Chevrolet Bolt EV problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 6 model years (2018–2023), NHTSA has logged 544 owner complaints and 13 safety recalls for the Chevrolet Bolt EV. That averages 14.8 complaints per year on the road — far fewer complaints than typical (index 0.37 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Electric vehicles segment it ranks #1 of 10 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 50.8.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2022 and 2023 models run 194% above the 2018 and 2019 models (37 early complaints per model year versus 13).
The 2020 model year has the highest rate (25.5 complaints per year) and the 2018 model year the lowest (0.7). Model years 2019 and 2020 run at least 50% above this model's average of 14.8 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. The 2018 model year runs at least 40% below this model's average of 14.8 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Electrical (41.4% of complaints), followed by Steering (18.6%) and Fuel system (8.1%). Electrical complaints are 2.6 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 39 complaints (7.2%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 11 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 70 complaints versus 55 in the previous 12 months — up 27%. The 2023 model year generated the most recent reports (25). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 30 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 13 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2020 (4), 5 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 3 NHTSA investigations have covered this model; the latest is “Electrical arcing and thermal events, potentially leading to fires, while utilizing Enel X Way USA, LLC's JuiceBox residential charger.” (preliminary evaluation, opened 2024-10-03, closed 2025-06-05).
It has fewer complaints per year than every other tracked model among Electric vehicles, including Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Ford F-150 Lightning.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Fewest complaints | 6 | 0.7 | 0.02 | 1 | 5 ⚠ | Steering | View › |
| 2019 ▲50%+ | 178 | 22.9 | 0.57 | 18 | 6 ⚠ | Electrical | View › |
| 2020 ▲50%+ | 173 | 25.5 | 0.63 | 17 | 8 ⚠ | Electrical | View › |
| 2021 | 67 | 11.6 | 0.29 | 4 | 5 ⚠ | Electrical | View › |
| 2022 | 59 | 12.3 | 0.3 | 5 | 7 ⚠ | Electrical | View › |
| 2023 | 61 | 16.1 | 0.4 | 25 | 3 | Steering | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 70 · Previous 12 months: 55 Within ±30% year on year
Problem areas
Electrical ›
225 · 41.4% · 2.63 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Steering ›
101 · 18.6% · 2.9 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Fuel system ›
44 · 8.1% · 1.87 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Transmission / powertrain ›
40 · 7.4% · 0.63 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Unspecified or other ›
40 · 7.4% · 0.82 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Engine
24 · 4.4% · 0.2 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Brakes
16 · 2.9% · 0.49 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Airbags & seat belts
15 · 2.8% · 0.73 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
9 · 1.7% · 0.29 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
9 · 1.7% · 1.07 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Body & structure
8 · 1.5% · 0.16 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Other
8 · 1.5% · 0.8 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
5 · 0.9% · 0.37 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 30 months
What owners report
While driving at a low speed (approx. 5–10 mph), the front passenger-side lower ball joint suffered a catastrophic structural shear without warning. This caused the wheel assembly to collapse outward and the CV axle to pull out of the transmission.
I was in a car accident on February 9th, in which my airbags did not deploy, however, I did receive an error in my Chevy app that my Air Bag system requires attention. I sustained facial injuries due to impact with the steering wheel.
Reverse camera and infotainment system glitch, and doesn't work most of the time. This was known by the dealer which tried to repair it at least 3 occasions but problem still occur. Problem showed up after few months of purchase( bought brand new).
I am reporting a recurring safety defect with our 2019 Chevrolet Bolt (~80,000 miles). On multiple occasions the left front wheel has overheated severely while driving, accompanied by a rapid, severe side-to-side steering wheel wobble and a burning smell.
The steering wheel on my 2019 Chevy bolt is feeling stiff and harder to turn when making a right and left turn.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Electric vehicles
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet Bolt EV | 544 | 14.8 | 0.37 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 13 | Electrical |
| 2 | Tesla Model S | 723 | 16.1 | 0.4 | Worsening | Falling | 31 | Unspecified or other |
| 3 | Tesla Model X | 752 | 17.1 | 0.42 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 33 | Unspecified or other |
| 4 | Ford Mustang Mach-E | 678 | 24.8 | 0.61 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 0 | Electrical |
| 5 | Ford F-150 Lightning | 551 | 33.4 | 0.83 | Improving | Falling | 2 | Electrical |
| 6 | Kia EV6 | 544 | 37.8 | 0.94 | Improving | Rising | 5 | Electrical |
| 7 | Volkswagen ID.4 | 1,011 | 48.3 | 1.2 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 25 | Electrical |
| 8 | Tesla Model 3 | 4,327 | 91.6 | 2.27 | Worsening | Within ±30% year on year | 36 | Driver-assist systems |
| 9 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 1,359 | 93.8 | 2.32 | Improving | Rising | 15 | Electrical |
| 10 | Tesla Model Y | 3,850 | 112.3 | 2.78 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 43 | Driver-assist systems |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 13
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 5
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (5) · 2019 (6) · 2020 (8) · 2021 (5) · 2022 (7) · 2023 (3)
Investigations
- Electrical arcing and thermal events, potentially leading to fires, while utilizing Enel X Way USA, LLC's JuiceBox residential charger. Closed
On October 3, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE24028 to investigate alleged failures of Enel X Way's JuiceBox Level 2 residential EV chargers. The allegations were described as thermal incidents and electrical malfunctions, which could trip the circuit breakers in Juicebox owners’ homes and disrupt electric vehicle charge cycles. On October 2, 2024, Enel X Way posted on it…
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
- Electric Vehicle Battery Fires Closed
In October 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) on 2017-2020 Model Year (MY) Chevrolet Bolt vehicles based on complaints received alleging that the vehicles caught fire under the seating area while parked and unattended. At the time, ODI had received 2 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) and several field reports. All complaints alleged vehicles caug…