Chevrolet Bolt EV Complaints (2019)

179 consumer complaints on file.

#11424326July 11, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My Bolt was purchased in Sept. 2019. It was not part of the initial NHTSA recall because it has a battery made in the U.S. However, Chevrolet still issued a company recall on it and performed a software update, evaluation of battery health, and installed an on-board diagnostic module. The "final fix" as it is called. Even though my battery appears to be safe, it has the same design, materials and similar manufacturing practices by the same company, as the cars that have caught fire. Now there has been a battery fire in a Bolt in Vermont that had the "final fix" installed. (Not my car, it's in another state) I am concerned that the battery problem is in the design and how it is built, not due to a faulty manufacturing contaminiation that could only occur in Korea. And I'm also concerned that the "final fix" is not sufficient to take care of the problem. I am asking you to investigate all the LG batteries in all the Bolts to determine if they truly are safe.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11418688May 26, 2021
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I was denied the buyback by GM due to the weak lemon law in the state of Michigan. GM should be replacing these batteries if they are not allowing a buyback or trade up. There were 16,418 Bolts produced in the US-market for the model year 2019. If I take a ballpark half of the vehicles with Korean cells, and half of the vehicles produced with cells in Holland Michigan (The Holland cells not having the defect), to-date we are looking at 5 in 8,209 cars catching fire due to the battery defect. That translates to 1 in every 1,641 2019-model-year Korean-cell Bolts catching fire, to-date. Statistically, this number cannot go down. This represents a much higher percentage than what GM is publicly stating. This is a much higher, unacceptable risk. I do not have faith in a software update and battery voltage spread test for the latest "fix." GM is very secretive on what the defect or defects are. A battery may test fine today, as it made it into the production vehicle and passed the test then. Though, tomorrow it may fail due to the defect. When it fails, I don't want my family to be anywhere near it. Please hold GM's feet to the fire on this to prevent the possibility of the unsuspecting consumer to get burned.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11418695May 26, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My car is in the Chevy Bolt recall due to battery fires. Many months ago Chevy took away 5 to 10% of my e-MPG in order to lessen the likelihood of fire. When I heard they had a fix, I immediately called. I was told I will not be able to have my car checked and repaired/restored until November. This is an inordinately long time to be driving a car on recall due to possible battery fire.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11418305May 24, 2021
VISIBILITY/WIPER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
The center touchscreen will intermittently freeze when started and not recover when driving. When this occurs the HVAC and radio hard buttons also stop responding which prevents control of the defrost, creating a visibility hazard that could result in a crash. Sometimes the freeze will result in the backup camera remaining on while driving forward. When in reverse the freeze results in the backup camera guidelines, parking collision warning and rear cross traffic warning being unavailable. Failure of these systems intended to prevent collisions is a safety hazard because unavailability of these systems could result in a collision. The freezing did not occur frequently when the vehicle was new, but over time this has become a frequent occurrence. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The problem has been reproduced by a dealer and been subject to repair twice, but the issue has continued to occur after each repair attempt. The vehicle was subject to bulletin 20-NA-119 which was intended to correct radio screen black/freezes after boot up, but this does not appear to have resolved the issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11418178May 22, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Re: GM Recall Number N202311731 I am dissatisfied with the GM’s response to this recall that addresses fires involving their battery charging system in the Chevy BOLT. The long-awaited final remedy is a setup for failure. Installing a software monitoring system to look for the theoretical cause of the problem is inadequate and fails to protect consumer safety. They allege, without providing consumers with the undisclosed engineering analysis that underpins their