2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV Problems, Recalls & Reliability
119 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 24/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Steering leads the reports.
Typical
Where 2018 sits among all Bolt EV years
What owners report
“The steering wheel will not return to center after turning. The steering feels stiff, and the steering wheel will not return to center on its own.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Bolt EV
“Battery fire recall. Dealer limited the battery full charge to 90% in november 2020.gm promised a fix by first of 2021. No fix as of this date and my driving range is limited and now requires frequent charging.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Bolt EV
Recalls (5)
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…
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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,…
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.
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: This recall has been superseded by recall number 21V-560.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…
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…
Fix: 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…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 22V063000.
Led to recall campaign 20V701000.
Technical service bulletins
816 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2018 Bolt EV TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV reliable?
The 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV drew 119 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 24/100, scored against the model's worst year (2017).
What are the most common 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV problems?
The top reported problems for the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV are steering (37 complaints), electrical (31), and transmission & drivetrain (12).
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV. At least one carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning — check your VIN before driving.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.