Chevrolet Bolt ev problems
The Chevrolet Bolt EV (marketed in Europe as Opel Ampera-e) is a battery electric subcompact hatchback produced by General Motors under the Chevrolet marque. The Bolt was produced from late 2016 to mid-2021, subsequently restarting in early 2022, until late 2023. In mid-2023, GM officials said they would cancel the car, then three months later announced plans but no date for a next-generation model.
The first generation was developed and manufactured with LG Corporation. Sales of the 2017 Bolt began in California in December 2016, it was released nationwide and international markets release in 2017. A rebadged European variant was marketed as the Opel Ampera-e in mainland Europe.
In 2017, the Bolt was the second-best-selling plug-in car in the United States. It was named the 2017 Motor Trend Car of the Year, the 2017 North American Car of the Year, an Automobile magazine 2017 All Star, and was listed in Time magazine's Best 25 Inventions of 2016. The Ampera-e was discontinued after 2018. By the end of 2020, GM had sold 112,000 Bolt and Ampera-e cars worldwide.
The first-generation Bolt has been subject to at least three recalls. At least 16 Bolts have caught fire, leading to a recall to fix or replace battery components and GM's August 2021 advisory to park in open areas, at least 50 feet (15 m) away from other vehicles.
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Chevrolet Bolt ev model years
Common Chevrolet Bolt ev problems
The Chevrolet Bolt EV has been associated with several common problems, primarily related to its battery, in-car electronics, and suspension.
- In-Car Electronics: The Bolt EV has experienced issues with its infotainment system, including problems with the audio, GPS, phone, rear entertainment system, backup or other camera/sensors, and head-up display. These issues can lead to a less reliable driving experience, with complaints about the system freezing or not functioning properly.
- Suspension Clunk: Some Bolt EV owners have reported a rear suspension clunk, which is caused by a bad axle. This issue is particularly noticeable in L driving mode, where getting on and off the throttle can cause the rear suspension to clunk. This problem can affect the overall driving experience and safety of the vehicle.
- Steering Rack Binding: Another common problem with the Bolt EV is the steering rack binding up and needing to be replaced. This issue is characterized by the wheel not returning to center when released, which can affect the vehicle's handling and control.
- 12V Battery Dying: Some Bolt EV owners have experienced issues with their 12V battery dying prematurely, causing various electrical issues until the problem is diagnosed and resolved.
- Gasket Near the Back Hatch Coming Out: There have been reports of the gasket near the back hatch coming out, which can lead to water leaks and other potential problems.
While many Bolt EV owners have not experienced any issues, these common problems can significantly impact the driving experience and overall satisfaction with the vehicle. It is essential for potential buyers to be aware of these issues and consider them when making a purchasing decision.
What is the issue with the Chevy Bolt?
However, the Bolt has had its troubles. Chevy had to issue two recalls for the Bolts in recent years over concerns that battery issues could cause the cars to catch fire. Bolt owners were advised to park their vehicles outdoors once the battery was charged.
What is the life expectancy of a Chevy Bolt?
The battery in the Chevy Bolt EV or Bolt EUV is guaranteed to get at least 8 years or 100,000 miles out of a new battery.
Is Chevy Bolt dependable?
We expect the 2023 Bolt EUV will have about average reliability when compared to the average new car.
How much is a Chevy Bolt battery replacement?
We'd estimate that the lowest out-of-pocket cost for an uncomplicated battery pack replacement on the Chevy Bolt would be from $16,775-$17,775 ($16,000-17,000 for the battery, $100-200 for related parts, and $675 for the HV-certified labor).