solution, that this is the best they can offer. Their plan is to monitor for electrical aberrations in the cars’ electrical/battery system instead of replacing the faulty system. By analogy this is like a home builder acknowledging that they installed faulty wiring in your home that does not meet code and there have been a number of fires. However, instead of replacing the faulty wiring, they are installing a monitoring system that looks for changes in resistance or areas of high temperature in your walls and shuts down your power before they think your house will explode into flames. GM has not provided any testing in the real world of this "remedy", and asks that we trust their engineers. I would like to see an independent assessment of this, not paid for by Chevrolet or GM. I have no confidence in this or with GM's assertions that it is the best they can do to protect the safety of the public. As a health and safety professional, I am appalled at this solution at its acceptance. I cannot believe that this would be approved as a remedy for an aircraft problem. The more recent and less publicized Boeing MAX airliners’ electrical problems require replacement of the bonding between electrical panels and their contacts. NHTSA should demand full disclosure of all studies done for GM’s BOLT recommendation, and publication on the NHTSA site for a period of public comment. I adamantly reject that this has been conducted by GM in a transparent manner or that it is the safest response. Thank you
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11417735May 19, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I just want the battery pack to be replaced with one that does not catch fire due to manufacturing defects. Nearly all of the fires have been 2019 model years. There were 16,418 Bolts produced in the US-market for the model year 2019. If I take a ballpark half of the vehicles with Korean cells, and half of the vehicles produced with cells in Holland Michigan (The Holland cells not having the defect), to-date we are looking at 5 in 8,209 cars catching fire due to the battery defect. That translates to 1 in every 1,641 2019-model-year Korean-cell Bolts catching fire, to-date. Statistically, this number cannot go down. This represents a much higher percentage than what GM is publicly stating. This is a much higher, unacceptable risk. GM needs to be replacing these defective batteries, or we will continue to see more fires. A software update and battery voltage check is unacceptable, as these defective cells made passed the test to make it into these cars in the first place. Model year 2019 fires: Ashburn, https://insideevs.com/news/505346/chevy-bolt-ev-blaze-ashburn/ Port St Lucie, https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/st-lucie-county/2020/10/06/electric-vehicle-thought-have-caught-fire-garage-psl/3635092001/ Vienna, https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/us-investigates-fire-reports-chevy-bolt-electric-vehicles-73582418 Miami, https://bid.cars/en/lot/0-27990292/2019-Chevrolet-Bolt-1G1FY6S07K4113757 Jacksonville, https://www.chevybolt.org/attachments/jacksonville-bolt-png.31467
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11415800May 10, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AROUND 11:00AM ON 5/1/21 SATURDAY MORNING NOTICED THICK SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE REAR SIDE OF THE CAR PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND IT WAS NOT CONNECTED TO THE CHARGER AND SHOUTED AT MY FAMILY & KIDS TO COME OUT OF THE HOUSE AND WHEN I OPENED THE GARAGE SHUTTERS I SAW FIRE IN THE REAR OF CAR FROM BENEATH AND THE REAR SEATS, WHICH MY NEIGHBORS WITNESSED TOO WE CALLED 911 MEANWHILE WE TRIED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE USING THE KITCHEN FIRE EXTINGUISHER WHICH DID NOT HELP AT ALL AND IT TURNED INTO A BIG BLAZE AND SET THE WHOLE GARAGE ON FIRE AND BURNING THE MOTOR CYCLE AND SNOW THROWER PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND ALSO GOT TO THE NISSAN AMADA SUV PARKED RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE AND THE FIRE WENT INTO THE MASTER BED ROOM UPSTAIRS AND FIRE TEAM LATER PUT OFF THE FIRE BUT THE CAR BATTERY WAS STILL SMOKING UNTIL 2-2:30PM. THE CAR WAS SERVICED ON 3/25/2021 AT POHANKA CHEVY, CHANTILLY AND THEY DID APPLY THE SAFETY RECALL-HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY MAY MELT OR BURN HYBRID POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE 2 REPROGRAMMING WITH SPS AND ATTACHED IS COPY OF INVOICE STATING THE SAME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11414219April 28, 2021
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
