2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV

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.

Reported

Aug 2025

Incident date

Aug 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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).

Reported

Jul 2025

Incident date

Jan 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Jun 2025

Incident date

Apr 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Steering wheel does not return to center

Reported

Jun 2025

Incident date

Jun 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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)

Reported

May 2025

Incident date

May 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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

Reported

May 2025

Incident date

Apr 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

May 2025

Incident date

May 2025

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Jan 2025

Incident date

Dec 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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!!

Reported

Oct 2024

Incident date

Oct 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Oct 2024

Incident date

Oct 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Sep 2024

Incident date

Aug 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Jul 2024

Incident date

Jun 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

May 2024

Incident date

May 2024

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Apr 2024

Incident date

Sep 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Dec 2023

Incident date

Nov 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Aug 2023

Incident date

Jul 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Jul 2023

Incident date

Apr 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

Jun 2023

Incident date

Jun 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

May 2023

Incident date

May 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

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.

Reported

May 2023

Incident date

Jul 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The factory installed steering rack is binding and fails to return to center. The car has 96,000 miles on it. The steering is dangerous and the vehicle does not track straight even after multiple attempts to align the front end suspension. We replaced the tires, front struts and aligned the vehicle only to discover there is a manufacturing defect in the design of the steering rack.

Reported

Mar 2023

Incident date

Mar 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Driving 65mph in middle lane the vehicle suddenly dropped in speed to 45mph and on the dash a warning came up that said “Propulsion power is reduced” this almost caused a semi truck to rear end me.

Reported

Mar 2023

Incident date

Mar 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I received a "Propulsion Power Reduced" warning indicator on my 2018 Chevy Bolt while driving on the highway. Although I did not lose power, I am afraid to drive my car. I am advised by the car repairer that I should not drive the vehicle until it is repaired because it may stop suddenly without warning. GM has never contacted me about this safety issue despite being aware of the problem. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration should open an investigation and issue a safety recall on this issue. This problem should be categorized as a severe safety hazard and listed on the NHTSA website for the benefit of consumers.

Reported

Feb 2023

Incident date

Feb 2023

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I purchased this car at 15,000 miles in October 2021. It’s my first electric car, and I just assumed that the stiffness in the steering wheel was part of the electric car experience. Big mistake! I took it into the dealer last week and they want $3500 to replace the steering mechanism, I’ve been looking online and I see lots of other people having this issue. This seems like a severe safety issue and Chevy needs to take responsibility for it.

Reported

Dec 2022

Incident date

Oct 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

This car has only 33,000 miles and has been driven gently, mostly on the highway. My wife took her car into the dealer to have the computer software updated (from the battery fiasco-it has never worked correctly since the batteries were changed) and the dealer advised that the car has a "stuck" steering gear, and it was unsafe to drive. The dealer produced an estimate for $2883.24 to change the steering gear, with the same presumably defective parts that were originally used. Now that it has been pointed out my wife said that the steering was getting harder and harder over time and that it probably was starting within the 3 year warranty period. Chevrolet does not consider the vehicles steering to be part of the "drivetrain", even though you cannot drive the car without steering and the dealer says that it is "unsafe to drive"

Reported

Oct 2022

Incident date

Oct 2022

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The steering binds up while turning and the steering wheel does not return to its center neutral position. This is a major safety issue because it takes significant effort to get the car to go straight again. I have nearly gone off the road because of the car’s unpredictable steering. The problem was reproduced and confirmed by my Chevy dealer. The technician attributes the problem to a defective steering gear. After some research online, I see that this problem is common with the Bolt. This is a major safety concern and there should be a recall to correct the problem and hold Chevrolet accountable. There were no warning lights or other signs of malfunction. The problem has made the wheels out of alignment, however.