Percentage distribution of complaints by Chevrolet Bolt ev years
We have researched Chevrolet problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Chevrolet Bolt ev cars and compiled the top 5 most problematic Chevrolet Bolt ev model years:
- Chevrolet Bolt ev 2019
- Chevrolet Bolt ev 2020
- Chevrolet Bolt ev 2021
- Chevrolet Bolt ev 2022
- Chevrolet Bolt ev 2023
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Chevrolet Bolt ev model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Chevrolet Bolt ev years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Chevrolet Bolt ev car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Chevrolet Bolt ev , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Electrical system problems
- Fuel/propulsion system problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Power train problems
- Steering problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Chevrolet Bolt ev vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints where the accident occurred by Bolt ev model years
A total of 17 complaints were registered in which the accident occurred. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by Bolt ev model years
There were a total of 14 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
Distribution of the number of complaints with injuries by Bolt ev model years
There were a total of 10 complaints that resulted in a injuries. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 416 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Chevrolet Bolt ev . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Chevrolet Bolt ev vehicles.
Latest 25 complaints
Chevrolet Bolt ev 2021
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-24
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-25
- VIN: 1G1FY6S0XM4
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: STEERING GEER HAVING ISSUES OF THE STEERING WHEEL COMING BACK TO CENTER AFTER THE TURN. NOW NEED TO REPLACE STEERING GEER
Chevrolet Bolt ev 2020
- Date Of Incident: 2023-07-31
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-17
- VIN: 1G1FZ6S08L4
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: My backup camera started working intermittently for about a year and now has just stopped working completely. Searching online, this is a very widespread issue with Bolt EV and EUV owners, happening as early as immediately after the car was purchased.
Chevrolet Bolt ev 2020
- Date Of Incident: 2024-10-02
- Date Complaint: 2024-10-03
- VIN: 1G1FZ6S01L4
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: The rear/front camera sometimes stop working or froze and have to turn off the car, to reset, usually happens when it rains
Chevrolet Bolt ev 2020
- Date Of Incident: 2023-12-26
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-21
- VIN: 1G1FZ6S06L4
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: Pulls to the right when accelerating too much. Even after alignment.
Chevrolet Bolt ev 2020
- Date Of Incident: 2023-12-26
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-21
- VIN: 1G1FZ6S06L4
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: The cameras for the 360° view, front to sides and back, keep going out. It's been a repair now five times and it still came back. The dealership is running out of ideas of what to do to fix this. I think it's just a known issue that they can't seem to fix. The main issue is the front camera goes out completely and then on mine, the left side camera goes out and is just black where the front camera will be green and not functioning. I think the module that processes data isn't properly made to handle the amount of video inputs coming in and it bugs out. It seems that it's worse when the temperature swing is too much. Currently it's the temperature of hot above 90° the car gets very warm obviously.
Chevrolet Bolt ev 2020
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-02
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-20
- VIN: 1G1FZ6S03L4
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION
- Summary: The reverse camera (and all cameras) is no longer working. This is a required safety feature and thousands of Bolt owners have reported this on Chevy forums and Reddit groups.
Chevrolet Bolt ev 2021
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-17
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-20
- VIN: 1G1FY6S03M4
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: Shift selector failed. Could no shift into gear Drive, low or Reverse. Locked in park but could shift to neutral. no power steering or AC. If this design flaw failure occurred while the car was on the highway, it could cause an accident. I have contacted General Motors and reported the potential safety issue and awaiting there response.
Chevrolet Bolt ev 2019
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-14
- VIN: 1G1FZ6S04K4
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: The steering wheel is very stiff; if you turn left or right, when you complete the turn, if you were to release the wheel, it does not counter-turn back towards the center. Put differently - in an open parking lot, you could turn the wheel all the way to one side, release the wheel, press the accelerator --- and you'd go in circles. This has been happening for some time, but just recently had it pointed out that it is not normal. I feel its a meaningful safety risk. I researched the issue online and it seems that it is common for this model but GM has been unresponsive.