THIS FRONT COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK WELL, TODAY I WAS DRIVING ON A CAR POOL LANE AT A SPEED ABOUT 65-70 MPH, A WHITE FORD EXPLORER SUDDENLY CUT IN, THE SYSTEM DIDN'T MAKE ANY WARNING OR BRAKE AT ALL. I HAVE A DASH CAM RECORDED IT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, IT WAS SUNNY, CLEAR DAY, ON A STRAIGHT FREE WAY. AFTER A WHILE, WHEN I LEFT THE FREE WAY, THE SYSTEM STARTED TO MAKE WARNINGS WHILE THE SPEED DROPPED TO 50 MPH.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11407212April 9, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT APPROXIMATELY 4 AM ON 10/6/2020, WE (MYSELF AND MY CHILDREN) WOKE UP TO AN EXPLOSION. I RAN TO FIND OUT WHAT IT WAS AND SAW SMOKE ENTERING OUR HOME UNDER THE DOOR GOING OUT TO THE GARAGE. I GRABBED MY CHILDREN AND GOT OUT OF THE HOUSE AS FAST AS I COULD. WHEN I OPENED THE FRONT DOOR OF MY HOUSE TO GO OUTSIDE, THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE AND THE GARAGE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. WE RAN ACROSS THE STREET TO OUR NEIGHBORS HOUSE AND I CALLED 911, BY THIS TIME, OUR ENTIRE GARAGE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. OUR 2019 CHEVY BOLT WAS PLUGGED IN CHARGING IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT, AS I HAVE DONE REGULARLY SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 2019 WITHOUT ISSUE. AFTER CALLING 911, THERE CONTINUED TO BE A BUNCH OF LOUD 'POP' SOUNDS AND ANOTHER SMALLER EXPLOSION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED, AND WHILE THEY WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE PRIOR TO THE FLAMES SPREADING TO THE REST OF THE HOUSE, OUR ENTIRE HOUSE IS A TOTAL LOSS FROM SEVERE SMOKE AND WATER DAMAGE AND BLACK SOOT COVERING EVERY INCH OF THE HOUSE. ALSO, MY DAUGHTER'S ROOM THAT 'SHARES' THE GARAGE WALL WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE SMELL IN THE ENTIRE HOUSE IS INDESCRIBABLE, I IMAGINE WORSE THAN A 'REGULAR' HOUSE FIRE BECAUSE IT HAS A CHEMICAL SMELL TO IT. THE COUNTY FIRE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED THE ORIGINATION WAS IN THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE, AND SINCE THE INCIDENT, THERE HAS BEEN AN INVESTIGATION WHERE MULTIPLE FIRE INVESTIGATORS, ENGINEERS FROM GM AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM NHTSA ALL WERE PRESENT TO INVESTIGATE AND REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE GARAGE. WE, PERSONALLY, HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY REPORTS FROM THIS EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION TO THE CAUSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11400099March 10, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
VEHICLE WILL NOT CHARGE FULLY DUE TO BATTERY CATCHING ON FIRE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11394257February 2, 2021
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I'VE HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE. BUT BECAUSE OF THE VERBIAGE IN THE RECALL ITSELF IT'S REMAINING OPEN ON NHTSA AND CARFAX. THIS IS PREVENTING ME FROM USING MY CAR AS INCOME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11387743January 12, 2021
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, SUSPENSION, VISIBILITY/WIPER
GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE AND CLAIMS I'M BLACK LISTED FROM EVERY DEALERSHIP IN THE AREA. THEY REFUSE TO COMPLETE THE SAFETY RECALL FOR BATTERY FIRES ON MY VEHICLE, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE SLAPPING EACH OTHER AND REAR SUSPENSION IS MAKING METAL ON METAL CLANKING NOISES. GM HAS HAD ME BLACK LISTED FROM ALL DEALERSHIPS IN THE AREA AND REFUSES TO COMPLETE NECESSARY SAFETY REPAIRS ON MY VEHICLE. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO WAY OF GETTING THESE NECESSARY SERVICES COMPLETED ON MY VEHICLE. GM CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER WON'T ASSIST IN FINDING A DEALERSHIP IN THE AREA. PLEASE HELP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11386759January 6, 2021
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GENERAL MOTORS WILL NOT PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO POTENTIAL BATTERY FIRES, AS IDENTIFIED IN THEIR RECENT RECALL OF CHEVROLET BOLTS. MINE IS A 2019 AND IS PART OF THE CURRENT RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11375733November 21, 2020
