Chevrolet Bolt EV/EUV 1st and 2nd Generation (2017-2023) – Problems and Reliability Report

Launched in 2017, the Chevrolet Bolt EV was one of the first affordable electric cars to offer more than 380 kilometres of range in Canada. A 2022 refresh, with the more spacious Bolt EUV, strengthened its reputation. But the Bolt story remains inseparable from a high-voltage battery recall saga that every buyer needs to understand before signing.

• Major high-voltage battery recall (fire risk): defective LG Chem cells affecting Bolt EV 2017-2022 and Bolt EUV 2022; five Transport Canada recalls staggered from 2020 to 2024; module or pack replacement, or diagnostic software, depending on VIN and model year.
• Steering that does not return to centre after a turn: a recurring theme in NHTSA complaints across almost every model year, with no confirmed official recall or service bulletin so far.
• Carpet that can catch fire after a collision: recall affecting nearly 20,000 Canadian Bolt EVs (not EUVs) because of gases from a seat-belt pretensioner.
• Lightly used rear brakes and EV-specific maintenance: one-pedal driving limits use of the rear mechanical brakes, which can lead to seized calipers if preventive maintenance is neglected.

Technical briefing

The Bolt EV and Bolt EUV (launched in 2022) are built at the Orion Assembly plant in Michigan on an electric platform dedicated exclusively to the Bolt EV/EUV. Both body styles share a single permanent-magnet electric motor driving the front wheels.

Battery capacity from LG evolved over the years: 60 kWh for 2017-2019, then about 65 to 66 kWh for 2020-2023 (EV and EUV). The Bolt EUV is distinguished by a longer wheelbase and a roomier cabin.

Worth noting for hesitant buyers: the Bolt EV returning for 2027 uses the same platform as this generation, with a new LFP battery and some components (motor, HVAC system) borrowed from the Ultium platform.

Most frequent problems

The points below detail the most significant issues; the table in the “Recalls” section presents the seven most significant campaigns among the fifteen recorded by Transport Canada.

High-voltage battery: fire risk

The defect involves cells supplied by LG Chem (now LG Energy Solutions): a torn anode tab combined with a folded separator can cause an internal short circuit and, in rare cases, thermal runaway, a process in which heat generated inside the cell self-sustains until a fire starts. The risk rises when the battery is charged above 90% or discharged below about 20%.

The issue affects nearly all Bolt EV 2017-2022 and Bolt EUV 2022 models, in five distinct Transport Canada waves between November 2020 and October 2024. The two main ones are coded 2021-449 and 2021-524 (the other three waves are low-volume extensions not detailed in the recalls table below). The first two waves imposed a software charge limit and module replacement on 2017-2019 vehicles.

The third, the widest, led, depending on the VIN, to module replacement or installation of advanced diagnostic software (sometimes with a temporary charge limit) for Bolt EV 2020-2022 and Bolt EUV 2022. The two 2024 waves target only a residual number of vehicles where the initial repair or diagnostic software had not been correctly applied at the dealer.

When the pack or modules were replaced, GM did so at no charge and granted a new eight-year or 160,000-kilometre warranty from the installation date. Quebec owners quoted by Radio-Canada, however, reported multi-month waits for replacement parts, no compensation for interim constraints (mandatory outdoor parking, indoor overnight charging banned) and, in one documented case, selling a vehicle at a loss after a burning smell. For a used-car buyer, a VIN check must confirm not only that the main recall was completed, but also that the low-volume follow-up campaigns (2024-371, 2024-654) either do not apply or have been closed.

Steering that does not return to centre after a turn

After a turn, the steering wheel on many Bolts stays off-centre instead of naturally returning to the middle; some owners also describe stiffness or creaking from the steering rack (the mechanism that turns the front wheels), forcing them to bring the wheel back by hand. This issue ranks among the most frequent NHTSA complaints for almost every model year from 2017 to 2023, on both the Bolt EV and the Bolt EUV.

Severity varies by year: 2017 is by far the most affected, with more than 240 steering-related mentions out of 316 complaints filed for that model year, making steering the dominant complaint category. Model years 2018 through 2023 show more variable but still recurring shares year after year, from about 15% to a little over one-third of total complaints for each year.

