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Vehicle Stats/Chevrolet/BOLT Reliability
NHTSA Official DataUpdated Aug 2026Methodology

Chevrolet BOLT Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls β€” NHTSA data

Poor reliability signalOur verdict from 1,057 complaints and 29 recalls on NHTSA record

Comparing used Chevrolet BOLT options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

1,057
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
29
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
47
Crash-Related
crash complaints
22
Fire-Related
fire complaints
21
Injuries Reported
across all years
10
Years Analyzed
2017–2026

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Found a Chevrolet BOLT? Check that exact car.

Model-year trends show patterns β€” they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.

  • Accident & damage history
  • Odometer rollback records
  • Open recalls & title brands
NMVTIS official data Instant results No signup for the preview
Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Chevrolet BOLT has 1,057 owner complaints and 29 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2017 drew the most complaints; 2021 drew the fewest.

Chevrolet BOLT β€” key reliability facts
Make
Chevrolet
Model
BOLT
Model years analyzed
2017–2026 (10 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
1,057
Safety recall campaigns
29
Crash-related complaints
47
Fire-related complaints
22
Worst model year (by complaints)
2017 (316 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2021 (66 complaints)
Top reported issue area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Β· Data last refreshed Aug 24, 2026
This BOLT has 29 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free β†’

By model year

Chevrolet BOLT: which years to avoid & which to buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used β€” lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

Years to avoid
2017316 complaints2019175 complaints2020172 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

Best years to buy
202166 complaints201873 complaints202285 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β€” lower risk starting points.

Looking at a 2017 Chevrolet BOLT? It logged the most NHTSA complaints of any model year β€” averages won't tell you whether this exact car is affected.Check this VIN free β†’

Crash test ratings

NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.

What the complaint data suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Data engine & NHTSA methodology by Eduard Batog, Co-founder & Data Engineer. How we calculate this.

The CHEVROLET BOLT has 1,057 NHTSA complaints and 29 recalls on record. 47 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key findings
  • 1,057 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 29 federal recall campaigns
  • 47 crash-related complaints on record
Top concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
Worst years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

Best years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to check before buying used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume β€” popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

Problems by model year (best vs. worst)

2017
316
2018
73
2019
175
2020
172
2021
66
2022
85
2023
170

Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026

Safety recalls

NHTSA safety recalls

29 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

#21V517000AIR BAGS:FRONTALAugust 7, 2021
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

#21V650000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Safety recall

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

#22V930000STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
Safety recall

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

#23V845000STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

#24V481000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

#24V812000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Safety recall

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

#20V184000LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Safety recall

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

#20V808000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
Safety recall

SEAT BELTS

#20V811000SEAT BELTS
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

#21V650000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Safety recall

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

#22V930000STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
Safety recall

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

#23V845000STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

#24V481000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

#24V812000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Safety recall

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH

#20V184000LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

#21V560000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

#20V701000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Safety recall

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

#18V576000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
Safety recall

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

#22V930000STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
Safety recall

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

#23V845000STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

Common problems

What goes wrong most often

The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 1,057 NHTSA complaints β€” these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.

01
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM427 complaints
02
STEERING255 complaints
03
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM197 complaints
04
UNKNOWN OR OTHER123 complaints
05
POWER TRAIN91 complaints
06
SERVICE BRAKES59 complaints
07
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE48 complaints
08
ENGINE46 complaints

Owner complaints

NHTSA complaint reports

1,057 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

STEERINGAug 2025

The steering rack loses its lubrication make it turn harder and could potentially fail completely leading to a loss of steering. I noticed that when I am steering around a curve the steering wheel fails to pull back to the center position and has to be manually forced back. Loss of steering or steering malfunction could lead to a fatal crash. I have not had my vehicle inspected by a dealer or mechanic but have researched the problem and many people online have reported failure of the steering rack/gear as well. There is no warning from the manufacturer about this problem and could go unnoticed until the problem is severe. The manufacturer (Chevrolet) should be required to replace this faulty part at no charge to the customer.

STEERINGJul 2025

Sometimes, the steering wheel of the car will not return back to center after turning. The steering also feels a lot heavier. This usually happens after driving straight for a little and then having to make a turn, but may happen spontaneously in other situations as well. The steering wheel suddenly not returning to center when it is expected increases the chances of accidents, especially in areas with many curves and people/activities. The car does not show any warning signs. The dealership said they said they didn't notice it when driving and thus didn't want to further check it (they only drove it from one parking spot to another).

