18.4-kWh7.50 sec16.10 sec149 hpFWD
2016LT Hatchback 1.5L I-4 + Elec 111-kW 18.4-kWh7.10 sec15.60 sec149 hpFWD
2016Premier Hatchback 1.5L I-4 + Elec 111-kW 18.4-kWh7.50 sec15.90 sec149 hpFWD
2016Premier Hatchback 1.5L I-4 + Elec 111-kW 18.4-kWh7.80 sec16.10 sec149 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 0W-20 / 5W-20 engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 103 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidUse GM CVT fluid GM part number 19260800
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity6.5
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine Oil0W-20 · 5W-20
Engine Oil Capacity4.2 qt
Power Steering FluidEPS

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs106.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)31.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)18.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts8.8 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts16 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block BoltsUpper: 7.4; Lower: 7.4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts103 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Cylinder Firing Order1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap.024 - .028 in
Spark Plug Torque13 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.10 lbs
Standard BCI Group Number47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance600 cca

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
1111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 45.0 degrees, Step 3: 185.0111 ft. lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9015 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages

Prep Step 18.0 ft. lbs.

275.0
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep Do not re-use old bolts.

118.0 ft. lbs.18 ft. lbs
222.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
3240 degrees240 degrees
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 2 stages
122.0 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
270.0
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Lower crankcase crankshaft bolts

111.0 ft. lbs.11 ft. lbs
2180 degrees; Lower crankcase perimeter bolts180 degrees
144.0 inch lbs.44 in
289.0 inch lbs.89 in

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; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAccelerator 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 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Hybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant) · 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 2018 Volt sits in the second-generation arc (20162019) as a notable improvement over the 2017 anomaly, which spiked to 690 complaints — the generation's peak — before falling to 214 in 2018 and just 34 in 2019. Recalls held at two for both 2018 and 2019, up from zero in 2017 but consistent with earlier years, while investigations remained steady at two and TSBs continued their year-over-year decline to 847. The 2018 complaint distribution centers on Power Train (35), Electrical System (22), and Fuel/Propulsion System (21), with 19 categorized as Unknown Or Other; the data does not specify root causes for these categories. Crash complaints totaled four with zero fire reports. Compared to the 2016–2017 escalation, 2018 marks a clear inflection toward the generation's quietest year in 2019. Takeaway: 2018 is a reasonable buy if priced to reflect its mid-pack complaint volume, but budget for potential Power Train or Electrical System work and verify recall completion.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
847
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
214
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 214 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train35
Electrical System22
Fuel/Propulsion System21
Unknown Or Other19
Engine12
Power Train,Electrical System11
Electrical System,Fuel/Propulsion System8
Power Train,Electrical System,Fuel/Propulsion System8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V576000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:CaliperReported 30/08/2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at…

18V673000Seat Belts:Rear/OtherReported 26/09/2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018. Owners may contact…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 847 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP61042026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V2026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U2026-01-08Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT5214G2025-11-20Unknown Or OtherThis 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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2018 Volt take?

4.2 qt of 0W-20, 5W-20 Use GM Dexos 1 Oil or equivalent, per the factory manual.

Does the 2018 Volt have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 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.