2018 Chevrolet BOLT EV

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Chevrolet BOLT EV has 118 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (31% of all complaints), specifically: this vehicle as 42987 miles on the odometer and has been used only in standard highway driving. the steering started to make a "clicking" noise and became harder to handle. a search of the internet indicated that this problem is common in chevrolet bolt cars, often occurring when the vehicle has les. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 1 crash report

118

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

36 complaints

31%

• THIS VEHICLE AS 42987 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND HAS BEEN USED ONLY IN STANDARD HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE STEERING STARTED TO MAKE A "CLICKING" NOISE AND BECAME HARDER TO HANDLE. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON IN CHEVROLET BOLT CARS, OFTEN OCCURRING WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS LES
• 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.
• Driving curvy mountain road and the steering wheel fails to return to center. Nearly caused a terrible accident.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THIS VEHICLE AS 42987 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND HAS BEEN USED ONLY IN STANDARD HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE STEERING STARTED TO MAKE A "CLICKING" NOISE AND BECAME HARDER TO HANDLE. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON IN CHEVROLET BOLT CARS, OFTEN OCCURRING WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS LES”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

30 complaints

25%

• WHILE APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION OF A BUSY CITY STREET, AS COMING TO A STOP FIRST USING REGENERATIVE BRAKING, THEN APPLYING THE MECHANICAL BRAKES, THE GAUGE CLUSTER READ "LIMITED DRIVING CAPABILITY" (OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT). AS I CAME TO A STOP THE CAR SHIFTED ITSELF TO PARK AND APPLIED THE PAR
• ON MARCH 17, 2019 AT APPROXIMATELY 3:45P.M., WE PARKED THE BOLT IN THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR HOME. WE EXITED THE BOLT AND PLUGGED IT INTO OUR JUICEBOX (LEVEL 2) CHARGER AS USUAL. AT APPROXIMATELY 5:00 PM, WE WERE ALERTED THAT THE BOLT WAS ON FIRE. WE DISCOVERED SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF THE REAR OF THE BOLT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET BOLT EV. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, "SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE SEIZED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO POWER OFF THE VEHICLE WITH THE START BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FAULKNER CHEVROLET OF LANCAST

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“WHILE APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION OF A BUSY CITY STREET, AS COMING TO A STOP FIRST USING REGENERATIVE BRAKING, THEN APPLYING THE MECHANICAL BRAKES, THE GAUGE CLUSTER READ "LIMITED DRIVING CAPABILITY" (OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT). AS I CAME TO A STOP THE CAR SHIFTED ITSELF TO PARK AND APPLIED THE PAR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

12 complaints

10%

• WHILE APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION OF A BUSY CITY STREET, AS COMING TO A STOP FIRST USING REGENERATIVE BRAKING, THEN APPLYING THE MECHANICAL BRAKES, THE GAUGE CLUSTER READ "LIMITED DRIVING CAPABILITY" (OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT). AS I CAME TO A STOP THE CAR SHIFTED ITSELF TO PARK AND APPLIED THE PAR
• 35% REDUCTION IN RANGE WITH NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, ADDITIONAL 27% REDUCTION IN RANGE AFTER COURTESY RECALL #18125 LOS OF PROPULSION HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY WITHOUT NOTIFICATION. GM ACKNOWLEDGES RANGE LOSS, THEY INFORMED ME THIS IS NORMAL, UNABLE TO USE VEHICLE FOR WORK COMMUTING
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET BOLT EV. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, "SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE SEIZED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO POWER OFF THE VEHICLE WITH THE START BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO FAULKNER CHEVROLET OF LANCAST

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

11 complaints

• THE BOLT EV HAS A STEERING-WHEEL MOUNTED REGENERATIVE BREAKING PADDLE, WHICH APPLIES THE REGENERATIVE BREAKING, SLOWING THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, WHEN THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED, THIS PADDLE DOES NOTHING, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN SOME NEAR MISSES. A WARNING INDICATOR SHOULD BE PRESENT, OR THE DOCUMEN
• WHILE APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION OF A BUSY CITY STREET, AS COMING TO A STOP FIRST USING REGENERATIVE BRAKING, THEN APPLYING THE MECHANICAL BRAKES, THE GAUGE CLUSTER READ "LIMITED DRIVING CAPABILITY" (OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT). AS I CAME TO A STOP THE CAR SHIFTED ITSELF TO PARK AND APPLIED THE PAR
• 35% REDUCTION IN RANGE WITH NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, ADDITIONAL 27% REDUCTION IN RANGE AFTER COURTESY RECALL #18125 LOS OF PROPULSION HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY WITHOUT NOTIFICATION. GM ACKNOWLEDGES RANGE LOSS, THEY INFORMED ME THIS IS NORMAL, UNABLE TO USE VEHICLE FOR WORK COMMUTING