Despite that volume, no recall or official service bulletin has been confirmed with Transport Canada or NHTSA for this specific issue so far. A technical bulletin is mentioned on specialist forums without validation from an official source. Reported repair costs, once the vehicle is out of warranty, often fall around US$2,500 to US$5,000 depending on the case. Because this point is not covered by any corrective program, a road test with several full turns, for example in a parking lot, remains the best way to detect it before purchase.

Carpet that can catch fire after a collision

In a collision strong enough to fire the front seat-belt pretensioner (the device that snaps the belt tight on impact), exhaust gases from the mechanism can ignite carpet fibres near the B-pillar. Transport Canada recall 2022-719, matching NHTSA campaign 22V-930, affects nearly 20,000 Canadian Bolt EVs from 2017 to 2023; Bolt EUVs are not included. The fix is to apply protective metal tape under the carpet and, depending on the year, an additional pretensioner cover.

Phantom braking and nuisance collision alerts (Bolt EUV)

On the Bolt EUV, equipped with Super Cruise hands-free driving, several owners report abrupt braking with no real obstacle ahead, especially in bright sun or low-speed city traffic. The phenomenon is actively discussed on specialist forums and has not led to a confirmed recall; it looks more like sensor sensitivity tuning than a proven safety defect, but it is worth checking on a road test.

Infotainment system and suspension noises

A service bulletin is said to document black screens after start-up, radio sound loss and Android Auto connection issues on 2019-2020 Bolt EVs, without official confirmation. Similar complaints, plus intermittent rear-camera failures, return for 2022-2023. Long-term owners also report suspension noises (stabilizer bar, struts) and 12-volt battery support issues, two normal wear points to check on an extended test drive.

The recalls

The Bolt EV/EUV accumulated fifteen Transport Canada recalls between 2018 and 2024, but their real weight sits almost entirely on the five that involve the high-voltage battery, rolled out in successive waves from 2020 to 2024 after the LG Chem cell manufacturing defect was identified. The two main waves (2021-449 and 2021-524) together cover about 18,736 Canadian vehicles; the two 2024 waves target only a residual number of vehicles poorly repaired in earlier interventions. The table below (in the full sources document) presents the seven most significant recalls by scale or severity; the other campaigns each affect fewer than 210 vehicles.

What owners say

On the road, the Bolt can impress in a Quebec winter when conditions stay moderate. Roulez Électrique reported a test that reached 413 kilometres of range in temperatures from -11 °C to +2 °C, winter tires and normal heating, better than the official NRCan rating. In deep cold, however, resistive heating (no heat pump) can cut range by on the order of 30% to 50%, something to plan for on long trips. Average consumption in that test sat around 15.4 kWh/100 km, and a DC fast charge from 20% to 80% takes about 55 minutes in summer. Peak DC fast-charge power tops out around 55 kW, a limit to consider for high-mileage drivers who rely heavily on public fast chargers.

The cabin is considered roomy for a subcompact, but several reviews flag lots of hard plastic for the price asked. Cargo space is called “a bit disappointing” by some. One-pedal driving generally wins unanimous praise and helps real-world range often beat the official rating. Seat comfort is an irritant across all model years, with a seat redesign improvement in 2022 on the EUV.

Consumer Reports ranks 2022 reliability as average, largely weighed down by the battery recall rather than repeated mechanical failures, and 2023 above average.

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To conclude

The overall picture of the Bolt EV/EUV is more reassuring today than it was at the height of the battery saga. Vehicles whose recall work is complete, especially those that received new modules or a full pack with an eight-year or 160,000-kilometre warranty from the installation date, can be, for a patient buyer careful with the VIN check, a solid electric opportunity rather than a risky bet.

For a used purchase, confirm via the VIN on the Transport Canada site that every battery recall wave (notably 2021-449 and 2021-524) has been completed. The 2017 model year deserves special attention on a road test for the steering issue; on the Bolt EUV, also watch for phantom braking. The 2022-2023 model years benefit from a refreshed cabin and stronger perceived reliability.

Safe Travels !