Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349113) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
Introduction 3
{Danger
Danger indicates a hazard with a
high level of risk which will result
in serious injury or death.
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that
could result in injury or death.
Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that
could result in property or vehicle
damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a
safety symbol which means“Do
Not,” “Do not do this,” or“Do not let
this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and
labels that use symbols instead of
text. Symbols are shown along with
the text describing the operation or
information relating to a specific
component, control, message,
gauge, or indicator.
M: Shown when the owner ’s
manual has additional instructions
or information.
*: Shown when the service
manual has additional instructions
or information.
0: Shown when there is more
information on another page —
“see page.” Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols
that may be found on the vehicle
and what they mean. See the
features in this manual for
information.
9:
Airbag Readiness Light
#:Air Conditioning
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
$:Brake System Warning Light
":Charging System (12-Volt
Battery)
I: Cruise Control
`:Do Not Puncture
^:Do Not Service
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
O:Exterior Lamps
g: First Responder
_:Flame/Fire Prohibited
.:Fuel Gauge
+: Fuses
3:Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349113) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
Keys, Doors, and Windows 41
Keyless Access
The RKE transmitter must be within
1 m (3 ft) of the door being opened.
Press the button on the door handle
to open. See“Keyless Access
Operation” inRemote Keyless Entry
(RKE) System Operation 032.
Driver Door Key Lock Cylinder
Access (In Case of Dead
Battery)
To access the driver door key lock
cylinder:
1. Pull the door handle (1) to the open position and hold it open
until cap removal is complete.
2. Insert the key into the slot (3) on the bottom of the cap (2)
and lift the key upward.
3. Move the cap (2) rearward and remove.
4. Use the key in the cylinder. To replace the cap:
1. Pull the door handle (1) to the open position and hold it open
until cap installation is
complete.
2. Insert the two tabs (6) at theback of the cap between the
seal (5) and the metal base (4).
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349113) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
Instruments and Controls 99
Instruments and
Controls
Controls
Steering Wheel Adjustment . . . 100
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . 100
Heated Steering Wheel . . . . . . . 100
Horn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Pedestrian Safety Signal . . . . . 100
Windshield Wiper/Washer . . . . 101
Compass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Clock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Power Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Wireless Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Warning Lights, Gauges, and
Indicators
Warning Lights, Gauges, andIndicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Trip Odometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Battery Gauge (High Voltage) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Fuel Gauge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Driver Efficiency Gauge . . . . . . . 111
Power Indicator Gauge . . . . . . . 112 Seat Belt Reminders . . . . . . . . . . 112
Airbag Readiness Light . . . . . . . 113
Passenger Airbag Status
Indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Charging System Light (12-Volt
Battery) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Malfunction Indicator Lamp (Check Engine Light) . . . . . . . . 114
Brake System Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Service Electric Parking Brake Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Antilock Brake System (ABS) Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Sport Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Mountain Mode Light . . . . . . . . . 118
Hold Mode Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Vehicle Ahead Indicator . . . . . . . 119
Traction Off Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
StabiliTrak OFF Light . . . . . . . . . 119
Traction Control System (TCS)/ StabiliTrak Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Tire Pressure Light . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Engine Oil Pressure Light . . . . 120 Low Fuel Warning Light . . . . . . 121
Security Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Vehicle Ready Light . . . . . . . . . . 121
High-Beam On Light . . . . . . . . . . 122
Lamps On Reminder . . . . . . . . . 122
Cruise Control Light . . . . . . . . . . 122
Door Ajar Light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Information Displays
Power Flows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Programmable Charging . . . . . . 123
Energy Information . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Driver Information
Center (DIC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Vehicle Messages
Vehicle Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Propulsion PowerMessages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Vehicle Speed Messages . . . . . 137
Vehicle Personalization
Vehicle Personalization . . . . . . . 137
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349113) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
Instruments and Controls 117
Electric Parking Brake
Light
MetricEnglish
This light comes on when the
parking brake is applied. If the light
continues flashing after the parking
brake is released, or while driving,
there is a problem with the Electric
Parking Brake system. A message
may also display in the Driver
Information Center (DIC).
If the light does not come on,
or remains flashing, see your dealer.
Service Electric Parking
Brake Light
If this light comes on and stays on,
there is a problem with a system on
the vehicle that is causing the
parking brake system to work at a
reduced level. The vehicle can still
be driven, but should be taken to a
dealer as soon as possible. See
Electric Parking Brake 0185.
