The Chevrolet Volt has had just one recall since its introduction four years ago. The problem, a faulty brake valve, affected just four cars, making it one of the smallest recalls in history.
But General Motors has fixed other problems on thousands of Volts for free through at least eight customer-satisfaction campaigns, which are less public than recalls and largely unregulated.
The repairs included reinforcing the battery pack and improving the battery coolant system after a government crash test sparked a widely publicized fire, prompting a congressional hearing and an investigation by federal regulators. Because neither GM nor the regulators determined that the fire was evidence of a safety defect, the automaker didn't have to use the word "recall," follow specific requirements for notifying customers or report how many Volts got fixed.
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