Chevrolet Bolt EV reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 981 complaints about the Chevrolet Bolt EV with NHTSA since 2017, most often about electrical system and steering. Chevrolet has filed 1 warranty extension and 29 service campaigns for it, and there are 14 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Chevrolet Bolt EV? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the Bolt EV a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2017 on.
- Owner complaints
- 981
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 1
- Filed by Chevrolet
- Service campaigns
- 29
- Filed by Chevrolet
- Safety recalls
- 14
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the Bolt EV with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 5 | Automatic emergency braking and collision warning (60%) | 1 | 7 |
| 2024 | 0 | — | 0 | 5 |
| 2023 | 61 | Electrical system (28%) | 3 | 9 |
| 2022 | 59 | Electrical system (49%) | 7 | 10 |
| 2021 | 67 | Electrical system (49%) | 5 | 12 |
| 2020 | 174 | Electrical system (54%) | 8 | 13 |
| 2019 | 178 | Electrical system (48%) | 6 | 9 |
| 2018 | 89 | Steering (43%) | 5 | 10 |
| 2017 | 348 | Steering (36%) | 4 | 10 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single Bolt EV model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Chevrolet
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Chevrolet filed with NHTSA for the Bolt EV, in its own words. A warranty extension means Chevrolet pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Warranty extensionMay 2024· Body and structure· model years 2017–2024
This service bulletin provides information about GM Accessories - Dealer-Installed, Repaired or Replaced During Warranty Coverage Period.
- Service campaignSep 2026· Exterior lights· model years 2027
Certain vehicles listed above may have a condition in which there is a water leak due to a partially seated tail-lamp harness grommet. Dealers will inspect and reseat grommet if necessary.
- Service campaignSep 2026· Body and structure· model years 2027
Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the roof to body side structure has a pinhole in it. Dealers are to inspect the right hand side of the roof-to-body joint for pinholes and, if necessary, reseal the area.
- Service campaignAug 2026· Other or unspecified· model years 2020–2023
Certain vehicles may have a condition where a false diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is set. Dealers are to reprogram the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2.
- Service campaignJul 2026· Fuel and propulsion· model years 2027
Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the software that maintains the RESS battery pack may inadvertently cause a drain on the high voltage and low voltage batteries.
- Service campaignJun 2026· Steering· model years 2027
Certain vehicles may have a condition in which a fastener may be loose at the steering column to cockpit beam. Dealers will inspect the fasteners and torque them to the proper value.
- Service campaignJun 2026· Fuel and propulsion· model years 2027
Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the software that maintains the RESS battery pack may inadvertently cause a drain on the high voltage and low voltage batteries. Dealers are to fully charge the high voltage battery to reset the cell balancing software.
- Service campaignJun 2026· Suspension· model years 2027
Certain vehicles may have a condition in which a bolt(s) on the left or right side of the rear wheel hub may be incorrectly torqued. Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the rear wheel hub bolt(s).
- Service campaignMar 2026· Other or unspecified· model years 2017–2024, 2027
Certain vehicles may have been sold with a GM NACS Level 2 EV charging adapter (NACS to J1772) in which a quality issue was identified. Dealers are to provide the customer with the latest design charging adapter.
- Service campaignJan 2026· Other or unspecified· model years 2020–2023
Certain vehicles listed above may have a condition where a false diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is set. Dealers are to reprogram the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2.
- Service campaignJun 2025· Other or unspecified· model years 2018–2024
Amendments to the Song-Beverly Act (SBA) California warranty law provides vehicle owners with an opportunity to submit a written notice to GM before filing a lawsuit seeking a vehicle repurchase.
- Service campaignJun 2025· Other or unspecified· model years 2018–2024
Amendments to the Song-Beverly Act (SBA) California warranty law provides vehicle owners with an opportunity to submit a written notice to GM before filing a lawsuit seeking a vehicle repurchase.
- Service campaignFeb 2025· Other or unspecified· model years 2020–2022
Certain 2020 – 2022 model year Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 model year Chevrolet Bolt EUV vehicles may have a condition in which a false diagnostic trouble code (DTC), U3636 symptom 09, is triggered.
- Service campaignOct 2024· Electrical system· model years 2020–2021
Service Update - Certain vehicles may have a condition where the advanced diagnostic software recall remedy in NHTSA Recall 21V650 may not have been correctly installed in this vehicle population.
- Service campaignSep 2024· Electrical system· model years 2020–2023
Service update - certain vehicles may have a condition where a false diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is set. Dealers are to reprogram the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2.
- Service campaignAug 2024· Electrical system· model years 2017–2024
Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles.
- Service campaignJun 2024· Other or unspecified· model years 2017–2022
Service update - certain vehicles may need the battery software updated. Dealers will reprogram the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2, Battery Energy Control Module, and the Body Control module.
