
Black plate (9,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Keys, Doors, and Windows 2-9
.If the vehicle has heated seats,
and this feature has been
enabled through vehicle
personalization, the heated
seats will turn on during colder
outside temperatures. See
“Remote Start Heated Seats”
underHeated Front Seats on
page 3‑6 and“Remote Start
Auto Heated Seats” under
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑56 for additional
information.
.The rear defogger will turn on
during colder outside
temperatures.
.Selecting1during colder
outside temperatures before
shutting the vehicle off will help
windshield clearing.
.Shutting the vehicle off in ECO
Mode without
1selected will
minimize the impact to electric
range. Shutting the vehicle off in
other modes will maximize
heating or air conditioning.
.The engine may start to provide
energy for heating and cooling,
independent of the vehicle being
plugged in or completely
charged. Engine Assisted
Heating operation, if available,
can be personalized. See
“Engine Assisted Heating” under
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑56.
.Vehicle range may decrease if
the vehicle is not plugged into
an electrical outlet. If the vehicle
is plugged in, much of the
energy needed to support this
feature will be provided from the
utility, not from the high voltage
battery. Laws in some communities may
restrict the use of features that
remotely start the engine. For
example, some laws may require a
person using the remote start
feature to have the vehicle in view
when doing so. Check local
regulations for any requirements on
remote starting of vehicles.
With the remote start feature, the
RKE transmitter functions will have
an increased range of operation.
However, the range may be less
while the vehicle is running.
Other conditions can affect the
performance of the transmitter. See
Remote Keyless Entry (RKE)
System on page 2‑2
for additional
information.

Black plate (14,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
3-14 Seats and Restraints
5. To make the lap part tight, pullup on the shoulder belt.
It may be necessary to pull
stitching on the safety belt
through the latch plate to fully
tighten the lap belt on smaller
occupants.To unlatch the belt, push the button
on the buckle. The belt should
return to its stowed position.
Before a door is closed, be sure the
safety belt is out of the way. If a
door is slammed against a safety
belt, damage can occur to both the
safety belt and the vehicle.
Safety Belt Pretensioners
This vehicle has safety belt
pretensioners for front outboard
occupants. Although the safety belt
pretensioners cannot be seen, they
are part of the safety belt assembly.
They can help tighten the safety
belts during the early stages of a
moderate to severe frontal, near
frontal, or rear crash if the threshold
conditions for pretensioner
activation are met.
And, if the vehicle has side impact
airbags, safety belt pretensioners
can help tighten the safety belts in a
side crash or a rollover event.
Pretensioners work only once. If the
pretensioners activate in a crash,
they need to be replaced, and other
new parts for the vehicle's safety
belt system may be required. See
Replacing Safety Belt System Parts
after a Crash on page 3‑18.

Black plate (26,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
3-26 Seats and Restraints
Passenger Sensing
System
The vehicle has a passenger
sensing system for the front
outboard passenger position. The
passenger airbag status indicator
will light on the overhead console
when the vehicle is started.
United States
CanadaThe words ON and OFF or the
symbol for on and off will be visible
during the system check. When the
system check is complete, either the
word ON or OFF, or the symbol for
on and off will be visible. See
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
on page 5‑18.
The passenger sensing system
turns off the front outboard
passenger frontal airbag and knee
airbag, under certain conditions. No
other airbag is affected by the
passenger sensing system.
The passenger sensing system
works with sensors that are part of
the front outboard passenger seat.
The sensors are designed to detect
the presence of a properly seated
occupant and determine if the front
outboard passenger frontal airbag
and knee airbag should be allowed
to inflate or not.
According to accident statistics,
children are safer when properly
secured in a rear seat in a correct
child restraint for their weight
and size.
We recommend that children be
secured in a rear seat, including: an
infant or a child riding in a
rear-facing child restraint; a child
riding in a forward-facing child seat;
an older child riding in a booster
seat; and children, who are large
enough, using safety belts.
Never put a rear-facing child seat in
the front. This is because the risk to
the rear-facing child is so great,
if the airbag inflates.