STEERING,POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKESJun 2025

On 4/5/2025 I was driving at 35mph and the steering wheel began to violently shimmy. The vehicle became difficult to steer putting safety at risk. Slowed to 25mph but shimmy did not stop. ABS warning light came on and Stabilitrak warning light came on and warning that steering was being was being automatically reduced. Driving became very difficult. Stopped and had car towed to Chevrolet. Car was diagnosed with broken left and right front axle anticlick washers and metallic debri found on sensors. Both front axle anticlick washers were replaced, sensors cleaned, and codes cleared, and brake fluid had to be flushed. Cost $850 to repair. Subsequently found out another friend had same thing happen to their 2018 Bolt. This was a safety issue and put us at risk while driving.

STEERINGJun 2025

Steering wheel does not return to center

STEERINGMay 2025

The steering of my 2018 Chevy Bolt is sticky. At moderate speeds and going around sweeping corners and curves, the steering becomes sticky and does not want to return to center - you must guide steering back to center and there is friction involved in pulling it back to center. This is a safety issue because the sticking does not allow the driver to sense true road conditions especially in adverse weather. The problem has been reproduced by the dealer and is commonly discussed in Chevy Bolt forums including this one: [XXX] There are no warning lights or indicators of this issue - it is something that you begin to feel with the steering. Certain weather, temperature, and driving conditions seem to make it more pronounced. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

SERVICE BRAKESMay 2025

Brake modules not working properly and need reprogramming. GM not honoring their buyback warranty.

Read 14 more owner reports
STEERINGMay 2025

Well known steering issue causing steering to almost "lock" and not return to center. Seemingly caused by lack of grease on the steering gear. Obviously dangerous for all involved as it is a steering problem.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJan 2025

HMI module failed. Distraction from road because the display pops on and off. Im not taking in my car because there are forums and forums discussing this issue. Not inspected by anybody either. There were no warnings, it just stopped working 2 weeks ago.

STEERINGOct 2024

my bolt was bought in 2018 (2018model) and has only a lil over 35k mileage. I was just informed by the dealer that the whole steering gear needs to be replaced as it could fail at any moment. I checked online for similar issues and seems like there are thousands of complaints of this, I was quoted for $3700 to get this repaired.. This is such a safety issue that it needs to be a recall, especially when considering such a low mileage!!

STEERING,SUSPENSIONOct 2024

The steering gear went out at 45k miles and I JUST got the car recently. The steering stays stuck when I turn it and it takes turns very sharply. In snow or rainy conditions,This might be fatal. I checked out a couple of forums online regarding this issue and seems like a lot of people have also encountered it. It’s a $4000 fix when I took it Chevrolet. This should be something Chevrolet recalls, not for us to fix as it could end up in a lot of injuries or ever death.

STEERINGSep 2024

The steering does not return to center after a turn. It must manually be returned to the center position. Also, there is a creaking sound when turning the wheel.

STEERINGJul 2024

While driving, the steering wheel is stiff when turning left or right and the steering wheel will not return to center after turning a corner or chaning lanes.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHERMay 2024

The radio antenna/receiver/reception in my 2018 Chevy Bolt is very poor. There are many areas I receive almost no radio stations, or stations are extremely fuzzy. The reception is getting worse over time. In searching for a solution to this, I have found that there are many accounts, complaints, and forums related to this issue in all model years of this vehicle. The greater community has not found a viable solution outside of buying a separate radio and hooking it up to the auxiliary input. Many others have brought their vehicle to get inspected repaired and told by the dealers that everything is functioning as it should. The quality and operation of this part pales in comparison to all other vehicles and devices I, and others as they describe, have owned. Understanding this is not a "life and death" safety concern, I hope that this issue can be addressed. This is a basic piece of equipment found in all vehicles, and it is important to have access to at minimum public radio in order to receive potential emergency alerts. It seems chevy has done a disservice to their customers in their failure to provide a properly functioning basic component in these vehicles. I hope you can assist the community of Bolt drivers in this headache. Thank you.

