2018 Chevrolet Volt · symptom sheet
"Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on
- 58owner reports
- 25,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Oct 14, 2025 · checked Sep 29, 2026
185 of the 223 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 58 of those describe shift to park warning, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2018 Volt.
Tick what matches of 58 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
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2018 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 17,106 and 33,000 miles, from the 20 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 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
“"Shift to park message" from failing shifter frequently displays, preventing the car from turning off.”
Filed Jun 20, 2022
“After turning off the car, I get a "shift to park" error. I am not able to lock the car and it does not power down.”
Filed Jun 15, 2022
“Vehicle displays "shift to park" when it is already in park, and will not shut off. I had to leave it on, and despite nothing apparently on (electric vehicle, no motor running), it drained the12 volt battery and would not start up the next day.”
Filed Mar 21, 2022
“"Shift to Park" error message on dashboard this error prevents the car from being driven”
Filed Mar 17, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 58 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 56 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 38 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 36 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 33 reports