2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Bolt EV years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 4 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 349 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV. That is the most of any Bolt EV model year in the database (8 years). The most reported problem area is steering (125 complaints, 36%), typically at around 41,750 miles. Complaints mention 11 crashes, 5 fires, 5 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 349owner complaints
- 4safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 11complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering problems | 125 | 36% | 41,750 | “return center” (67%) | $3,000 |
| Electrical System problems | 114 | 33% | 23,600 | “battery fire” (7%) | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 70 | 20% | 16,070 | “software update” (13%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 34 | 10% | 24,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 27 | 8% | 22,200 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 22 | 6% | 21,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 16 | 5% | 22,500 | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 12 | 3% | 5,000 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 3% | 40,292 | — | — |
| Suspension | 7 | 2% | 36,600 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 6 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 5 | 1% | 225 | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 1% | 40,292 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 3 | 1% | 46,500 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 1% | 2,473 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 1% | 27,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 1% | 21,030 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 0% | 81,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV recalls (4)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Seat belts:pretensioner; structure:body:roof and pillars
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. This recall includes certain vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under NHTSA recall number 22V-930. After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire.
Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect both front seat belt pretensioners and, if necessary, install metal foil at the carpet near the pretensioner exhaust. Certain vehicles will also need a pretensioner cover installed. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2024. These vehicles were previously recalled for this same issue under recall number 22V-930 and will need to have the new remedy performed. Owners may contact GM EV Concierge at 1-833-EVCHEVY (1-833-382-4389) (TTY 711 / 1-800-833-2438) or Customer Service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232421970.
Seat belts:pretensioner; structure:body:roof and pillars
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire.
Risk: A vehicle fire can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will install metal foil at the carpet near the pretensioner exhaust, and install a pretensioner cover as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between January 23, 2023 and April 25, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N222383790.
Electrical system:propulsion system:traction batteryPark outside
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles previously recalled under NHTSA recall number 20V-701. The high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.
Risk: A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to take the following interim steps: Activate either the Hill Top Reserve (2017 and 2018 models) or Target Charge Level (2019 models) feature in their vehicle to limit the charge level to 90%, charge their vehicle more frequently, avoid depleting the battery to 70 miles range remaining, park outside after charging, and do not charge the vehicle indoors overnight. Defective battery modules will be replaced by GM, free of charge. Interim notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 13, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 13, 2021. Owners may contact the Bolt EV Concierge Team at 1-833-382-4389. GM's number for this recall is N212343880.
Electrical system:propulsion system:traction batteryPark outside
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling all 2017-2018 and certain 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. The high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.
Risk: A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: This recall has been superseded by recall number 21V-560. Vehicles previously repaired under 20V-701 will still need to have the new remedy under recall 21V-560. GM will notify owners, and as an interim repair, beginning on November 17, 2020, dealers will reprogram the hybrid propulsion control module 2 (HPCM2) to limit the full charge to 90%, free of charge. Owners are advised to activate either the Hill Top Reserve (2017 and 2018 models) or Target Charge Level (2019 models) feature in their vehicle to limit the charge level to 90%, or park outside, until the software update is completed. Owners were notified of the interim repair beginning November 17, 2020. The second notice was mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact the Bolt EV Concierge Team at 1-833-382-4389. GM's number for this recall is N202311730.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds (DP22005) — opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V063000.
- Electric Vehicle Battery Fires (PE20016) — opened Oct 9, 2020, closed Feb 7, 2022, led to recall 20V701000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
The steering (rack and pinion) is dangerous. My previous 2019 bolt with 43000 miles handled great and this one (17 with 36xxx) I have to keep both hands on the wheel at all times because it pulls after a turn and the wheel doesnât find center so I am constantly sawing at the steering wheel. At…
The steering rack is binding and has malfunctioned. The steering wheel does not return to center after turning and vibrates or wobbles while driving, which may impair steering control and makes the vehicle unsafe to drive. The problem was diagnosed and confirmed by a certified automotive repair…
I have this exact issue with my car, this is service Bulletin No.: 21-NA-064 published on the NHTSA web site. The dealership wants to charge me hundreds of dollars to fix this problem, it is a software problem. This impacts safety as this heater is also necessary to safely defrost the windows. I…
I am reporting a potential steering system safety defect involving my 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The problem began at approximately 22,800 miles. The steering wheel developed a grinding noise, a noticeable catching/binding sensation when turned, and would not return to center normally after a turn…
The steering rack on the Chevrolet Bolt EV does not return to center on turns. Over the course of the past 25k miles, my particular model has slowly began to lock up on deep turns. This occurs on sharp rights, lefts, and on both on and off ramps - especially the ones that loop around. The steering…
Other Chevrolet Bolt EV years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Bolt EV | 5 | 1 |
| 2023 Bolt EV | 61 | 3 |
| 2022 Bolt EV | 59 | 7 |
| 2021 Bolt EV | 67 | 5 |
| 2020 Bolt EV | 174 | 8 |
| 2019 Bolt EV | 178 | 6 |
| 2018 Bolt EV | 89 | 5 |
| 2017 | 349 | 4 |
See all Chevrolet Bolt EV problems by year, every Chevrolet model, or the Chevrolet VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV?
Owners most often report steering, electrical system, fuel/propulsion system problems. The top one, steering, accounts for 125 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV?
Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Bolt EV model years, the 2017 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.