TrueDelta reliability numbers on Volt

I don't recall anyone ever complaining about heat-related Volt battery problems in Arizona or anyone noticing battery range degradation problems. Several LEAF drivers on the mynissanleaf.com forum site have switched to the Volt in hot climate areas and they seem to be happy.

 

Apparently no problems with the battery in Arizona. Liquid cooling and heating of a battery seems to be proving to be a superior option to air cooling that the Leaf uses.

I can only see 10 entries at Truedelta. So can not state whether the reliability is horrible or not. The model years for the Volt could still be due to the model teething problems. The plug door issue was the only common one I noted. It wasn't something that would strand you. The owner would just end up burning more gas than they wanted too.

Others might have been serious, and yet some could be a non-issue. I think it is great TrueDelta gives the details for those willing to dig. Much, much better than CR's simple number of problems that could represent a faulty window switch to a dying transmission.

I like MSN Autos for researching reliability. 2012 Chevrolet Volt Reliability - MSN Autos It may not give an exact likely hood of there being problems, but it does spell out what the problems are when there is some, and projected costs to fix. They don't have anything listed as a problem for the Volt. This is likely due to the Volt's small numbers on the world. Those numbers of cars could be skewing TrueDelta's results. Which is relying on user reported data, that can introduce a bias. The small number cars in their database is likely why they compared the Volt to the Prius and not the PPI.

From here High Volt-age praise for this used hybrid car - The Globe and Mail
"Still, NHTSA has 40 technical service bulletins on file for the Volt and they run the gamut; from “non-charging” issues, to problems with the engine starting itself up and running during a plug-in recharge, to a myriad of electrical and computer-related issues."
Not every car coming of the line is going to be perfect. What I didn't see in the TrueDelta cases was any being denied warranty coverage. That might be more important with a new technology car. How many at this site bought the extended coverage because the Prius was a new technology car?

 

Any problems with the PiP battery in Arizona?

 

I just noticed that TrueDelta doesn't count recalls under general methodology. So these don't show total trips to a dealer.

 

So, your're saying the Volt is 100% U.S. parts?

Interesting.

DBCassidy

 

Sure flys in the face of wikipedia's article.
.

 

No, I said I hadn't seen a recent 2014 window sticker but some of the previous substantial foreign components are now made in USA. For example, the Tesla Model S is only 50% USA components largely because of the batteries but probably also some other parts.

Even conventional ICE cars and trucks assembled by GM in the USA are typically only about 60-70% USA components because of parts imported from Mexico. I assume the same is true for Ford, Chrysler for their cars assembled in the US.

 

Looking at the sticker for my new 2014 Volt. US/Canadian content is 45%, Korea 19%, Japan 17%.

 

Thank you!

DBCassidy

 

>How can we take 105 self-reported cars as a reliable source of data for a fleet of cars? Is CR any better?

> Averaging 70 MPG in a Prius requires a 'certain' driving style. It has a name and no one wants to meet that driver on the roads.

>Does any BEV, EREV, PHEV have an advanced TMS system for the HV battery similar to the Volt?
Blowing ambient air is not Thermal Management. It's Thermal Limiting. When too hot, the system lowers the charge rate.

>How can we take 105 self-reported cars as a reliable source of data for a fleet of cars? Is CR any better?

> Averaging 70 MPG in a Prius requires a 'certain' driving style. It has a name and no one wants to meet that driver on the roads.

>Does any BEV, EREV, PHEV have an advanced TMS system for the HV battery similar to the Volt?
Blowing ambient air is not Thermal Management. It's Thermal Limiting. When too hot, the system lowers the charge rate.

 

With out bothering to double check, I'll say the Focus EV and Tesla S both do.

 

Thanks. What is your build date? You can find it on a sticker on the car body on the driver door area near the bottom of the mid-body "B" pillar next to the tire pressure sticker. Mine says something like "DATE 11/10" for November 2010.

The Michigan LG factory supposedly began manufacturing battery cells for the Volt in early November 2013 but then suspended production for "6 weeks" when the EPA asked them questions about a chemical they were using that they may not have correctly registered with government regulators. From my limited googling, I haven't found any followup stories from the news media or PR releases about what has happened since then. One might think that sensible reporters would write a followup story either about the continuing startup delay or the eventual restart of the factory. One might be wrong.....

 

I bought an extended warranty for my 2007 Prius, which was a waste of money. After all the Consumer Reports high customer satisfaction data, I opted not to bother with the extended warranty on my 2014 Volt. Perhaps I should reconsider.

According to US News, JD Power & Associates rates both the Prius and the Volt 4 out of 5 for reliability.
2014 Toyota Prius Reliability | U.S. News Best Cars
2014 Chevrolet Volt Reliability | U.S. News Best Cars

Then I went straight to the source. JD Power & Associates rates the Volt at 3 out of 5. Weird.
2014 Chevrolet Volt Base Hatchback Ratings, Prices, Trims, Summary | J.D. Power
2014 Toyota Prius One Hatchback Ratings, Prices, Trims, Summary | J.D. Power

These are for the 2014 model - so predicted reliability.

As for the whole hijacked thread into cost of driving, my real world data on the Volt is 285 Wh per mile (at the wall), or $0.029/mile on EV. With the higher premium fuel costs (you should use Premium, as not using it actually reduces your MPG/cost efficiency), the break-even point against my wife's 2010 Prius (54 mpg average) is about 100 miles. Under 100, the Volt is cheaper, over 100, the Prius is cheaper. This is only taking into account cost for the usage, not the price of the car. The base model can be had for $22,000 at Rydell Chevy - which is a highest volume dealership in the country, so it's not typical. But I happen to live 2 miles from them.

Edit: Make that 90 miles. I just updated my real world fuel economy in the Volt and Prius. Long trips = fast driving = poor fuel economy.

 

The hyjak continues...

I have seen many threads where no differences can be measured between Premium and Reg fuel in a Volt. But this from the Volt forums.
Premium was spec'd because some geeks can have 1 year old gas in the tank and the octane rating ages,,, supposedly. It's not a high compression engine, 10.5/1.

Is there a difference using Premium in a Prius, 13/1 ? Yeah, yeah, pseudo atkins.. but still, anyone tried?

I'm currently running a two tank test with similar temperatures and speeds, same round trip.
One tank was using 91 octane 'No ethanol' (boat gas), more BTU/Gal, $3.99.
Current tank is the cheap stuff, 87 octane 10% ethanol, $3.29.

But these tests take time with a Volt. It requires weekend road trips !! Fast road trips !

(JD Power, "Predicted Reliability" ?? Where do they pull that out of?)

 

I don't think anyone has tried premium in a Prius. While in theory it could take advantage of the higher octane with its high compression ratio, I believe that would require more control over the intake valve timing than it currently has.

 

Consumer Reports detailed reliability data is behind a paywall but the overall conclusion for the 2014 Prius Plugin report says:

The 2014 Volt report says "7% above average".

 

That is a pretty poor result, but I hope for Volt owners that the underlying problems are minor.

 

Can it be poor if it's 7% above average?

I posted detailed data on the same topic on another thread which I don't want to repeat here. The summary of the summary is that the 2013 Volt got 12 happy red solid dots and 4 happyish half red dot out of all 16 reliability categories. That's hardly poor.

 

That is poor, for a car less than a year old. Remember that CR ranks a model by comparison to other cars of the same age. Any car that has less than sold red dots in its first year better just be having teething problems, or black dots are on the 5 year horizon.