Reported

Sep 2022

Incident date

Aug 2022

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Our vehicle's power steering is intermittent. It randomly shuts off, leaving the driver with no power steering. Most frequently, the problem surfaces just after start-up, however, this problem also occurs after driving the car for several minutes, such as when the vehicle is parked but turned on, when the vehicle is in motion while driving, and even once in the middle of a U-turn. Once out, the power steering stays off for several minutes, sometimes only 5 minutes, sometimes 15. Once out, the power steering has a) come back on without warning 5-15 minutes later, while the vehicle is in motion while driving, or b) not returned at all for the duration of a drive. It feels unsafe to drive a car that will lose power steering in the middle of a drive. Imagine you are turning the vehicle around a tight corner at 30mph, and all of a sudden the vehicle's trajectory is instantly changed and/or affected because you aren't prepared to grip the steering wheel and apply force strong enough to hold its position without the power assist. Or, imagine the power steering goes out, and you're driving on natural power, applying force strong enough to keep the vehicle on its intended trajectory, but then, without warning, power steering returns, and you suddenly have to correct by lightening your hold? In both scenarios, the power steering is unreliably putting the driver and passengers, along with other motorists or pedestrians, at risk due to the intermittent and unpredictable power steering problem. Yes, it has been inspected by the manufacturer at a Chevy dealership and it was determined: "Internal Power Steering Module Failure. Verified on road test. Found no communication from steering control module. Test power and ground. Recommend replacement." A warning sound and a flash notice on the indicator screen both emerge simultaneously when the problem occurs, however, no messages or indications happen prior to the failure. For us, they first appeared in February 2022.

Reported

Sep 2022

Incident date

Feb 2022

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Over the last month I have noticed that the steering fails to return to center once I turn the front wheels more than a few degrees to the right or left. I thought it could be a tire wear or miss-alignment issue so I got new tires and an alignment but the problem is still quite bad. While I noticed it starting at the end of July, it is an ongoing problem. It seems to be getting worse - the steering now ‘sticks’ consistently in both directions.

Reported

Aug 2022

Incident date

Jul 2022

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The steering wheel.does not turn back to the center once I make a turn. Mechanics say it is a steering gear that is out of order. My wife and I got into the accident multiple times due to this.

Reported

Aug 2022

Incident date

Aug 2022

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

While driving at highway speed, the steering wheel started to shimmy, making the vehicle difficult to control. On inspection, the front wheel was very hot. The mechanic advised that the front caliper is defective. The Bolt EV is equipped with a regenerative braking system that stops the vehicle. This vehicle has been stopped by using this regenerative braking system about 99% of the time. The mechanic advised that since the caliper has not been used, it has started freezing, causing the brakes to continue to be applied after they are used. This causes the wheel to heat during driving, and at continuous highway speeds, causes the steering wheel to shimmy and makes the vehicle difficult to control. The vehicle has less than 10,000 miles. The brake dragging also causes reduced acceleration. The unexpected reduced acceleration can cause a hazard in the event of passing where the vehicle is unable to pass and return to the driving lane before oncoming vehicles arrive. There were no warning lamps, and the part has not been removed from the vehicle at this writing. It is not known whether the mechanic reproduced this fault. The fault has been intermittent, but has occurred on more than one occasion.

Reported

Aug 2022

Incident date

Jul 2022

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The battery in this vehicle was replaced pursuant to the current recall at the Morehart Murphy dealership in Durango, CO about two(2) months ago. On approximately June 5, 2022, the car began showing a "Propulsion Power Is Reduced" warning, despite the fact that the battery was approximately 3/4 fully charged and showing a range of 248 miles. We made arrangements to take the car into the dealership on June 9, 2022. Once the car was at the dealership, the EV technician reported that the dealership had just received a bulletin from GM about this problem on that same day, that the problem was with the replaced battery, that GM engineers were working on the problem, that the car was not safe to drive, and that the car would have to be left with the dealership until a solution was found. We have heard nothing from the dealership since that time. I called the dealership this morning (June 20, 2022). The dealership advised that GM had not responded to the calls from the dealership and that no solution to the problem has been offered. The dealership suggested that I call GM directly and "raise a stink." I called GM this morning and reported the problem. GM offered no solution other than stating that it would call a "district manager." This identical problem has been reported online by other Bolt owners who have had their batteries replaced pursuant to the recall.

Reported

Jun 2022

Incident date

Jun 2022

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V560000 (Electrical System). The contact stated that the battery power had decreased by 25 percent. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the battery was on back order. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 1. Parts distribution disconnect.