A message may also display in the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
This light should come on briefly
when the vehicle is started. If it
does not come on, have the vehicle
serviced by your dealer.
If the ABS warning light stays on
longer than a few seconds after the
vehicle is started, or comes on and
stays on while driving, try resetting
the system. To reset the system:
1. While driving, pull over when it is safe to do so.
2. Place the vehicle in P (Park).
3. Turn the vehicle off.
4. Restart the vehicle.
If the ABS warning light remains on
after resetting the system or comes
on again while driving, the vehicle
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349113) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
118 Instruments and Controls
needs service. If the ABS warning
light is on, but the regular brake
system warning light is not on, the
antilock brakes are not working
properly, but the regular brakes are
still functioning. Have the vehicle
serviced right away. If both brake
lights are on, the vehicle does not
have antilock brakes, and there is a
problem with the regular brakes as
well. Have the vehicle towed for
service. SeeTowing the Vehicle
0 311.
Sport Mode Light
This light comes on when Sport
Mode is selected. See “Sport Mode”
in Driver Selected Operating Modes
0 177 for more information.
Mountain Mode Light
This light comes on when Mountain
Mode is selected. See “Mountain
Mode” inDriver Selected Operating
Modes 0177 for more information.
Hold Mode Light
This light comes on when Hold
Mode is selected. See “Hold Mode”
in Driver Selected Operating Modes
0 177 for more information.
Lane Keep Assist (LKA)
Light
This light is green if LKA is available
to assist.
LKA may assist by gently turning
the steering wheel if the vehicle
approaches a detected lane marking
without using the turn signal in that
direction. The LKA light will turn
amber.
This light is amber and flashes as a
Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
alert, to indicate that the lane
marking has been crossed.
See Lane Keep Assist (LKA) 0211.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349113) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
160 Driving and Operating
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . 164
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . 165
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 167
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . 171
Power Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Starting and Stopping theVehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . 175 Parking over Things
That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Electric Vehicle Operating
Modes
System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Electric Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Extended Range Mode . . . . . . . 177
Driver Selected Operating Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Out of Fuel/Engine Unavailable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Maintenance Modes . . . . . . . . . . 180
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Electric Drive Unit
Electric Drive Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . 185
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . 187
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . 187
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . 190
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Adaptive Cruise Control . . . . . . 193
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . 200
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . 201
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Forward Automatic Braking (FAB) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . 209
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . 211
Charging
Plug-In Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Delayed Charging Override . . . 215
Charging Status Feedback . . . 215
Charge Cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349113) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
Driving and Operating 163
Steering
Electric Power Steering
The vehicle has electric power
steering. It does not have power
steering fluid. Regular maintenance
is not required.
If power steering assist is lost due
to a system malfunction, the vehicle
can be steered, but may require
increased effort.
If the steering assist is used for an
extended period of time while the
vehicle is not moving, power assist
may be reduced.
If the steering wheel is turned until it
reaches the end of its travel and is
held against that position for an
extended period of time, power
steering assist may be reduced.
Normal use of the power steering
assist should return when the
system cools down.
See your dealer if there is a
problem.
Curve Tips
.Take curves at a reasonable
speed.
. Reduce speed before entering a
curve.
. Maintain a reasonable steady
speed through the curve.
. Wait until the vehicle is out of
the curve before accelerating
gently into the straightaway.
Steering in Emergencies
.There are some situations when
steering around a problem may
be more effective than braking.
. Holding both sides of the
steering wheel allows you to turn
180 degrees without removing
a hand.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) allows steering while
braking.
Off-Road Recovery
The vehicle's right wheels can drop
off the edge of a road onto the
shoulder while driving. Follow
these tips:
1. Ease off the accelerator and then, if there is nothing in the
way, steer the vehicle so that it
straddles the edge of the
pavement.
2. Turn the steering wheel about one-eighth of a turn, until the
right front tire contacts the
pavement edge.
Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
11349113) - 2018 - crc - 10/12/17
166 Driving and Operating
.Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
Winter Driving
Driving on Snow or Ice
Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For slippery road driving:
.Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
. Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0189.
. The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner than when on dry pavement.
See
Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0185.
. Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
. Turn off cruise control.
Stay with the vehicle unless there is
help nearby. If possible, use
Roadside Assistance. See Roadside
Assistance Program 0345. To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
. Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
. Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
. Clear snow from the base of
the vehicle, especially any
blocking the exhaust pipe.
. Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the vehicle side
that is away from the wind,
to bring in fresh air.
. Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.
. Adjust the climate control
system to circulate the air
inside the vehicle and set
(Continued)