2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV recalls and problems

The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV has 4 safety recalls and 351 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Chevrolet dealer.

Urgent: recall 21V-560, recall 20V-701 carry a "park outside" warning. Contact a dealer before driving.
Recalls
4
Complaints
351
Crashes / fires
11 / 5
Injuries / deaths
5 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV recalls

Recall 23V-845: Seat Belts, Structure

Reported Dec 14, 2023 · 6,771 vehicles affected · General Motors, LLC

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall 22V-930: Seat Belts, Structure

Reported Dec 15, 2022 · 111,242 vehicles affected · General Motors, LLC

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall 21V-560: Electrical System

Park outsideReported Jul 23, 2021 · 57,414 vehicles affected · General Motors, LLC

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

Recall 20V-701: Electrical System

Park outsideReported Nov 13, 2020 · 50,932 vehicles affected · General Motors LLC

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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.

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Steering126
Electrical System114
Fuel/Propulsion System70
Unknown or Other34
Power Train27
Service Brakes22
Engine16
Visibility/Wiper12
Vehicle Speed Control11
Suspension8
Lane Departure6
Seats5

Most reported parts

  • Lane Departure › Blind Spot Detection — 5
  • Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery — 3
  • Electrical System › Propulsion System › Traction Battery — 2
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings — 2
  • Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights — 1
  • Electrical System › Propulsion System › Charging › Cable/Cord › Accessory — 1
  • Electrical System › Adas › Autonomous/Self Driving › Software — 1
  • Lane Departure › Assist — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 20,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Steering · reported Oct 30, 2026
The steering wheel fails to return to center after turning and will stay stuck in the turned position. In looking through forums, it appears to be a common issue for Bolts that Chevrolet has not taken accountability for as no recall has been issued even though the complaints are quite numerous with the steering gear needing to be replaced, even at low mileage.
Suspension · reported Oct 26, 2026
I was driving on a smooth road when I felt a mild bump and started smelling smoke and saw smoke trailing from behind the car. I immediately pulled into a parking lot and saw that the rear driver side wheel was at an extreme odd angle relative to the car. A suspension beam under the rear of the car was fractured. It was very significant but at the time I couldn't tell if the beam was completely broken but the fracture is very apparent.
Steering · reported Oct 13, 2026
The steering (rack and pinion) is dangerous. My previous 2019 bolt with 43000 miles handled great and this one (17 with 36xxx) I have to keep both hands on the wheel at all times because it pulls after a turn and the wheel doesn’t find center so I am constantly sawing at the steering wheel. At highway speeds this could become dangerous and cause an accident from an overcorrection. Steering has become stiff and almost like I have a bad alignment but it could go in either direction. I already had a near miss at highway speeds due to the steering not being as responsive as I know it should be.…
Steering · reported Sep 26, 2026
The steering rack is binding and has malfunctioned. The steering wheel does not return to center after turning and vibrates or wobbles while driving, which may impair steering control and makes the vehicle unsafe to drive. The problem was diagnosed and confirmed by a certified automotive repair shop. No warning lights or messages appeared. The only prior symptom was progressively worsening steering-wheel operation over time.
Unknown or Other · reported Sep 25, 2026
I have this exact issue with my car, this is service Bulletin No.: 21-NA-064 published on the NHTSA web site. The dealership wants to charge me hundreds of dollars to fix this problem, it is a software problem. This impacts safety as this heater is also necessary to safely defrost the windows. I have called GM and they are telling me they will not repair the software defect for free. This creates incentive for the car manufacturer to create bad software that will need updates. It's an easy fix, but they prevent the customer from being able to do this simple software fix which any reasonable…

Other Chevrolet Bolt EV years

Compare all Chevrolet Bolt EV years · All Chevrolet models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV: 23V-845 (seat belts, structure), 22V-930 (seat belts, structure), 21V-560 (electrical system), 20V-701 (electrical system). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV?

Owners report steering problems most often (126 reports), followed by electrical system (114). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 20,000 miles.

Are Chevrolet recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Chevrolet dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.