Black plate (53,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Seats and Restraints 3-53
Securing Child Restraints
(Front Passenger Seat)
This vehicle has airbags. A rear
seat is a safer place to secure a
forward-facing child restraint. See
Where to Put the Restraint on
page 3‑41.
In addition, the vehicle has a
passenger sensing system which is
designed to turn off the right front
passenger frontal airbag and
passenger knee airbag under
certain conditions. SeePassenger
Sensing System on page 3‑26 and
Passenger Airbag Status Indicator
on page 5‑18 for more information,
including important safety
information.
A label on the sun visor says,
“Never put a rear-facing child seat in
the front.” This is because the risk to
the rear-facing child is so great,
if the airbag deploys.
{WARNING
A child in a rear-facing child
restraint can be seriously injured
or killed if the right front
passenger airbag inflates. This is
because the back of the
rear-facing child restraint would
be very close to the inflating
airbag. A child in a forward-facing
child restraint can be seriously
injured or killed if the right front
passenger airbag inflates and the
passenger seat is in a forward
position.
Even if the passenger sensing
system has turned off the right
front passenger airbag(s), no
system is fail-safe. No one can
guarantee that an airbag will not
deploy under some unusual
circumstance, even though the
airbag(s) are turned off.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
Secure rear-facing child restraints
in a rear seat, even if the
airbag(s) are off. If you secure a
forward-facing child restraint in
the right front seat, always move
the front passenger seat as far
back as it will go. It is better to
secure the child restraint in a
rear seat.
SeePassenger Sensing System
on page 3‑26 for additional
information.
If the child restraint has the LATCH
system, see Lower Anchors and
Tethers for Children (LATCH
System) on page 3‑42 for how and
where to install the child restraint
using LATCH. If a child restraint is
secured using a safety belt and it
uses a top tether, see Lower
Anchors and Tethers for Children
(LATCH System) on page 3‑42 for
top tether anchor locations.

Black plate (20,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
5-20 Instruments and Controls
Notice:Modifications made to
the engine, electric drive unit,
exhaust, intake, or fuel system of
the vehicle or the replacement of
the original tires with other
than those of the same Tire
Performance Criteria (TPC) can
affect the vehicle emission
controls and can cause this light
to come on. Modifications to
these systems could lead to
costly repairs not covered by the
vehicle warranty. This could also
result in a failure to pass a
required Emission Inspection/
Maintenance test. See
Accessories and Modifications on
page 10‑3.
This light comes on during a
malfunction in one of two ways:
Light Flashing: A misfire condition
has been detected. A misfire
increases vehicle emissions and
could damage the emission control
system on the vehicle. Diagnosis
and service might be required. The following can prevent more
serious damage to the vehicle:
.Reduce vehicle speed.
.Avoid hard accelerations.
.Avoid steep uphill grades.
If the light continues to flash, when
it is safe to do so, stop the vehicle.
Find a safe place to park the
vehicle. Turn the vehicle off, wait at
least 10 seconds, and restart the
vehicle. If the light is still flashing,
follow the previous steps and see
your dealer for service as soon as
possible.
Light On Steady: An emission
control system malfunction has
been detected on the vehicle.
Diagnosis and service might be
required. The following may correct an
emission system malfunction:
.Check that the fuel cap is fully
installed. The diagnostic system
can determine if the fuel cap has
been left off or improperly
installed. A loose or missing fuel
cap allows fuel to evaporate into
the atmosphere. A few driving
trips with the cap properly
installed should turn the light off.
.Check that good quality fuel is
used. Poor fuel quality causes
the engine not to run as
efficiently as designed and may
cause stalling after start-up or
misfiring. These conditions might
go away once the engine is
warmed up.
If one or more of these
conditions occurs, change the
fuel brand used. It will require at
least one full tank of the proper
fuel to turn the light off.

