Ownership Cost for 2012 Chevrolet Volt Base
Estimated: $33957 over the next 5 years
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | $2661 | $1277 | $1118 | $1011 | $905 | $6972 |
| Insurance | $1837 | $1901 | $1968 | $2037 | $2108 | $9851 |
| Fuel | $415 | $427 | $442 | $460 | $481 | $2225 |
| Maintenance | $2288 | $1599 | $1027 | $1069 | $2073 | $8056 |
| Repairs | $801 | $977 | $1110 | $1233 | $1426 | $5547 |
| Taxes & Fees | $882 | $882 | $882 | $882 | $882 | $1306 |
| Total Ownership Costs | $8885 | $6282 | $5793 | $5891 | $7106 | $33957 |
| Model year | COMPONENT | Complaint |
| 2012 | ENGINE | WAS DRIVING VOLT AT LOW SPEED IN TRAFFIC. ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH MODES (NORMAL TO SPORT). THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED BY PRESSING A BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD TWICE IN QUICK SUCCESSION. THE BUTTON IS LOCATED RIGHT NEXT TO THE START/STOP BUTTON. I ACCIDENTALLY PRESSED THE START/STOP BUTTON TWICE IN QUICK SUCCESSION, WHICH SHUTS THE CAR OFF. THE CAR SHUT OFF AND I WAS UNABLE TO RESTART IT UNTIL I CAME TO A FULL STOP, SHIFTED THE CAR TO PARK, AND PRESSED THE BRAKE. THE RESULTED IN A SMALL TRAFFIC BACKUP BEHIND ME. HOWEVER, THIS THE DESIGN AND PLACEMENT OF THESE BUTTONS IS VERY POOR. I BELIEVE THE START/STOP BUTTON HAS BEEN DESIGNED TO SHUTOFF THE CAR RELATIVELY EASILY IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT AND PUBLIC "SUDDEN ACCELERATION" PROBLEMS BY OTHER MANUFACTURERS. HOWEVER, ACCIDENTALLY SWITCHING OFF THE CAR IS ALSO AN UNDESIRABLE CONSEQUENCE. HAD THIS EVENT HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEEDS (ON THE HIGHWAY) IT COULD BE QUITE DANGEROUS. *TR |
| 2012 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE STANDARD CHARGE CORD UNIT SUPPLIED WITH THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALER HAS FAILED TWICE, AND I BELIEVE IT POSES A FIRE RISK. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS 9/1/12 AT APPROX. 18,000 MILES. CORROSION WAS NOTED ON THE PLUG. THE DEALERSHIP TECHNICIAN BLAMED RUST FROM A RECENT RAINSTORM AND REPLACED THE CHARGE CORD UNIT. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS YESTERDAY AT 32,350 MILES. THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED CHARGING. ON INSPECTION THE CHARGE UNIT AND CORD WERE EXTREMELY HOT, HOT ENOUGH TO HAVE POTENTIALLY CAUSED A BURN OR AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN MY GARAGE. OVER THE PAST 2-3 MONTHS, I HAVE NOTED GRADUAL ONSET OF CORROSION ON THE OUTLET AND THE CHARGER PLUG. (OF NOTE, THERE HAS BEEN NO RAIN HERE IN LAS VEGAS FOR SEVERAL MONTHS). THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CHARGE CORD UNIT TODAY. I COMMENTED TO THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM USING SOLELY THE 110 VOLT CHARGER IN A REGULAR HOUSEHOLD OUTLET. DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL IMPLIED THAT THE VOLT IS SUPPOSED TO BE CHARGED ON A DEDICATED CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH NO OTHER USE. HOWEVER, THIS INFORMATION DOES NOT APPEAR ANYWHERE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, NOR IN THE CHARGE CORD UNIT MANUAL I RECEIVED TODAY, NOR HAVE I BEEN TOLD THIS AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, NOR AT THE TIME OF THE INITIAL CHARGE CABLE RECALL IN EARLY 2012, NOR ON 9/1/12. THE ONLY PRINTED INFORMATION ABOUT CHARGING IS THAT THE VOLT CAN BE PLUGGED INTO A REGULAR HOUSEHOLD OUTLET (OWNERS MANUAL 1-20), AND THAT IT IS RECOMMENDED TO LEAVE IT PLUGGED IN TEMPERATURES OVER 90 DEGREES F. TO PRESERVE BATTERY LIFE (OWNER'S MANUAL 9-44). ON REVIEW OF WEBSITES AND BLOGS, I NOTE THAT OTHER VOLT OWNERS HAVE HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM. *TR |
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