Reported

Jun 2022

Incident date

Aug 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I have tried to schedule service for the High Voltage Battery Recall using a GM recommended service provider in Jefferson City MO named Rusty Drewing Chevrolet. I was turned away after scheduling my service over 1 month prior because they will not service the vehicle stating they are not getting the appropriate tools from GM. I was told that even if I left the vehicle with them for a month they would not be able to service it because GM is not sending them the replacement tools that they need to properly discharge the HV battery. I am now forced to continue operating a potentially dangerous vehicle because I am being refused service to get a recall performed on my vehicle.

Reported

Jun 2022

Incident date

Jun 2022

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

INTERMITTENT EXTREME VIBRATIONS OF THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING. THIS ISSUE COME AND GOES WITH OUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS DISPLAYING. THE VIBRATIONS ARE SO EXTREME THAT I MUST SLOW DOWN TO 30 MILES PER HOUR OUR LESS TO MAINTAIN CONTROLL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND LEFT IT FOR A EWEEK AND THEY COULD NEVER REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP EARLY 2022. IF YOU DRIVE THE VEHICLE LONG ENOUGH IT WILL USUALLY STOP THE VIBRATIONS AND IF YOU TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND LET SIT OVERNIGHT; THE VIBRATIONS ARE NOT PRESENT WHEN YOU DRIVE THE VEHICLE THE NEXT MORNING. IF YOU TURN OFF THE VEHICLE FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES THE VIBRATIONS ARE STILL THERE, BUT MNAY STOP IF YOU CAN DRIVE IT LOGER. I CAN NOT TELL IF THE PROBLEM IS THE BRAKES OR THE DRIVE TRAIN. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE VEHICLE MAY JUST LOCK UP IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC.

Reported

Apr 2022

Incident date

Apr 2022

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

It appears the steering rack is binding up. On sweeping corners at moderate speed (30-50mph) the steering wheel must forcefully be returned to center, regardless of direction and wants to turn a little further into the corner, the driver must always forcefully maintain control of the wheel at moderate speeds. The car has recently had a 4 wheel alignment, and steers straight otherwise. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The failure may put drivers at risk if they are not able to overcome the force required to straighten the wheel (which is far beyond the typical force required to drive a car with power steering) or are inattentive to the behavior. The vehicle has not yet been diagnosed by an independent service center. I have diagnosed it myself by putting the vehicle up on jack stands. With the front wheels off the ground, and the steering column disconnected from the steering rack, you can feel that the steering rack has bound up. While gripping the sides of the wheels, with them off the ground, and the steering column disconnected, the wheels are very difficult to steer, and you can feel the rack skips and jumps discontinuously. I will have the failure inspected by a GM dealer within the next few weeks as time allows. There are no warning lamps or messages. The primary symptom is that the steering wheel does no return to center upon exiting turns. This is a discussed failure on the Bolt EV forums & internet here: https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/steering-wheel-not-centering-after-a-turn.33873/ https://www.carproblemzoo.com/chevrolet/boltev/2017/steering-problems.php https://www.carproblemzoo.com/chevrolet/boltev/steering-problems.php https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/2018-chevy-bolt-46k-miles-needs-steering-rack-3k-dollar-repair.37332/page-2#post-701932 https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/steering-rack-oil-leak.28129/

Reported

Mar 2022

Incident date

Mar 2022

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

In March 2021, I drove my Bolt in very cold weather, and parked the Bolt in my garage with only 7 miles range remaining. I did not plug in the Bolt to charge until 24 hrs later and found out the Bolt would not charge. The Bolt was towed to a local Chevy dealer for service. The dealer found two parts had failed. 1) Drive Motor Battery Coolant Heater, and 2) High Voltage Battery Control Wiring Junction Box. According to the dealer Part 1 was not warrantied, and Part 2 was warrantied. Here's my problem. Part 1 was replaced first but that did not fix the problem. Only after Part 1 was replaced did the dealer find Part 2 had failed. Obviously these two Parts are interdependent. Part 2 caused Part 1 to fail, therefore Part 1 should be covered by Part 2 warranty.

