Chevrolet Bolt EV years to avoid (and the best years)
929 NHTSA owner complaints and 13 recalls across 7 model years, 2017 to 2023. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 929complaints
- 13recalls
- 35reported crashes
- 21reported fires
- 17reported injuries
Which Chevrolet Bolt EV years should you avoid?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the Chevrolet Bolt EV year to avoid is 2017. The typical Chevrolet Bolt EV year has 74 complaints on file.
- 2017: 320 complaints, 4.3 times the typical year. Most complaints name the electrical system (35% of complaints) and the steering (34% of complaints).
What are the best Chevrolet Bolt EV years?
The Chevrolet Bolt EV years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2022 (59), 2023 (60) and 2021 (67). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 60 | 0.8× | 3 | 8 | 5 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2022 | 59 | 0.8× | 7 | 3 | 0 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2021 | 67 | 0.9× | 5 | 4 | 1 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2020 | 173 | 2.3× | 8 | 7 | 0 | Some concerns to check | Electrical system |
| 2019 | 176 | 2.4× | 6 | 2 | 5 | Some concerns to check | Electrical system |
| 2018 | 74 | 1.0× | 5 | 2 | 2 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2017 | 320 | 4.3× | 4 | 9 | 4 | Approach with caution | Electrical system |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 359 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Electrical & infotainment218 (61%)
- Steering, suspension & tires60 (17%)
- Engine & powertrain40 (11%)
- Other systems14 (4%)
- Airbags & seat belts12 (3%)
Recalls (13)
Electrical system · 24V812000 · Oct 2024 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
Electrical system · 24V481000 · Jun 2024 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
Structure · 23V845000 · Dec 2023 · model years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
A fire increases the risk of injury.
Airbags · 23V567000 · Aug 2023 · model years 2022, 2023
An air bag that does not deploy properly in a crash increases the risk of injury.
Structure · 22V930000 · Dec 2022 · model years 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
A vehicle fire can increase the risk of injury.
Electrical system · 21V650000 · Aug 2021 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
Electrical system · 21V560000 · Jul 2021 · model years 2017, 2018, 2019
A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
Airbags · 21V517000 · Jul 2021 · model year 2022
An improperly installed air bag may not deploy properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Seat belts · 20V811000 · Dec 2020 · model year 2020
If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Brakes · 20V808000 · Dec 2020 · model year 2020
If a brake caliper fractures and brake fluid is lost, the vehicle may experience reduced brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 20V701000 · Nov 2020 · model years 2017, 2018, 2019
A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
Safety · 20V184000 · Mar 2020 · model years 2019, 2020
If the rear door opens while driving, or the door handle fails to open the rear door, there is an increased risk of injury to the rear passengers.
Brakes · 18V576000 · Aug 2018 · model years 2018, 2019
A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.