- Service campaignMay 2023· Equipment and accessories· model years 2023
Customer Satisfaction Program - certain vehicles may have a window fuel economy label that, due to a printing error, did not state the vehicleâs battery charge time.
- Service campaignMay 2021· Suspension· model years 2021
Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain vehicles may have a trigger link within the transmission range control module (TRCM) that is prone to fracture.
- Service campaignApr 2021· Body and structure· model years 2019
Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain vehicles have a new software package of advanced onboard diagnostics. Dealers will update the software on the body control module and HPCM2 module.
- Service campaignAug 2020· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2020
This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician to a possible Drive Unit fluid plug leak that a dealer may find, it also addresses the locations of the plugs that the technician may need to inspect for the possible leak.
- Service campaignAug 2020· Fuel system· model years 2020
Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain vehicles may have oil leaking from one or more of the plugs on the drive unit assembly.
- Service campaignJul 2020· Electrical system· model years 2019
Customer Satisfaction Program - certain vehicles built between January 1, 2019 and June 30, 2019, may have a condition in which the manual service disconnect fuse opens at too low an amperage resulting in a check engine light turning on or the vehicle will not start or in rare…
- Service campaignAug 2019· Electrical system· model years 2019
N192218430 - Customer Satisfaction Program. During service, certain vehicles equipped with OnStar (RPO UE1), may have received an incorrect and partially programmed/configured replacement OnStar module.
- Service campaignMar 2019· Electrical system· model years 2017–2018
17297-04 - Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the cells within the battery pack have low voltage.
- Service campaignAug 2018· Electrical system· model years 2017–2018
17297-03 - Customer Satisfaction Program (Service Procedure Revised).
- Service campaignAug 2018· Electrical system· model years 2017
18097-03 - Customer Satisfaction Program (Service Procedure Revised).
- Service campaignAug 2018· Electrical system· model years 2017–2018
18125-01 - Customer Satisfaction Program (Service Procedure Revised).
- Service campaignMay 2018· Electrical system· model years 2017–2018
18125 - Customer Satisfaction Program. Certain vehicles may have a condition where the software will not detect the difference in the state of charge between the cell groups of the battery and over predict the indicated battery range.
- Service campaignMay 2018· Electrical system· model years 2017
17386-01 - Customer Satisfaction Program. Revised - A labor time adjustment has been made in the Claims Information Section for Labor Operation 9103746.
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every Bolt EV model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Electrical system404 (41%)
- Steering260 (27%)
- Fuel and propulsion189 (19%)
- Other or unspecified114 (12%)
- Transmission and drivetrain84 (9%)
- Brakes52 (5%)
- Engine42 (4%)
- Cruise control and speed control19 (2%)
Safety recalls
14 recalls cover at least one Bolt EV model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ,…
The installation of advanced diagnostic software may have failed. As such, the high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.
The advanced diagnostic software may have been incorrectly installed and fail to detect defective battery modules, possibly resulting in a battery fire.
This recall includes certain vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under NHTSA recall number 22V-930.
The instrument panel may be missing the perforation on the underside of the panel cover that allows the passenger-side air bag to deploy properly.
After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire.
The high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.
The high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.
One of the two fasteners that secure the driver's frontal air bag to the steering wheel may be missing or improperly tightened.
Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.
These vehicles may have an improperly cast front left brake caliper that can fracture during a high-pressure braking event.
The high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.
The door-handle cable inside the rear doors may be too long, allowing contact with the window when it is opened, possibly damaging the cable.
The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
NHTSA investigations
Defect investigations NHTSA opened. Many close without a recall.
- PE24028Preliminary evaluation· opened Oct 2024, closed Jun 2025· Equipment and accessories· model years 2018
Electrical arcing and thermal events, potentially leading to fires, while utilizing Enel X Way USA, LLC's JuiceBox residential charger.
- DP22005Defect petition· opened Jan 2023, closed Aug 2023· Electrical system· model years 2017–2022
Pedestrian alert sounds
Led to recall 22V063000.
- PE20016Preliminary evaluation· opened Oct 2020, closed Feb 2022· Electrical system· model years 2017–2020
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Led to recall 20V701000.
NHTSA's own page for the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV has the complaint text and every document.
Common questions
Is the Chevrolet Bolt EV reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2017 on: 981 owner complaints, 1 warranty extension and 29 service campaigns Chevrolet filed, and 14 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2017 (348), 2019 (178), 2020 (174). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Chevrolet Bolt EV?
Across every model year since 2017, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name electrical system (41%), steering (27%), fuel and propulsion (19%). Chevrolet has filed 1 warranty extension covering the Bolt EV, listed on this page.
Which Bolt EV model years have the most complaints?
2017 (348), 2019 (178), 2020 (174). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the Bolt EV with each other rather than with other models.
Has Chevrolet extended the warranty on the Bolt EV?
Yes: body and structure (model years 2017–2024). A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a Bolt EV?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 14 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.