Chevrolet Bolt EV Problems by Year
Chevrolet Bolt EV years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Bolt EV year: 2017, 2019, 2020. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2017 Bolt EV: 349 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2019 Bolt EV: 178 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2020 Bolt EV: 174 complaints, 8 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2027 Bolt EV: 5 complaints, 1 recall
- 2022 Bolt EV: 59 complaints, 7 recalls
- 2023 Bolt EV: 61 complaints, 3 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Chevrolet Bolt EV problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System problems | 404 | 8 | 7 |
| Steering problems | 261 | 7 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 189 | 8 | 3 |
| Power Train | 87 | 8 | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 55 | 8 | 7 |
| Engine | 44 | 7 | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 33 | 6 | 9 |
| Visibility/wiper | 24 | 6 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 23 | 7 | 13 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 19 | 6 | 2 |
| Suspension | 19 | 7 | 1 |
| Lane Departure | 18 | 7 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 17 | 5 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 15 | 6 | 0 |
| Structure | 11 | 5 | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention | 9 | 4 | 1 |
| Wheels | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| Seats | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Chevrolet Bolt EV problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2020: electrical system (94)
- 2019: electrical system (85)
- 2017: steering (125) · electrical system (114) · fuel/propulsion system (70)
All Chevrolet Bolt EV model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Bolt EV | 5 | 1 | — | Forward Collision Avoidance | |
| 2023 Bolt EV | 61 | 3 | 5★ | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 Bolt EV | 59 | 7 | 5★ | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2021 Bolt EV | 67 | 5 | 5★ | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2020 Bolt EV | 174 | 8 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2019 Bolt EV | 178 | 6 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2018 Bolt EV | 89 | 5 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2017 Bolt EV | 349 | 4 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Chevrolet: all Chevrolet models · Chevrolet VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Bolt EV years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2017 (349), 2019 (178), 2020 (174) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Bolt EV year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Chevrolet Bolt EV?
Electrical System, with 404 complaints across 8 model years.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Bolt EV have?
14 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.