2017 Chevrolet BOLT EV problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
346 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
20,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 81 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 123 of 346 complaints (35.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 130 | 37.6% |
| Steering behavior | 127 | 36.7% |
| Braking behavior | 32 | 9.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 4.6% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 2.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Steering | 123 |
| Electrical System | 106 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 70 |
| Unknown Or Other | 33 |
| Power Train | 27 |
| Service Brakes | 22 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 12 |
Steering: 123; Electrical System: 106; Fuel/Propulsion System: 70; Unknown Or Other: 33; Power Train: 27; Service Brakes: 22; Engine: 16; Visibility/Wiper: 12
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 46 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 46; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (46). 265 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 20 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 12 |
| 2021 | 118 |
| 2022 | 51 |
| 2023 | 35 |
| 2024 | 27 |
| 2025 | 36 |
| 2026 | 15 |
2017: 19; 2018: 20; 2019: 13; 2020: 12; 2021: 118; 2022: 51; 2023: 35; 2024: 27; 2025: 36; 2026: 15
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 130 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 127 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11031387 · 2017-10-02 (October 2, 2017)
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY (60-70MPH) WITH THE BATTERY AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE 50%, AN ALERT SOUNDED, AND THE BATTERY LEVEL IMMEDIATELY WENT DOWN TO NEARLY ZERO. IT ESTIMATED 10 MILES LEFT, BUT SPEED IMMEDIATELY DECREASED, AND THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING. AFTER RAPIDLY COASTING OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND WITHIN SECONDS, THE CAR MADE A SERIES OF LOUD NOISES AND COMPLETELY STOPPED.
Owner-reported narrative. 227 miles reported. Look up ODI 11031387 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11053501 · 2017-12-08 (December 8, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET BOLT EV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FEATURE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL THAT SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN AND GENERATED ENERGY TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. WHILE DRIVING 25-35 MPH, THE CONTACT UTILIZED THE ENERGY SAVING FEATURE. INSTEAD OF THE VEHICLE SLOWING DOWN, IT ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11053501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11039949 · 2017-10-26 (October 26, 2017)
3 TIMES IN THE FIRST1500 MILES SMALL STONES HAVE BECOME LODGED IN THE BREAKING, IN BOTH FRONT WHEELS AND NEVER I THE BACK WHEELS. THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT ALLOWS STONES TO ENTER BETWEEN THE BACKING PLATE AND THE ROTOR. THE BECOME STUCK (LODGED) THERE AND, IN ADDITION TO CREATING A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE, COULD IMPAIR BRAKING AND STEERING, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. ALL THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11039949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11040190 · 2017-10-26 (October 26, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET BOLT. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A LOUD HOWLING TYPE NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BANKS CHEVROLET IN CONCORD, NH) WHO DISCOVERED THAT SMALL STONES HAD BECOME STUCK INTO THE BRAKING SYSTEM BETWEEN THE BACKING PLATE AND THE ROTOR. THE STONES WERE REMOVED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11040190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11023667 · 2017-09-15 (September 15, 2017)
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE MESSAGE PROPULSION POWER REDUCED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE AND READ WHAT THE WARNING LIGHT MEANT AND DECIDED TO HEAD HOME. I STOPPED ON THE WAY HOME AT THE GROCERY STORE AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUT AND STARTED THE CAR THE WARNINGS WERE STILL THERE AND THEN IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR. I KEPT GETTING A MESSAGE THAT CONDITIONS WERE NOT RIGHT TO SHIFT AND PLEASE PUT THE CAR IN PARK. (IT WOULD GO INTO NEUTRAL) WHEN I TRIED TO SHUT THE CAR OFF IT WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. I FINALLY…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,281 miles reported. Look up ODI 11023667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11051570 · 2017-11-30 (November 30, 2017)
WHEN THE DRIVE MECHANISM HAS BEEN SHIFTED TO "L" (LOW), THE VEHICLE SHOULD SLOWLY COME TO A STOP WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS NOT PRESSED. HOWEVER, WHILE THE DISPLAY SHOWED "L", I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE CONTINUING TO ACCELERATE FORWARD FROM A STOP (AS IF IT WERE IN "D" INSTEAD). THIS OCCURRED WHILE PARKING, AND THE VEHICLE (WITHOUT OPERATOR INPUT) WOULD LURCH (AS IF SOMEONE WERE TAPPING THE BREAK WHILE IN "D"). THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN I NOTICED THE ISSUE -- IT DID NOT STOP WHEN I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11051570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11071886 · 2018-02-09 (February 9, 2018)
THIS VEHICLE HAS ABRUPTLY GONE TO ZERO RANGE AND ENTERED A REDUCED POWER MODE EVEN THOUGH THE BATTERY SHOWED SUFFICENT RANGE SECONDS EARLIER. AFTER STOPPING, GETTING OUT AND KEYING UP AGAIN, THE CAR STAYED AT ZERO RANGE AND DISPLAYED A CHARGE NOW MESSAGE. THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 11, 2018. IN THAT CASE THE RANGE METER SHOWED ABOUT 30 MILES REMAINING. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THERE ARE TWO PRELINIARY WARNINGS BEFORE THE THIRD MORE INSISTENT ONE. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN BY ANOTHER COLLEAGUE WHO HADN'T DRIVEN IT BEFORE, AND HE WASN'T SURE …
Owner-reported narrative. 14,139 miles reported. Look up ODI 11071886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11141635 · 2018-10-21 (October 21, 2018)
I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE 12-VOLT BATTERY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER, STALLS, AND THEN IT LOOSES ALL FUNCTIONS - CANNOT BE EVEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO MOVE IT, CANNOT OPEN REAR DOORS. WE COULDN'T EVEN GET IN ON A TOW TRUCK.
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11141635 at NHTSA ↗