Reported

Mar 2022

Incident date

Mar 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number 21V560000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and it was confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Reported

Feb 2022

Incident date

Aug 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

2018 CHEVROLET BOLT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE DEALER ADVISED THE BATTERY HAD A BAD CELL AND A PROGRAM ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT OPERATIONAL AND IT WAS UNKNOWN WHEN A FIX WOULD BECOME UNAVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A REQUESTED A LOANER VEHICLE.

Reported

Oct 2021

Incident date

Oct 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Driving curvy mountain road and the steering wheel fails to return to center. Nearly caused a terrible accident.

Reported

Sep 2021

Incident date

Sep 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Parking like this is not practical and GM needs to expedite this buyback: https://insideevs.com/news/533584/chevrolet-bolt-ownership-becoming-impossible/ https://www.kbb.com/car-news/gm-tells-some-chevy-bolt-owners-park-50-ft-from-other-cars/ https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/15/gm-advising-some-bolt-ev-owners-to-park-50-feet-away-from-other-cars.html

Reported

Sep 2021

Incident date

Sep 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The contact leased a 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V560000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and informed the contact about a buyback program. The contact stated that the manufacturer was unable to provide a solution. The contact had not experienced a failure. The contact was concerned about driving the vehicle. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.

Reported

Sep 2021

Incident date

Jul 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Steering on this vehicle failed at less than 40,000 miles. Car is almost uncontrollable and drifts off the road; steering now requires enormous force to maintain a straight course.

Reported

Aug 2021

Incident date

Jan 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

I received a recall notice for my 2018 Chevy Bolt and my complaint is in reference to that. It is not a new issue. The remedy suggested by the recall notice is completely unrealistic. To use the car, I have to charge it overnight when I am sleeping. As is the case with almost every other Bolt owner, my charging station is in the garage. So it's unrealistic to (1) avoid depleting below 70 MPH range, (2) park my vehicle outside immediately after charging, and (3) avoid charging the car in my garage overnight. I just want to make sure GM does not escape liability if there is a problem and I did not follow these unrealistic guidelines

Reported

Aug 2021

Incident date

Aug 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

Battery fire hazard not resolved. Recommendation from GM to not charge above 90% and not discharge below about 40%, giving an effective range of half of the stated range. Risk that I may need to go below the 40% charge state when travelling, causing fire. I need to charge in my attached garage, posing safety risk to me and family.

Reported

Aug 2021

Incident date

Aug 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

My Chevrolet Bolt was subject to the recall for battery problems causing fires, as was described by NSTB above. I took it in for free servicing at Chuck Olson Chevrolet KIA, in Shoreline, WA on July 26, 2021 as directed. (I bought the vehicle new from them). After servicing was completed and supposedly the computer was reset so as not to allow the car to charge beyond 80% of its battery capacity, I took it to a public charger operated by ChargePoint, Inc. at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle to charge it. I left it attached to the charger on the assumption that it would shut off electric charge to the vehicle automatically, once it had reached the 80% level. It greatly exceeded this before automatically shutting down when the charge reached a 300 mile range estimate of charge. The vehicle's officially stated charge range estimate is 238 miles. I expect that the recall repair done by Chuck Olson Chevrolet would have prevented this from happening. This action puts my vehicle and me at risk of a serious battery fire problem that was the official reason that NTSB initiated the recall requirement. I would like a clarification of whether the NTSB expected the repair done by Chuck Olson Chevrolet to prevent this, as they may be causing a fire for which they or the manufacturer would be liable.

