The Lemon Index2023 Chevrolet Bolt.
The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt is so far one of the worst years by owner complaints: 180 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 465, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, and it has 3 recalls. The best Chevrolet Bolt year is 2017.
Early read
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 180 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Chevrolet Bolt year. 2023 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 2K to 27K miles on the car (10 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 3
- body structure 2023
This recall includes certain vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under NHTSA recall number 22V-930.
- airbags 2023
The instrument panel may be missing the perforation on the underside of the panel cover that allows the passenger-side air bag to deploy properly.
- body structure 2022
After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Chevy told dealers about
Chevy sent dealers 384 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- This Preliminary information communicates a vehicle may come to the dealer with Super Cruise…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Bolt EUV SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Chevrolet Bolt EV 5 HB FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $650 a year in electricity (EPA estimate).
In owners' words
Collision warning failed to warn driver and automatic emergency braking failed to engage, causing an accident.
2023 Chevrolet Bolt owner · NHTSA complaint 11760626
More owner reports
After rain, the locks on the vehicle would not lock or unlock whether by using the key fob, interior door buttons, or OnStar app. After approximately 2 hours the locks began working again.
NHTSA complaint 11533746
While using adaptive cruise control, the vehicle braked suddenly with no other cars or obstacles in view. If a vehicle was behind us, we would have been hit at 70 mph.
NHTSA complaint 11581624
Quick answers
Is the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt reliable?
It's too early to be sure. So far it has drawn 4.7× the average car's complaints per car sold, against other 2023 cars after the same time on the road (early Lemon Index 465; 100 is average). The best Chevrolet Bolt year by this measure is 2017.
What are the most common 2023 Chevrolet Bolt problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (25%), automatic emergency braking (24%) and steering (23%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt have?
3 safety recalls (latest: body structure). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt cost in fuel a year?
About $650 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What Chevrolet Bolt year is better than the 2023?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2017, 2021 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works