Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery
NHTSA campaign 21V560000 · 2021 · reported 07/23/2021
A battery fire increases the risk of injury. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · Park outside · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Steering — runs 5.6× the fleet median for that category across the 1656 model-years tracked on this site.
340Complaints
4Recalls
11Crashes
5Fires
5Injured
0Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Steering (34.7% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Steering complaints here are 5.6× the median for that category across the 1656 model-years tracked on this site.
1 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 5 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 118 · 34.7% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System | 106 · 31.2% | Recalled | Recall 21V560000 · Recall 20V701000 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 70 · 20.6% | No official action | — |
| Power Train | 27 · 7.9% | No official action | — |
| Service Brakes | 22 · 6.5% | No official action | — |
| Engine | 16 · 4.7% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 340 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 4 campaigns
Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery
NHTSA campaign 20V701000 · 2020 · reported 11/13/2020
A battery fire increases the risk of injury. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · Park outside · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Structure:body:roof And Pillars
NHTSA campaign 22V930000 · 2022 · reported 12/15/2022
A vehicle fire can increase the risk of injury. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Structure:body:roof And Pillars
NHTSA campaign 23V845000 · 2023 · reported 12/14/2023
A fire increases the risk of injury. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
What owners report
“The electronic steering has stopped automatically returning to center after turning - mostly right hand turns. Have seen other similar complaints on a Bolt forum…”NHTSA complaint 11425089 — filed 07/16/2021 · STEERING
“Steering wheel does not return easily to stationary position after being turned. As a result, wheel must be manually turned in order to straighten steering…”NHTSA complaint 11424896 — filed 07/15/2021 · STEERING
“The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact stated while driving 40 mph, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The contact stated…”NHTSA complaint 11422329 — filed 06/25/2021 · STEERING
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV?
Steering issues are the most-reported category, cited in 118 of 340 NHTSA complaints (34.7%), followed by electrical system (106), fuel/propulsion system (70), unspecified/other issues (32). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV have?
340 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 11 involved a crash, 5 involved a fire, and 5 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Does the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 21V560000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV's reported problems?
1 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page is backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.
