Ownership Cost for 2012 Chevrolet Volt Base
Estimated: $34863 over the next 5 years
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | $2806 | $1347 | $1178 | $1066 | $954 | $7351 |
| Insurance | $1853 | $1918 | $1985 | $2054 | $2126 | $9936 |
| Fuel | $415 | $427 | $442 | $460 | $481 | $2225 |
| Maintenance | $2334 | $1651 | $1062 | $1146 | $2094 | $8287 |
| Repairs | $821 | $995 | $1131 | $1253 | $1449 | $5649 |
| Taxes & Fees | $956 | $956 | $956 | $956 | $956 | $1417 |
| Total Ownership Costs | $9184 | $6446 | $5938 | $6068 | $7227 | $34863 |
| Model year | COMPONENT | Complaint |
| 2012 | POWER TRAIN | DRIVER HAD RETURNED HOME, STOPPED CAR, DEPRESSED GEAR SHIFTER BUTTON TO PUT GEAR IN PARK, AND WAS ELECTROCUTED FROM THE POINT OF GEAR SHIFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY SLATED TO BE "REPURCHASED" BY GM DUE TO OTHER ONGOING MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DRIVER FOR USE WHILE THE NEW VEHICLE WAS BEING BUILT BY GM FOR DELIVERY TO THE DRIVER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ADDITIONAL MALFUNCTIONING REPAIRS, THE LAST TIME BEFORE INCIDENT (INCLUDING A MALFUNCTION WITH THE MAIN BATTERY COMPONENT THE DEALER DETERMINED) THE DEALER'S MECHANIC REPORTED FINDING A "STIFFNESS" OR MALFUNCTION WITH THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE DEALER ORDERED AND REPLACED A PART TO THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE DRIVER DROVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INCIDENT FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTROCUTION OCCURRED. GM WAS INFORMED OF THE INCIDENT IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. GM INSTRUCTED DRIVER TO CALL 911 TO HAVE "FIRST RESPONDERS" DISCONNECT THE POWER IN VEHICLE. FIRE DEPT REFUSED TO CUT POWER CABLES IN VEHICLE, FOR LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE SYSTEMS, AND FEAR OF THEIR SAFETY, SINCE THE DRIVER WAS NO LONGER IN DANGER INSIDE OF VEHICLE. LUCKILY, WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED, DRIVER WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY REMOVE THEIR POINT OF CONTACT FROM GEAR SHIFTER BEFORE THE HAND AND ARM MUSCLES HAD INVOLUNTARILY CONTRACTED IN PLACE PERMANENTLY CLOSING THE CONTACT AND RESULTING IN FURTHER ELECTROCUTION. DRIVER SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT ELECTRICAL SHOCK INJURY TO HAND/ARM INCLUDING PAIN, SHOCK, SORENESS, NUMBNESS, AND TINGLING SENSATION. SINCE INCIDENT, GM IS ONLY WILLING TO TRANSFER DRIVER TO THEIR PRODUCT ALLOCATION DEPARTMENT WHICH ACTS IN A LEGAL CAPACITY AND ACCEPTS CLAIM REPORTS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION. DRIVER'S IMMEDIATE CONCERN IS NOT TO SUE GM BUT TO INSURE ALL REASONABLE EFFORTS ARE MADE TO INFORM OTHER VOLT DEALERS OF INCIDENT AND HOPEFULLY PREVENT OTHER DRIVERS FROM BEING ELECTROCUTED. *TR.....UPDATED 01/30/13 *BF UPDATED 2/4/2013 *JS |
| 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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