Chevrolet Bolt ev 2020
- Date Of Incident: 2024-09-07
- Date Complaint: 2024-09-07
- VIN: 1G1FY6S01L4
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: The steering wheel does not return to the center on its own and keep stuck in which direction it is turned. The steering wheel also produces types of clunking noises when the car is standing or at a slow speed, and if you move the steering wheel left and right, it gives clunk clang clank clunk noise. it is very much a safety issue and can create a big accident. I have not taken it to the dealer, but will make an appointment to see what the dealer says. It’s been like this for over a month but now it’s getting a little louder
Chevrolet Bolt ev 2020
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-27
- VIN: 1G1FZ6S05L4
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact stated while driving approximately 4 MPH and exiting the driveway, the check engine warning light and the check gear shifter warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle. The contact had the vehicle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the same dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the negative 12V battery cable had short circuited and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
Chevrolet Bolt ev 2020
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-19
- VIN: 1G1FY6S0XL4
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: See attached document for complaint
Chevrolet Bolt ev 2023
- Date Of Incident: 2024-03-08
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-07
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: See attached document for complaint
Chevrolet Bolt ev 2020
- Date Of Incident: 2024-06-13
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-05
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1G1FZ6S09L4
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: I narrowly escaped a home and vehicle fire when my vehicle charging port received extensive damage from a Mustart SAE J1772 Level 2 EVSE Portable Electric Vehicle Charger. The charging plug overheated and experienced meltdown. The Mustart unit became so hot that my vehicle charging port charred and fused to the Mustart charging plug. The charging head became very brittle, cracked exposing seals, and leaked oil down the vehicle charging port. Even though the charging head is now melted and broken, the charger does not register a fault, and still shows a green light if plugged into the wall. My first warning of a problem was the smell of burning plastic, oil leaking and what looked like smoke coming from the charging head. I immediately unplugged the charger from the wall, but could not remove the charging head from the vehicle charging port because it was fused to the car. I tried to shift the vehicle out of Park and into neutral to move the vehicle away from my home, but the vehicle would not shift with the plug still attached. Even though unplugged from the wall, the Bolt kept beeping, indicating an issue with the charger/port. Fearing a physical short in the charging circuitry of the vehicle, the burning smell and potential for fire, I forcefully removed the charger from the vehicle by pulling on the charging handle with full human stregnth until separated. The plastic parts of both the charger and charging port were burnt and broken. My Chevy Bolt was repaired by a licensed technician at the dealer, who blamed me for the charging fault and damages. GM alleged the damage I caused to the charging unit during removal was pre-existing, causing a loose connection and short circuit. GM refused to repair the damaged charging port under warranty, claiming user error and abuse. I sent a request for refund and reimbursement of damages to Mustart on 8/05/2024 and will update this complaint after their official response.
Chevrolet Bolt ev 2019
- Date Of Incident: 2024-08-01
- Date Complaint: 2024-08-01
- VIN: 1GBJF1G08K4
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: Steering wheel doesn't return to center after a turn, it must be turned back manually. If left unfixed this can cause the steering to lock up entirely when the steering gear fails.
Chevrolet Bolt ev 2019
- Date Of Incident: 2024-07-30
- Date Complaint: 2024-07-31
- VIN: 1G1FY6S09K4
- Components: STEERING
- Summary: Steering doesn't return to center when driving around 40mph on turns. You must manually move it back.
Latest 5 recalls Chevrolet Bolt ev
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 35 recalls for different components of the Chevrolet Bolt ev.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Chevrolet Bolt ev 2021
- Report Received Date: 2024-06-27
- Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
- Park Out Side: 1
- Park Out Side: 1
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
- Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV vehicles that were previously remedied under recall number 21V-650. The advanced diagnostic software may have been incorrectly installed and fail to detect defective battery modules, possibly resulting in a battery fire.
- Consequence: A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Owners are advised to take the following interim steps: Set the Target Charge Level 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. Dealers will reinstall the advanced diagnostic software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 1, 2024. Owners may contact the Bolt EV Concierge Team at 1-833-382-4389. GM's numbers for this recall are N242443000 and N242443002.
- Model: Chevrolet Bolt ev 2022
- Report Received Date: 2024-06-27
- Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
- Park Out Side: 1
- Park Out Side: 1
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
- Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV vehicles that were previously remedied under recall number 21V-650. The advanced diagnostic software may have been incorrectly installed and fail to detect defective battery modules, possibly resulting in a battery fire.
