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2013 Chevrolet Volt

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2013 Volt.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2013 Chevrolet Volt is a passenger‑car that employs an automatic transmission with variable gear ratios and carries a 3.7‑quart oil capacity filled with 5W‑30 viscosity oil. It is part of a model line that recorded 308 total owner complaints and three recalls, with air bags emerging as the most frequently cited problem area. Within the broader complaint history spanning 2011 to 2019, the Volt’s reported issues peaked at 690 in 2017 but have fallen to 34 by 2019, indicating a noticeable improvement in reliability for the model year.

Model year201920182017201620152014201320122011

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30OEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA efficiency35/40/37 MPGeEPA · verified
EPA electric range380 miEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI N/A · 0 CCA battery, OE oil filter 55352643. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI N/A · 0 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215/55R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter55352643
Engine air filter20871244
Spark plug12681655
Battery88866188
Front wiper blades22742323 alt 22742324
Serpentine belt55569329
Thermostat55561627 alt 25200456
Cabin air filter13271190

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length177.2 in
Overall width70.5 in
Overall height56.3 in
Wheelbase105.9 in
Curb weight3781 lb
Track (front / rear)61 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined35 / 40 / 37 MPGe
Electric range380 mi
Charge time (240V)4.0 hr
Electric motor111 kW
Energy use35.0 kWh/100mi
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Volt of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

8.5–9.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.50 sec — 2012 Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2012Hatchback 1.4L I-4 + Elec 16-kWh8.50 sec16.50 sec149 hpFWD
2012Hatchback 1.4L I-4 + Elec 16-kWh9.10 sec17.00 sec149 hpFWD
2011Hatchback 1.4L I-4 + Elec 16-kWh8.70 sec16.70 sec149 hpFWD
2011Hatchback 1.4L I-4 + Elec 16-kWh8.80 sec16.70 sec149 hpFWD
2011Hatchback 1.4L I-4 + Elec 16-kWh8.80 sec16.80 sec149 hpFWD
2011Hatchback 1.4L I-4 + Elec 16-kWh9.00 sec16.90 sec149 hpFWD
2011Hatchback 1.4L I-4 + Elec 16-kWh9.20 sec17.00 sec149 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.7 qt of 5W-30 engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 10.3 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.0-7.5
Engine Oil5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity3.7 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs71 inch lbs. ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts16 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug10.3 ft-lbs
Engine Valve Cover Bolts6.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.027 in
Spark Plug Torque18.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.10 lbs
Oil GroupPOE
Oil TypeGM part number 88862657 or equivalent.
Oil Capacity6.10 oz
Standard BCI Cranking Performance0 cca

Service checks

Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)55-62
RPM43-45 @ Idle rpm
Injector Primary Resistance11-14 @ 50-90 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression174
Engine Oil Pressure55-94 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM3000-3500 rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH FN3 (16 inch) CALIPER PR NOS. 1LH/1ZG
Torque Caliper to Bracket21 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle181 ft-lbs / 103 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake ApplicationWITH FN3 (16 inch) CALIPER PR NOS. 1LH/1ZG
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.001 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.023 in / 0.472 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts.

126.0 ft. lbs.26 ft. lbs
2180 degrees180 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 97,500 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miAccelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Assembly (leak inspection) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level)
Every 45,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Hybrid Inverter (drain, flush & refill coolant)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2013 Volt’s complaint volume (308) sits above the 2011–2012 peak but below the 2017 spike, indicating a moderate level of owner-reported issues during its release year. Recalls climbed to three in 2013, the highest in the decade‑long series, while investigations remained steady at two, suggesting that the safety concerns were largely addressed through recalls rather than regulatory probes. The most frequent complaint categories—Air Bags (123) and Air Bags,Seats (25)—point to safety system concerns, but no root cause is specified in the data. Fire complaints (2) and crash complaints (8) are low relative to the overall complaint count, implying that catastrophic failures were uncommon. Compared to the surrounding years, 2013 is a transitional year where recall activity peaked, yet the overall safety profile has improved in later years; therefore, a 2013 model may still be acceptable if recent recalls have been performed, but buyers should verify that the specific air‑bag recall repairs were completed.

3
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1952
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
308
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 2 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 308 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags123
Air Bags,Seats25
Electrical System22
Fuel/Propulsion System21
Service Brakes12
Electrical System,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System9
Power Train,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System8
Engine6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 3 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V397000Hybrid Propulsion SystemReported 14/06/2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. An update to the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2 (HPCM2) may have disabled the cell balancing function causing a low-voltage condition. Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the HPCM2, free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's…

15V145000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 13/03/2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Volt vehicles manufactured August 25, 2010, to June 26, 2013. If the driver exits the vehicle without turning off the electrical system, the battery may… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine management software to limit the time that the stationary vehicle can be left in the ON position, free of charge. The…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1952 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP61042026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V2026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIP4902U2026-01-08Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT5214G2025-11-20Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Volt. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group N batteryVehicles taking 3.7 qtEngine oil filter 55352643Engine air filter 20871244Spark plug 12681655Battery 88866188

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2013 Volt take?

3.7 qt of 5W-30 ONLY USE ENGINE OIL MEETING GM DEXOS 1 SPECIFICATION., per the factory manual.

Does the 2013 Volt have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What is the EPA range and efficiency of the Volt?

EPA figures are 35 city / 40 highway / 37 combined MPGe. EPA electric range is 380 miles.