2018 Chevrolet BOLT EV problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
88 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
18,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 37 of 88 complaints (42.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 39 | 44.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 28.4% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 11.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.1% |
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 | 37 |
| Electrical System | 29 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
Steering: 37; Electrical System: 29; Power Train: 12; Fuel/Propulsion System: 11; Unknown Or Other: 8; Service Brakes: 7; Engine: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 70 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 |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 26 |
| 2022 | 14 |
| 2023 | 9 |
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 | 9 |
2018: 2; 2019: 5; 2020: 3; 2021: 26; 2022: 14; 2023: 9; 2024: 6; 2025: 14; 2026: 9
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 39 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 25 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 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 11072741 · 2018-02-13 (February 13, 2018)
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 DOCUMENTATION SHOULD SUGGEST ENABLING "HILLTOP RESERVE" TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO CHEVY, BUT NO RESPONSES WERE RECEIVED.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11072741 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11385953 · 2020-12-31 (December 31, 2020)
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 LESS THAN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER WHO RAN A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC THAT SHOWED THE CAR'S STEERING WAS OPERATING "WITHIN MANUFACTURER'S SPECS." I WAS ABLE TO PERSUADE THE DEALER TO DO AN ADDITIONAL EXAMINATION. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 42,987 miles reported. Look up ODI 11385953 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11182806 · 2019-02-27 (February 27, 2019)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 16,045 miles reported. Look up ODI 11182806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11123861 · 2018-08-31 (August 31, 2018)
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 PARKING BRAKE. I ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE AND TAKE OFF THE PARKING BRAKE, WITH NO SUCCESS. THE VEHICLE INSTRUCTED TO GO BACK INTO PARK, WHICH IT DID WITHOUT MY INTERVENTION. I TRIED REVERSE AND NEUTRAL WITH NO EFFECT. ALL OTHER ELECTRONICS APPEARED…
Owner-reported narrative. 265 miles reported. Look up ODI 11123861 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11270898 · 2019-10-24 (October 24, 2019)
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 OF 6 TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION OF THE ISSUE. DEALERSHIP #1 WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP #2 HAD TECH RIDE WITH ME AND PROBLEM OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. TECH STATED HE WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE. CHEVY SEEMS TO DENY THIS IS A PRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11270898 at NHTSA ↗