- Consequence: A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Owners are advised to take the following interim steps: Set the Target Charge Level 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. Dealers will reinstall the advanced diagnostic software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 1, 2024. Owners may contact the Bolt EV Concierge Team at 1-833-382-4389. GM's numbers for this recall are N242443000 and N242443002.
- Model: Chevrolet Bolt ev 2020
- Report Received Date: 2024-06-27
- Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
- Park Out Side: 1
- Park Out Side: 1
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
- Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV vehicles that were previously remedied under recall number 21V-650. The advanced diagnostic software may have been incorrectly installed and fail to detect defective battery modules, possibly resulting in a battery fire.
- Consequence: A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Owners are advised to take the following interim steps: Set the Target Charge Level 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. Dealers will reinstall the advanced diagnostic software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 1, 2024. Owners may contact the Bolt EV Concierge Team at 1-833-382-4389. GM's numbers for this recall are N242443000 and N242443002.
- Model: Chevrolet Bolt ev 2020
- Report Received Date: 2023-12-14
- Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
- Components: STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
- Summary: 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.
- Consequence: 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.
- Model: Chevrolet Bolt ev 2018
- Report Received Date: 2023-12-14
- Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
- Components: STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
- Summary: 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.
- Consequence: 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.
Latest negative Chevrolet Bolt ev car reviews
Latest positive Chevrolet Bolt ev car reviews
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Vehicle year: 2019
The car is really impressive! It has great acceleration, handling, and range. While the interior may not be as luxurious as the Lincoln MKS I traded for it, it is still perfectly acceptable. Once you own an EV, there's no going back to a gas engine!
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Vehicle year: 2022
The big battery and low price make this car a promising value. I really like the small size, which allows me to carry four adults in reasonable comfort or a bike with the front wheel removed. The seats are now more comfortable and with additional safety features, it's a very capable car. Although I'm still not a fan of the suspension, recent improvements have made it better. However, it's still not terribly forgiving on rough roads. Maybe the short wheelbase has something to do with that, but the basic rear suspension doesn't help. On smooth roads, it's fine and stable though. Thankfully, the torque steer has been almost eliminated, as the older version was downright frightening at times. The car is more basic than some newer EVs, but that's okay with me. One issue I had was that I found out my phone isn't compatible with the android auto app on the car. Although I can make calls and receive messages, the nav system will not work. My old phone will work on the new Bolt, and my new phone worked on the old Bolt, so something definitely got fouled up. I recommend checking with the service department for compatibility before buying.
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Vehicle year: 2018
We've owned our 2017 Bolt EV Premier for over a year now and we still absolutely love it! We purchased it on the last day of the 2017 tax year and have driven almost 2,000 miles in the past two months. It's a quick and fast accelerating, easy to handle, and versatile compact car. Even though we've had a few snowfalls in the Mid-Atlantic region this season, the Bolt handled well. We were initially worried about transitioning from our all-road station wagon to this compact car, but after doing a trunk test, we were able to fit everything we needed for grocery store runs and even had room for passengers. The Bolt has been a great car for school drop-offs, pick-ups, and highway runs. While we do wonder about the resilience of the recycled materials in the interior, it looks good and is functional. Only time will tell how it holds up. Even in very cold weather, the range of the car has been fine. While low temperatures can mean a drop to 60% of temperate range due to decreased battery chemistry potential energy and thermal conditioning needs of the battery, 60% of 238 miles is still over 140 miles. For several weeks, we used the provided plug-in 120v Level I EVSE for in-town commuting and it worked great. We recently had a Level II EVSE installed on a 240V connection (the Clipper Creek HCS-40) and it has made a world of difference in convenience. Although our car has the on-board option for using DC fast stations, we haven't needed to use a commercial Level II EVSE yet. We now only charge the car 1-2 times per week and hardly ever drop much below 180 miles of listed range. We really can't find anything to dislike about the car. It has more road feel than we anticipated, which I like, but my wife tolerates. We just have to be careful when approaching speed bumps.We haven't experienced any vehicle clearance issues so far, thanks to the car's short nose. My wife absolutely loves the car, especially the one-pedal driving feature which makes braking very responsive and maximizes regenerative braking. The car is also heavy enough to remain stable in bad weather conditions. We know this from driving shortly after Winter Storm Riley in gale force winds. Although the interior seems to get dirty quickly, it could be due to the wet season this year. Currently, this is our only car, but I commute by other means.
