2017 Chevrolet BOLT EV: complaints, problems and recalls

THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT IS TOO EASY TO PUT THE CAR IN "PARK" BY ACCIDENT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I WAS TRYING TO GO FROM THE "L" POSITION TO THE "R" POSITION. TO DO SO REQUIRES YOU TO PRESS THE SIDE BUTTON AND MANEUVER THE SHIFTER TO THE R POSITION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DOING SO, I INADVERTENTLY PUSHED THE "P" BUTTON ON TOP OF THE SHIFTER RESULTING IN THE CAR ENDING IN PARK WHEN I WANTED TO REVERSE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I GRABBED THE SHIFTER AND PRESS ON THE "P" BUTTON WITH MY PALM WHILE TRYING TO PRESS THE SIDE BUTTON. MOST OF THE TIMES …

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10967100 at NHTSA ↗

DUE TO THE ANGLE OF THE WINDSHIELD, REFLECTION FROM THE LIGHT ASH GREY COLOR, CREATES A VERY VERY BRIGHT COLORED GLARE, WHICH REDUCES VISIBILITY IMMENSELY ON SUNNY DAYS. WITHOUT THE PROPER SUNGLASSES, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE PEDESTRIANS, OTHER CARS AND SIGNS. NOTE THE "SHADED" AND OR THE VENTS OF THE DASH AND HOW MUCH DARKER AND LESS REFLECTIVE THEY ARE IN THE ATTACHED PHOTO. ( IE, ABOVE THE TRANSPONDER WHERE IT IS SHADED) I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DARK COLOR DASH DOES NOT CREATE THIS DANGEROUS REFLECTION AND SOME OWNERS HAVE REPLACED THE DAS…

Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 10991439 at NHTSA ↗

REDUCED VISIBILITY THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE COMBINATION OF LOW WINDSHIELD ANGLE AND A LIGHT COLORED DASH REDUCES VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WIND SHIELD. THIS IS ESPECIALLY A PROBLEM WHEN GOING FROM LIGHT TO DARKER AREAS- INTO GARAGES, ALONG A STREET WITH TREES AND ALONG A CITY STREET AS BUILDING BLOCK SUNLIGHT.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11003704 at NHTSA ↗

THIE IS A NEW LEASED VEHICLE. ISSUE RELATES TO SEVERE FORWARD VISIBILITY IMPAIRMENT IN DAYLIGHT DUE TO DASHBOARD REFLECTION. MY CAR INTERIORS ARE LIGHT ASH GRAY-CERAMIC WHICH INCLUDE A LIGHT-GRAY COLORED DASHBOARD AND TRIMMING. I HAVE RELAYED THIS ISSUE TO THE DEALERSHIP (WESELOH CHEVROLET - SAN DIEGO CA) - BUT THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS TO PURCHASE A DARK-COLORED 3RD PARTY DASH-COVER. I AM CONCERNED 3RD PARTY DASH MAT COULD COMPROMISE OR OTHERWISE ADVERSELY AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE / DEPLOYMENT OF DASHBOARD AIR-BAGS DURING A COLLISION - THUS …

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11010083 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A LIGHT GRAY INTERIOR TRIM PACKAGE AND THE GLARE FROM THE DASHBOARD IS EXTREME. THERE ARE TIMES, LIKE PULLING INTO MY OWN OR PUBLIC GARAGES, WHEN MY VISIBILITY IS REDUCED ALMOST COMPLETELY. ON THE OPEN ROAD THE PROBLEM IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT. TO MAINTAIN GOOD VISIBILITY I HAVE RESORTED TO WEARING POLARIZED SUNGLASSES AT ALL TIMES DURING DAYLIGHT DRIVING.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11016338 at NHTSA ↗

1) SUNLIGHT REFLECTS OFF OF THE WHITE DASH ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND BACK INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES. VISIBILITY IS IMPAIRED. THE EFFECT EXTENDS AS FAR AS THE SIDE MIRRORS AND THIS IN PARTICULAR NEARLY CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER CAR WHICH I DID NOT SEE DUE TO THE TEMPORARY OPACITY OF THE GLASS. I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE OF THIS INCIDENT. I'M ONLY CLICKING ON THE CALENDAR BECAUSE THAT ACTION IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. I'M USING THE DATE THE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN. THE INCIDENT LIKELY HAPPENED THE DAY BEFORE. 2 )THERE IS ALSO AN…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11016404 at NHTSA ↗

THE HID LIGHTS ARE UNSAFE. THE GLARE IS HARSH IN EYES OF ONCOMING VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS. THE HID HEADLIGHTS CAST A DEFINED BOX OF LIGHT BEYOND WHICH ALL IS DARK; THEREFORE, ANIMALS, PEOPLE, DIPS AND CURVES IN THE ROAD, AND OTHER VEHICLES OUTSIDE THE BOX OF LIGHT ARE INVISIBLE. THESE SHOULD BE OUTLAWED.

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11021191 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

Reported: 2020-11-13 (November 13, 2020)

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.

Consequence: A battery fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2021-07-23 (July 23, 2021)

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.

Consequence: A battery fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2022-12-15 (December 15, 2022)

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.

Consequence: A vehicle fire can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2023-12-14 (December 14, 2023)

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.

Consequence: A fire increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.