2019 Chevrolet BOLT EV problems and owner complaints

COMPLETE POWER FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. BRAND NEW VEHICLE (82 MILES DRIVEN). OWNED LESS THAN 72 HOURS. CAR WAS DRIVING UP A VERY SLIGHT GRADE AT 35 MPH. DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILURE OF AN EATON MANUFACTURED DRIVE MOTOR BATTERY HIGH VOLTAGE MANUAL DISCONNECT LEVER FUSE. FUSE WAS REPLACED AND CAR RUNS. DEALER OFFERED NO EXPLANATION FOR FUSE FAILURE OTHER THAN TO SAY THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A BAD BATCH OF FUSES. IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE ON 2017 AND 2018 BOLTS SO THE CHANCES OF IT BEING A BAD BATCH ARE VERY SLIM. DEALER ALSO SAID THAT T…

Owner-reported narrative. 82 miles reported. Look up ODI 11254179 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS ATTEMPTING TO CHARGE THIS ELECTRIC CAR AT A GREENLOTS CCS (480VOLT) CHARGER IN KENNEWICK, WASHINGTON. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF. A BLUE ARC OF ELECTRICITY SHOT OUT OF THE CHARGER PORT ON THE CAR AND CAME WITHIN AN INCH OF MY HAND. I UNDERSTAND FROM PEOPLE WHO KNOW THE SCIENCE OF ELECTRICITY THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THE ARC TOUCHED MY HAND. THE SAFETY FEATURES ON THE CAR, THE CHARGER OR BOTH DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. THERE IS NO TIME WHEN AN ELECTRIC CAR SHOULD EMIT A LETHAL ARC OF ELECTRICITY. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE ARC CAM…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11258530 at NHTSA ↗

BRAKING FAILURES. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW MILES WITH NORMAL OPERATION OF THE REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM, THE CAR WAS IN MOTION (ABOUT 45 MPH) WHEN THE CAR'S REGENERATIVE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS REQUESTED BY COMPLETELY REMOVING THE FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR IN "L" MODE (THE "ONE FOOT DRIVING" MODE THAT AUTOMATICALLY BRAKES AS LESS PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE ACCELERATOR). THE CAR CONTINUED TO MOVE FORWARD AT FULL SPEED TOWARD A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AT A NORMALLY BUSY INTERSECTION. AT THAT POINT I VALIDATED THAT THE CAR WAS IN "L" MODE AND …

Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 11253270 at NHTSA ↗

ON JUNE 1, 2020, 1-YR OLD VEHICLE (4000 MILES ON ODOMETER) WITH 55% BATTERY CHARGE LOST FULL PROPULSION POWER ON A GENTLE CURVE ON A COUNTRY ROAD AT 40MPH IN L DRIVE SETTING. PROPULSION GONE, STEERING STIFF, WARNING BELLS, SERVICE-VEHICLE-SOON WARNING MESSAGES. I COASTED BARELY OFF THE ROAD ONTO THE SHOULDER. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER NOW SAYS IT IS A MANUAL SERVICE DISCONNECT FAULT AND IS WAITING FOR A BACK-ORDERED REPLACEMENT PART. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11327471 at NHTSA ↗

THE BOLT EV HAS A DANGEROUS DESIGN PROBLEM WHEN USING REGENERATIVE BRAKING. YOU DON'T HAVE TO USE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO SLOW OR STOP. THE CAR SLOWS IN RELATION TO HOW QUICKLY YOU RELEASE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE BRAKE LIGHT ONLY COMES ON WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS FULLY RELEASED. THE CAR WILL STOP QUICKLY AT THAT POINT WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON DURING THE LAST FEW SECONDS UNTIL AT A FULL STOP, WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS TURN OFF. THE VEHICLE REMAINS AT A FULL STOP WITHOUT ANY BRAKE LIGHTS ON ONCE YOUR FOOT IS OFF THE ACCELERATOR. WHEN STOPPED YOU …

Owner-reported narrative. 130 miles reported. Look up ODI 11161857 at NHTSA ↗

ON SATURDAY JUNE 1, 2019 I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH. AS I PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY ONTO A SIDE ROAD, THE "LOW PROPULSION" LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL PROPULSION AND COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE CHEVY DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR ON MONDAY BUT AS HE DROVE IT INTO THE GARAGE, THE SAME THING HAPPENED, SUDDEN LOSS OF COMPULSION. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED MY CAR WITH CHEVROLET ENGINEERING AND HAD TO ORDER A TRANSMISSION, POWER HARNESS AND A 3RD MAJOR PART. THE SERVICE …

Owner-reported narrative. 7,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11218778 at NHTSA ↗

VEHICLE WAS DOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON INTERSTATE 81 IN PENNSYLVANIA IN THE LEFT LANE. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD THUD, FOLLOWED BY RAPID DECELERATION. MANAGED TO BARELY MAKE IT TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER, AND AT THAT POINT THE VEHICLE PUT ITSELF INTO PARK AND REFUSED TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. WARNING MESSAGES AND INDICATORS LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD, AND AN ONSTAR NOTIFICATION EMAIL WAS RECEIVED ON MY PHONE. WAS FORTUNATE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER, OTHERWISE THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY WITH NO WAY …

Owner-reported narrative. 2,177 miles reported. Look up ODI 11268291 at NHTSA ↗

FAILURE OF THE "DRIVE MOTOR BATTERY HIGH VOLTAGE MANUAL DISCONNECT LEVER" CAUSED IMMEDIATE AND COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER ON THE ROAD.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,520 miles reported. Look up ODI 11319935 at NHTSA ↗