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Vehicle year: 2021
Congratulations on your new 2020 Bolt Premier! It's great to hear that you and your husband are both enjoying the car and finding it comfortable. The car's speed and functionality seem to be a perfect fit for your needs. It's also fantastic that you were able to take advantage of the rebates and discounts to make the car more affordable. Thank you for sharing your positive experience with the Bolt and encouraging others to try it out!
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Vehicle year: 2023
I've owned over 25 new cars in my life, including a Corvette, an Escalade ESV, 2 Jeeps, a Van, and older Cadillacs. So, it's safe to say that I'm a bit of a car nut. When I decided to get an EV, I initially looked at a Tesla, but I found the interior to be quite boring and the exterior to be plain, so I passed. However, when I discovered the Bolt EV, I became addicted! I have never driven a car like this before. Firstly, the price is incredible. I was able to pick up a 2023 1LT for only $17,800 (thanks to the $7,500 federal credit and $4,000 NJ tax credit), and there was no state sales tax in NJ! Chevy even covered $1,500 for a home Level 2 charger, and I only had to kick in another $500. What an amazing value for a new car - $18,300 all in! Now, putting the money aside, I would have paid full price for the car if I had to. Here's why: I opted for the 1LT for only one reason - cloth seats. I do not like leather seats, and these cloth seats are super comfortable. In the cold weather, they heat up nearly instantly and actually get TOO hot after just a few minutes. In the summer, your skin doesn't burn like it does on leather seating. I can drive for hours and still be very comfortable. Another great thing about the car is that it's very roomy. I am 5'10And, the best part is that I never have to replace the brakes on this car because the car stops at Stop signs for me. With a range of 279 miles per charge, my Bolt is incredibly efficient and I can get a 37 mile charge every hour with the level 2 charger. I simply pull into my garage, plug her in for an overnight charge, and she's ready in about 1-2 hours on an average day. No more gas stations or oil changes for me! The Bolt gets 120mpg equivalent, which means I only pay about $.50 cents a gallon equivalent. Plus, my electric company gives me a discounted rate of $.09 per KWH for charging overnight. The interior is amazing with a heated steering wheel, awesome deep sounding radio, and Apple Car Play with a 10 inch screen. The reverse view is in HD, which is fantastic. The heat and AC are instantaneous, and I even leave them on when I go to the doctor or shopping for an hour or less. Then, I get back into a nice cooled or heated car - cool! The inside of the car looks like a regular car, with buttons, knobs, and displays all in the right places. The trunk is small, but with the back seat down, I’ve fit a bicycle in there. As for the exterior, some people don't like it, but I think it looks cool for a small car. I could go on and on about the Bolt EV. In summary, I absolutely love this car and drive it every chance I get. Chevy did an amazing job with this car, so much so that I have another one on order! You should definitely grab one while you can. At $20k, it's a winner!
Are you having problems with your Chevrolet Bolt ev?
Adam Gutkowski 2025-04-16
Vehicle year: 2017
Hi there! I'm excited to share that I'm looking to purchase an all-electric car for my next vehicle. While I was initially interested in the Tesla 3, I found out that it's currently sold out, so I decided to explore other options. After reading some reviews, I headed to my local Chevy dealer to test drive the Bolt. Overall, I had a great experience driving the car - it has a sleek design, impressive electronics, and plenty of power. However, I did find the seats to be a bit uncomfortable. They're quite narrow and have minimal padding, which caused some discomfort in my upper back. Despite this, I still had a lot of fun driving the Bolt and would definitely recommend it to others. I'm looking forward to seeing what improvements are made in future versions!