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE BOLT EV HAS A STEERING-WHEEL MOUNTED REGENERATIVE BREAKING PADDLE, WHICH APPLIES THE REGENERATIVE BREAKING, SLOWING THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, WHEN THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED, THIS PADDLE DOES NOTHING, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN SOME NEAR MISSES. A WARNING INDICATOR SHOULD BE PRESENT, OR THE DOCUMEN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

8 complaints

• 35% REDUCTION IN RANGE WITH NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, ADDITIONAL 27% REDUCTION IN RANGE AFTER COURTESY RECALL #18125 LOS OF PROPULSION HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY WITHOUT NOTIFICATION. GM ACKNOWLEDGES RANGE LOSS, THEY INFORMED ME THIS IS NORMAL, UNABLE TO USE VEHICLE FOR WORK COMMUTING
• WITH THE VEHICLE IN THE "L" MODE DRIVING FORWARD, ON BOTH CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS,THE REGEN BRAKING DOES NOT CONSISTENTLY ENGAGE, THEREBY CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP THE CAR IN TIME WITH THE REGULAR BRAKES TO AVOID A COLLISION. IT HAS BEEN TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS A TOTAL
• THE FIRST YEAR OF THE LEASE, THE MAIN COMPUTER BEGAN TO FAIL AND THE ENTIRE SCREEN WOULD BECOME BLACK, WITH THE ENTIRE CAR INTERMITTENTLY LOSING POWER ON THE FREEWAY. THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. LATER ON, THE BLIND SPOT SENSORS BECAME ERRATIC, BUT THIS IS LIKELY DUE TO A SHODDY REPAIR BY THE DEALERSH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“35% REDUCTION IN RANGE WITH NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, ADDITIONAL 27% REDUCTION IN RANGE AFTER COURTESY RECALL #18125 LOS OF PROPULSION HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY WITHOUT NOTIFICATION. GM ACKNOWLEDGES RANGE LOSS, THEY INFORMED ME THIS IS NORMAL, UNABLE TO USE VEHICLE FOR WORK COMMUTING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 118 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: THIS VEHICLE AS 42987 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND HAS BEEN USED ONLY IN STANDARD HIGHWAY DRIVING. THE STEERING STARTED TO MAKE A "CLICKING" NOISE AND BECAME HARDER TO HANDLE. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET INDICATED THAT THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON IN CHEVROLET BOLT CARS, OFTEN OCCURRING WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS LES
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: WHILE APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION OF A BUSY CITY STREET, AS COMING TO A STOP FIRST USING REGENERATIVE BRAKING, THEN APPLYING THE MECHANICAL BRAKES, THE GAUGE CLUSTER READ "LIMITED DRIVING CAPABILITY" (OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT). AS I CAME TO A STOP THE CAR SHIFTED ITSELF TO PARK AND APPLIED THE PAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: WHILE APPROACHING A BUSY INTERSECTION OF A BUSY CITY STREET, AS COMING TO A STOP FIRST USING REGENERATIVE BRAKING, THEN APPLYING THE MECHANICAL BRAKES, THE GAUGE CLUSTER READ "LIMITED DRIVING CAPABILITY" (OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT). AS I CAME TO A STOP THE CAR SHIFTED ITSELF TO PARK AND APPLIED THE PAR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: THE BOLT EV HAS A STEERING-WHEEL MOUNTED REGENERATIVE BREAKING PADDLE, WHICH APPLIES THE REGENERATIVE BREAKING, SLOWING THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, WHEN THE BATTERY IS FULLY CHARGED, THIS PADDLE DOES NOTHING, WHICH HAS RESULTED IN SOME NEAR MISSES. A WARNING INDICATOR SHOULD BE PRESENT, OR THE DOCUMEN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)