2016 Chevrolet Volt · symptom sheet
"Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on
- 42owner reports
- 42,090median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jan 14, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
144 of the 169 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 42 of those describe shift to park warning, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Volt.
Tick what matches of 42 reports
Shift to park warning on other Volt years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them.
What this problem usually is
This sheet covers a dash message that says "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" when the car is already in Park, or when it's sitting in Drive with the shifter lights glowing. Owners say it won't let them turn the car off, or it flashes up on the highway.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the shifter assembly (3 reports) and the wiring harness (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2016 model year as of Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Volt
Loss of motive power due to the battery energy control module. Closed mar 3, 2025.
Pedestrian alert sounds. Closed aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V-063.
Post-crash ev fire hazard. Closed jan 20, 2012.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 30,217 and 63,000 miles, from the 25 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Chevrolet Volt that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of seeing an intermittent Shift to Park message displayed while vehicle is in Park.
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of seeing an intermittent Shift to Park message displayed while vehicle is in park.
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of message displaying shift to park when in park.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Shift to Park message on the Driver Information Center. Technician will find Diagnostic Trouble Codes P1AEE, P1AEF, P1AF0, P1AF2, and P1E22.
What owners wrote
“No propulsion with U2603 through U2618 DTC in HPCM2 with "shift to park" message. BECM was replaced by dealership.”
Filed Apr 13, 2024
“This vehicle has been intermittently displaying shift to park, reduced propulsion and loss of power. Chevrolet will not address its problems utilizing the March 6, 2024 service bulletin that covers this model year despite it exhibiting these dangerous warnings and reduced power and stoppage. Please help!”
Filed Mar 18, 2024
“Shift to park issue where suddenly I can't start car . Doesn't register park. Have to fiddle with shifter. Then find on reduced propulsion.”
Filed Sep 29, 2023
“Vehicle shift to park warning , does not go in reverse or forward , shifter moves but it does not detect is in park mode , therefore it doesn't reset battery status or able to drive in forward or reverse.”
Filed Oct 31, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 42 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 33 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 33 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 29 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 28 reports