Brennon Rice 2025-04-09
Vehicle year: 2020
I recently experienced a rear axle noise in my car at 39,000 miles, which was fortunately covered under the powertrain warranty. However, the first dealer I visited refused to fix the issue and even provided a false statement claiming that they had resolved it. After realizing that the noise persisted, I decided to take my car to another dealer and paid $150 for an inspection. The second dealer discovered that the rear axle or torsion beam was causing the noise and provided a quote of $2,834 for the repair. I reached out to GM regarding this issue and they promptly contacted the dealer to ensure that my car would be fixed. I am currently waiting for the repair to be completed. For more information, please refer to this source: https://insideevs.com/news/463735/chevy-bolt-ev-clunking-issue-torsion-beam/
Thad Mayert 2025-04-01
Vehicle year: 2017
I noticed some issues that other reviews did not address. In August 2018, GM installed a software update that reduced my consistent range from 235 miles to 185 miles. GM explained that the change was due to weather and my driving habits. I live in So Cal and experienced two months of warm weather, followed by a month of mild weather, and then a month of cooler weather. I understand that battery conditioning for extreme temperatures can affect mileage, and I waited through seasonal changes to see if there was an effect. However, my range has not returned to the 235+ miles I had before the update. During my second trip to the dealership, the range dropped even further below 185 miles. I am considering legal action as GM has not addressed my complaint. Additionally, software updates are pushed to the car while driving, which can cause the backup camera, entertainment, and navigation functions to not operate for up to 10 minutes. For a car that costs $37K, the interior of the Bolt is not up to par with a $25K car. The hard plastics, hard seats, low-fidelity stereo, low-resolution backup camera, and flimsy rear cargo cover are disappointing. The panel fit is also not well thought out. I was told that my Bolt was one of the first 500 production models, and it shows. I had previously leased a BMW i3, which was not without fault, but it never failed to deliver the range I expected, regardless of the weather or my driving habits. I purchased the Bolt because it had a 235-mile range that I enjoyed for 1.5 years before GM's software update reduced it by 50 miles. This has significantly affected my perception of the car and GM.
Kennedy Heaney 2025-03-29
Vehicle year: 2018
I noticed some issues that other reviews did not address. In August 2018, GM installed a software update that reduced my consistent range from 235 miles to 185 miles. GM explained that the change was due to weather and my driving habits. I live in So Cal and experienced two months of warm weather, followed by a month of mild weather, and then a month of cooler weather. I understand that battery conditioning for extreme temperatures can affect mileage, and I waited through seasonal changes to see if there was an effect. However, my range has not returned to the 235+ miles I had before the update. During my second trip to the dealership, the range dropped even further below 185 miles. I am considering legal action as GM has not addressed my complaint. Additionally, software updates are pushed to the car while driving, which can cause the backup camera, entertainment, and navigation functions to stop working for up to 10 minutes. For a car that costs $37K, the interior of the Bolt is not up to par with a $25K car. The hard plastics, hard seats, low-fidelity stereo, low-resolution backup camera, and flimsy rear cargo cover are disappointing. The panel fit is also not great. I was told that my Bolt was one of the first 500 production models, and it shows. I had previously leased a BMW i3, which was not without fault, but it never failed to deliver the range I expected, regardless of the weather or my driving habits. I purchased the Bolt because it had a 235-mile range that I enjoyed for 1.5 years before GM's software update reduced it by 50 miles. Unfortunately, this has significantly affected my perception of the car and GM.
Jay Nolan 2025-03-20
Vehicle year: 2022
I purchased the Bolt Premium in the spring and initially enjoyed it. However, during the first heatwave, I found that the lack of roof insulation made it necessary to use the AC, which drained the battery and reduced the range. Additionally, the seats became uncomfortable on long drives and the battery had issues that required updated software and eventually a replacement. Unfortunately, GM did not cover all costs for a rental during the battery replacement process. Despite my desire to like this car, the negative experiences outweighed the positives and I ultimately sold it to Carmax after only two years. It's worth noting that the run flat tires were uncomfortable and there was no spare tire, which is a common issue with EVs. Overall, my experience with this GM vehicle was disappointing and I would not recommend it.