The Lemon Index

All cars · Chevrolet Bolt · 2018

2018 Chevrolet Bolt. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index–100 = average car
Complaints36NHTSA, first 3 years

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 5,500 and 25,000 miles. Median 18,000, from 15 complaints with a mileage.

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Electrical56%
Transmission & drivetrain25%
Electric drive system22%
Engine14%
Speed control8%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
3621102

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 5

  • 23V845000 Dec 2023 Structure / Body / Roof And Pillars

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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 wi

  • 22V930000 Dec 2022 Structure / Body / Roof And Pillars

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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.

  • 21V560000 Jul 2021 Electrical System / Propulsion System / Traction Battery

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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 batt

  • 20V701000 Nov 2020 Electrical System / Propulsion System / Traction Battery

    Defect. 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.

    Risk. 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 eith

  • 18V576000 Aug 2018 Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Disc / Caliper

    Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

    Risk. A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Chevrolet Bolt 5 HB FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★

Engines and drivetrains 1

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
ElectricAuto (A1)FWD128 / 110 / 119Electricity$650

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

YouTube repair topics

200 videos about the 2017–2023 Chevrolet Bolt, 14.0M views.

TopicVideosViews
Infotainment, battery & electrical5220K
Oil changes & service241K
Death wobble & steering119K
Heat, A/C & blend door118K

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
20172546423,876Electrical
2018–36–Electrical
2019–126–Electrical
202057111120,754Electrical
20212725822,073Electrical

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data

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