Reported

Aug 2021

Incident date

Aug 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The battery system has a defect that GM admits could lead to a fire. Since November 2020, they advised me to not charge the car above 90% of capacity. They now are also advising not to discharge below 30%, to not charge overnight, and to park outside once charged. One car fire involved a vehicle that regularly only charged to 75%, so, to be safe, I won't charge to more than 70%. That leaves me with only 40% of my battery (24% in winter). My system in my garage only has power during overnight hours, so no charging overnight means I can't charge my car. GM has a final remedy that involves analyzing the battery for defective modules and installing advanced diagnostic software to detect performance issues before they cause a problem. The huge problem with that remedy is that there have been two fires in cars that had their batteries analyzed and had the diagnostic software installed. That means their system for detecting and preventing fires DOES NOT WORK. In the final remedy, GM will only replace modules that they find are defective. After the remedy work is done, GM says customers can charge their vehicles to 100% with full confidence. If their detection system is faulty, as evidenced by subsequent fires, how can anyone confidently go to sleep at night and charge to 100%? Their detection system relies on software to detect issues. My vehicle has had software problems that include charging to full when only programmed to charge for 2 hours, infotainment system fails to initiate, vehicle fails to recognize key fob, cruise control fails to initiate, touch screen won't respond which prevents operation of all systems controlled through the screen. I have no confidence that GM can detect the known battery defect in modules with 100% certainty. Anything less than 100% means I can't charge my car in my garage and still sleep at night. Also, GM has no idea when final remedy will be ready, and I shouldn't have to live with 40% of my battery for an unknown time.

Reported

Aug 2021

Incident date

Apr 2018

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

GM is aware of a defect that may cause my vehicle to catch fire. They have advised me to park outside so in case it catches fire, the fire is less likely to injure or kill anyone. But, uh, I would like my vehicle to not catch fire actually.

Reported

Aug 2021

Incident date

Aug 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

My vehicle is being affected by 2 recalls for a battery that might melt or burn. The vehicle is also experiencing issues with the infotainment system that is malfunctioning/restarting/shutting down while driving. This is extremely distracting and dangerous and causes the vehicle speed area to fade out as the system restarts. Our family is severely limited by the charge limit, minimum miles, or by having to park it outside and not charge it overnight. We live in an fire brush area and are very stressed about having the vehicle potentially catch on fire and burn down our neighborhood. I tried to trade in the vehicle so that we could move on and they won't accept the car with an open warranty recall. The carfax information literally states that the remedy is NOT YET AVAILABLE. How can we move on and what do we do with our original investment of over $48k? I have taken the vehicle into the dealership to have the software update installed twice and still don't know if it has been done or whether the cars battery has been tested and the numbers are within the acceptable parameters. The infotainment system still does not work properly and I am worried that the vehicle is malfunctioning. My wife has now issued the ultimate - I cannot park the car or charge the car at our home. She is stressed beyond belief and I will have to leave the car at the local dealership to charge it and wait for whatever remedy they come up with whenever it might happen.

Reported

Aug 2021

Incident date

Nov 2020

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

We own a 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV which has once again been recalled due to battery fires. We are not limited to how we charge our vehicle, where to hark and limited to 60% of the mileage range that we paid for while we wait to see if GM can fix this issue. Replacing individual cells in a dirty auto dealers show in a battery that was built in a clean room does not seem like a good idea. I'm not comfortable that GM can be successful identifying whether or not my battery is defective. This is a serious safety issue. My family, our home, people and property where I drive and park are all at risk. I no longer feel comfortable driving this car. The restrictions on charging are onerous. We are on Time of Use for our electricity so that we can charge at night when it is cheaper. Now we are told we have to charge during peak hours at triple the cost. We can't park in the garage so the vehicle is sun damaged and the battery is overheated while sitting all day in the hot SoCal sun. We also are at high risk for damage to the wiring from rats now. We already have an issue with the rats eating the wires in our RV. GM must be forced to replace the entire battery pack in every vehicle affected by this recall. They must provide loaner vehicles or details on reimbursement for rental cars.

Reported

Aug 2021

Incident date

Jul 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

The incident is that my car just had a second recall about the exact same problem about the battery and to keep my car to erupt on fire I won't be able to use it as intended. I purchased this car because of its range and now I can't get that range if I can only charge it up to 90% and cannot let go below 30%. That is unacceptable.

Reported

Aug 2021

Incident date

Aug 2021

Mileage

Not provided

Outcome flags

None reported

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

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.

Remedy: 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.

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.

Remedy: 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.

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.

Remedy: 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.

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.

Remedy: 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.