Black plate (53,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-53
Ride Control System
Messages
LOW TRACTION
This message displays when the
Antilock Brake System (ABS) is
active and is working to assist the
driver with control of the vehicle in
difficult driving conditions.
SERVICE STABILITRAK
This message displays when there
is a problem detected with the
StabiliTrak system. The vehicle is
safe to drive, but the StabiliTrak
system is not operational. See
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) on
page 9‑38for information on
resetting the system.
SERVICE TRACTION
CONTROL
This message displays when there
is a problem detected with the
Traction Control System (TCS). The
vehicle is safe to drive, but the TCS
is not operational. See Traction
Control System (TCS) on page 9‑36
for information on resetting the
system.
STABILITRAK OFF
This message displays when
StabiliTrak is turned off. Adjust your
driving accordingly.
TRACTION CONTROL OFF
This message displays when the
Traction Control System (TCS) is
turned off. Adjust your driving
accordingly.
TRACTION CONTROL ON
This message displays when the
Traction Control System (TCS) is
turned on.
Airbag System Messages
SERVICE AIRBAG
This message displays if there is a
problem with the airbag system.
Take the vehicle to your dealer for
service.
Anti-theft Alarm System
Messages
SERVICE THEFT ALARM
This message displays if there is a
problem with the alarm. See your
dealer for service.

Black plate (54,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
5-54 Instruments and Controls
SERVICE THEFT DETERRENT
SYSTEM
This message displays if there is a
problem with the theft-deterrent
system. See your dealer for service.
Service Vehicle Messages
ENGINE MAINTENANCE XXX%
COMPLETE
This message displays when the
Engine Maintenance Mode is
running. See“Engine Maintenance
Mode” underMaintenance Modes
on page 9‑28.
ENGINE NOT AVAILABLE
SERVICE SOON
This message displays when the
engine is not available due to a
malfunction that will not allow the
engine to start. The vehicle can
continue to be driven in Electric
Mode until the battery is depleted,
but will have reduced acceleration. When this message is displayed,
the vehicle should be taken to your
dealer for service as soon as
possible. See
Out of Fuel/Engine
Unavailable on page 9‑27.
SERVICE AC SYSTEM
This message displays if there is a
problem with the air conditioning
system. Take the vehicle to your
dealer for service.
SERVICE HEATER SOON
This message displays if there is a
problem with the heater system.
Take the vehicle to your dealer for
service.
SERVICE POWER STEERING
This message displays if there is a
problem with the power steering
system. Take the vehicle to your
dealer for service.
SERVICE VEHICLE SOON
This message displays if there is a
problem with the vehicle. Take the
vehicle to your dealer for service.
Depending on the severity of a
crash, this message may come on
along with the airbag readiness
light.
Starting the Vehicle
Messages
PRESS BRAKE TO START
VEHICLE
This message displays when
attempting to start the vehicle
without first pressing the brake
pedal.

Black plate (55,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Instruments and Controls 5-55
PRESS BUTTON AGAIN TO
TURN OFF
This message displays as a
reminder to press the POWER
O
button to turn the vehicle off when
an attempt is made to turn off the
vehicle while it is in motion.
Tire Messages
SERVICE TIRE MONITOR
SYSTEM
This message displays if there is a
problem with the Tire Pressure
Monitor System (TPMS). SeeTire
Pressure Monitor Operation on
page 10‑53 for more information.
TIRE LEARNING ACTIVE
This message displays when the
system is learning new tires. See
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation on
page 10‑53for more information.
TIRE LOW ADD AIR TO TIRE
This message displays when the
pressure in one or more of the tires
is low.
This message also displays LEFT
FRONT, RIGHT FRONT, LEFT
REAR, or RIGHT REAR to indicate
the location of the low tire.
The low tire pressure warning light
will also come on. See Tire
Pressure Light on page 5‑25.
If a tire pressure message appears
on the DIC, stop as soon as you
can. Inflate the tires by adding air
until the tire pressure is equal to the
values shown on the Tire and
Loading Information label. See Tires
on page 10‑44, Vehicle Load Limits
on page 9‑12, and Tire Pressure on
page 10‑50.
You can receive more than one tire
pressure message at a time. The
DIC also shows the tire pressure
values. See Driver Information
Center (DIC) on page 5‑45.
Vehicle Reminder
Messages
ICE POSSIBLE DRIVE
WITH CARE
This message is displayed when ice
conditions are possible.
Vehicle Speed Messages
SPEED LIMITED TO XXX
This message displays when the
vehicle speed is limited.
Washer Fluid Messages
WASHER FLUID LOW ADD
FLUID
This message displays when the
washer fluid level is low. For
information on filling the washer
fluid, see Washer Fluid on
page 10‑21.