STEERINGApr 2024

The rack and pinion steering degraded over a short period of time with less than 25,000 miles on the vehicle. The first thing we noticed was that the steering wheel would not return to center. Gradually, the steering worsened until it got to the point that the only way the steering would return to center was if it was forcefully pulled to center by the driver. The dealership told us they had no idea what could cause this. We looked online at Chevy Bolt forums and discovered that many other people were having these issues. We took the vehicle to a highly rated repair shop and the mechanic drove the vehicle. He felt it was one of two issues and tried to repair the system without replacing the entire rack and pinion but the repair was unsuccessful. He disassembled the car and determined that the rack and pinion had failed. He showed me evidence of a leak in the system. We have not had any difficulty since it was repaired 6 months ago. There were no warning lights or messages. This was extremely dangerous to both the driver of the vehicle, other drivers and passengers, as well as pedestrians and bicycles because the steering was so unresponsive. It was not possible to make a steering correction quickly due to the issue, thereby putting those in the vehicle and others on the road in danger of a collision.

STEERINGDec 2023

Steering gear failed. My young daughter usually drives this car. I drove it for the first time in a couple of weeks because it was blocking my car in and immediately knew there was a an issue. When turning a corner it was difficult to straighten the steering wheel back to center and if not forced it would continue turning instead of returning back to center on its own. I immediately took it to a mechanic who indicated that the steering gear was failing. He said that when he had the car on the lift to diagnose, it was very difficult to move the wheels by hand. The failure happened pretty quickly and could have been disastrous had I not driven the car.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMAug 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact stated that after the dealer performed the recall repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V560000 (Electrical System), the new battery charge range allowed for up to 90 miles, whereas the older battery allowed for up to 150 miles before recharging. Additionally, the new battery failed to retain a complete charge, with the "Unable to Charge" message displayed while charging. The contact felt that the recall remedy was not a permanent fix but a temporary repair. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

STEERINGJul 2023

My 2018 Chevrolet Bolt steering does not self center. After a turn I have to manually turn the steering wheel back to center. This occurrs turning either left or right. The steering also feels a bit heavy. This is alarming that something is binding in the steering. It is becoming more noticeable. The car was recently in the dealer shop for a seat belt cover recall and they didn't notice anything wrong. The tires were rotated but that made no difference. My wife took the car in for the recall but didn't know to ask about the steering. There are no warning lights.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJun 2023

Dealer will not do recall : (The high voltage batteries in these vehicles may pose a risk of fire when charged to full, or very close to full, capacity. General Motors said that the bottom of the battery tray is damaged.

EXTERIOR LIGHTINGMay 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact stated that while driving at night at an unknown speed, the regen on demand (Rod) was engaged but did not notice any rear illumination. On other occasions, the contact noticed that the vehicles behind were often beeping at her while driving. The vehicle was inspected vehicle while running and the regen on demand (RoD) paddle was activated; however, the rear lights failed to illuminate as needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMMay 2023

Have inquired repeatedly since recall no. 21V560 issued. Told each time by authorized GM dealer that replacement lithium-ion batter pack is not available yet. Coming up on two years and presumably my vehicle remains at increased risk of fire. Would like GM to execute on the recall and repair.

Showing 20 of 1,057 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check the exact car

Before you buy, check the exact Chevrolet BOLT

These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

The basics

How to read this data

Complaints, recalls, investigations β€” here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Chevrolet BOLT, in plain English.

01

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β€” but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Chevrolet BOLT has 1,057 complaints on record across 10 model years.

02

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Chevrolet BOLT has 29 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

03

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 47 of the Chevrolet BOLT's 1,057 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β€” a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

04

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

05

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β€” simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

06

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Chevrolet BOLT vehicles on the road β€” not any specific car. Two Chevrolet BOLT vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

07

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β€” NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Chevrolet BOLT has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

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By state

Check a Chevrolet BOLT by state

Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Chevrolet BOLT.

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Keep researching before you buy

Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.

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Chevrolet BOLT reliability β€” frequently asked questions

Is the Chevrolet BOLT reliable?

Poor. The Chevrolet BOLT has 1,057 NHTSA owner complaints and 29 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.

Which Chevrolet BOLT years to avoid?

Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2017 (316 complaints), 2019 (175 complaints), 2020 (172 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.

What are the most common Chevrolet BOLT problems?

Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (427 complaints); STEERING (255 complaints); FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (197 complaints).

Does the Chevrolet BOLT have recalls?

Yes β€” 29 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Chevrolet BOLT. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

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