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2017 Chevrolet Bolt EVProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 351 owner complaints about the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, most often about the steering. It is covered by 4 safety recalls, and for recall 20V-701 the manufacturer reports only 64% of affected cars repaired.

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV
37
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.7× the Bolt EV median · #1 of 7 years by complaints
Safety recalls4Lowest repair rate 64%Owner complaints35121 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage42kSteering, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 30, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Complaints by system

Where the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV has problems

351 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Steering1261
Electrical system1147
Fuel/propulsion system703
Power train272
Service brakes223
Engine163
Visibility/wiper120
Vehicle speed control113
Suspension80
10 other systems334

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

4 recalls

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

90%repaired · 2024 Q1

Propulsion system: traction battery

Park outside

Recall 21V-560 · Jul 23, 2021 · 57,414 vehicles · 51,834 repaired

Risk. A battery fire increases the risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

64%repaired · 2021 Q4

Propulsion system: traction battery

Park outside

Recall 20V-701 · Nov 13, 2020 · 50,932 vehicles · 32,593 repaired

Risk. A battery fire increases the risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.

Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Steering

11 owners mentioned a cost

$2,600median

Middle half: $2,087 – $3,500

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

2017 vs. every other Bolt EV year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Bolt EV median. How we score

'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Pedestrian alert soundsDP22005 · closed Aug 7, 2023
    Led to recall 22V-063
  2. Electric Vehicle Battery FiresPE20016 · closed Feb 7, 2022
    Led to recall 20V-701
In owners' words

What Bolt EV owners report

Recent steering complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

The steering wheel fails to return to center after turning and will stay stuck in the turned position. In looking through forums, it appears to be a common issue for Bolts that Chevrolet has not taken accountability for as no recall has been issued even though the complaints are quite numerous with…
Complaint 11774794 · Oct 30, 2026
The steering (rack and pinion) is dangerous. My previous 2019 bolt with 43000 miles handled great and this one (17 with 36xxx) I have to keep both hands on the wheel at all times because it pulls after a turn and the wheel doesn’t find center so I am constantly sawing at the steering wheel. At…
Complaint 11770737 · Oct 13, 2026
The steering rack is binding and has malfunctioned. The steering wheel does not return to center after turning and vibrates or wobbles while driving, which may impair steering control and makes the vehicle unsafe to drive. The problem was diagnosed and confirmed by a certified automotive repair…
Complaint 11767165 · Sep 26, 2026

Own a 2017 Bolt EV?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.