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DASH REFLECT EXCESSIVE LIGHT ONTO WINDSHIELD BLINDING DRIVER. I HAVE A TURN FROM SR-95 SOUTH TO I-15 NORTH RAMP AND I AM BLINDED WHILE MAKING THE TURN POTENTIALLY CAUSING A CRASH. SEEMS THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE SINCE 2017 AND NO FIXES HAS BEEN MAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11372429October 30, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF OCTOBER 21ST, AROUND 3AM, WE WERE WOKEN UP BY SMOKE/FIRE ALARMS. WE STARTED RUNNING AROUND OUR HOME TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSE OF THE ALARM. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES OF SEARCHING INSIDE THE HOME AND FINDING NOTHING, WE REALIZED THAT THERE WAS SOME SMELL OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE GARAGE AND WHEN THE MUDROOM DOOR WHICH LEADS TO THE GARAGE WAS OPENED, WE FOUND THAT THE CHEVY BOLT WAS ON FIRE AND THERE WAS LOT OF SMOKE IN THE GARAGE. THE CHEVY BOLT WAS PARKED/STATIONARY IN DOOR 3 SECTION OF THE GARAGE AND OUR OTHER CAR WAS PARKED IN DOOR 1 SECTION OF THE GARAGE. THE DOOR 2 SECTION OF THE GARAGE WAS EMPTY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. WITH CHEVY BOLT ON FIRE, WE SAW THAT THE DOOR 3 SECTION OF THE GARAGE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND FILLED WITH SMOKE. WE TRIED TO USE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT-OFF THE FIRE BUT COULD NOT CONTAIN THE SPREAD OF THE FIRE. THE CHEVY BOLT WAS KEPT FOR CHARGING OVERNIGHT , AS HAS BEEN THE GENERAL PRACTICE THAT WE HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING FOR AROUND 2 YEARS. WE CALLED 911 AS SOON AS WE SAW THE GARAGE IN FLAMES AND FIRE ENGINES ARRIVED WITHIN 15 MINUTES BUT THE FIRE HAD SPREAD WIDELY AND CAUSED RAMPANT DAMAGES TO THE ENTIRE GARAGE INCLUDING THE OTHER CAR, BEDROOM ON THE TOP OF THE GARAGE IN THE SECOND FLOOR AND THE BEDROOM ADJOINING THE GARAGE IN THE FIRST FLOOR. WHILE ALL THE OCCUPANTS OF THE HOME GOT OUT WITHIN AROUND 8 MINUTES OF HEARING THE FIRE ALARM, THE FIRE AND HEAT/SMOKE SPREAD QUICKLY TO WASHER/DRYER SECTION, EAT IN DINING, KITCHEN, FAMILY ROOM AND FORMAL DINING ROOM. THE OTHER SECTIONS OF THE HOME INCLUDING THE FOYER, OFFICE ROOM, SUN ROOM AND ALL OF THE BEDROOMS UPSTAIRS WERE QUICKLY FILLED BY SMOKE AND SOOT. THE HEAT INSIDE THE HOME WAS SO MUCH THAT ONE CAN LITERALLY SEE THE FRAMING STUDS. THE TOWNSHIP FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED PROMPTLY ON THE SCENE AND HAVE BEEN DILIGENTLY FOLLOWING UP ON THE INVESTIGATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11364692October 16, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CHEVY BOLT FINISHED CHANGING AND THEN STARTED TO SMOKE FROM UNDER THE CAR. THE SOUND OF POPPING NOISES WERE HEARD AND THEN 10 MINUTES LATER THE CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CARS BATTERY PACK STARTING POPPING THEN EXPLODED IN FLAMES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11363890October 12, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS DRIVING MY CHEVY BOLT AT APPROXIMATELY 40-45 MPH WHEN IT WAS AT ABOUT 50% CHARGE CAPACITY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SHARPLY DECELERATED AND WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON SAYING THE CHARGE WAS DOWN TO 0 AND THAT IT NEEDED TO BE RECHARGED IMMEDIATELY. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED FOR HELP. THERE'S NO WAY THE CAR SHOULD HAVE LOST 50% OF IT'S CHARGE OUT OF NOWHERE LIKE THAT. I WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR OR REGAIN POWER. IT HAS TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11363166October 7, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SINCE NEW I'VE HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE BOLT EV'S INFOTAINMENT DISPLAY GOING BLACK TO INCLUDE THE BACKUP CAMERA. I CANNOT CONTROL THE SCREEN, THE CLIMATE CONTROL SETTINGS OR ANYTHING. I'VE BEEN BRINGING IT IN SINCE IT WAS NEW AND WAS TOLD BY CHEVROLET THAT IT'S NORMAL OPERATION. NOW IT'S FRIED WITH A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL IN THE CENTER OF THE DASHBOARD AND UNCONTROLLABLE OR UNRESETTABLE. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT AND HAVE TAKEN VIDEOS OF PRIOR INCIDENTS WHICH GM STATES THEY CANNOT FIX BASED OFF OF A VIDEO OF THE OCCURRANCE. IT WON'T ALLOW ME TO UPLOAD HERE. I CAN PROVIDE IF NEED BE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11355317September 16, 2020
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
THIS IS A NOTE REGARDING THE MANUAL DISCONNECT FUSE ON CHEVROLET BOLTS, INCLUDING THE 2019 MODEL. FAILURE OF THE FUSE WHILE DRIVING CAN CAUSE INJURY/DEATH. MY CHEVROLET DEALER IS TAKING THREE WEEKS TO FIX THE ISSUE. CHEVROLET IS NOT ALLOWING THE DEALERS TO KEEP THE REPLACEMENT FUSE IN STOCK, SO YOU HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED, THEN THEY ORDER THE FUSE. IN MY CASE IT TOOK TWO WEEKS FOR THE FUSE TO ARRIVE, ANOTHER WEEK TO AN APPOITMENT. TOTAL OF THREE WEEKS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11351966August 29, 2020
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A 2019 CHEVY BOLT ON DEC. 20, 2019. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 7,200 MILES. WHILE I WAS TURNING ONTO A THOROUGHFARE , A WARNING LIGHT SAID THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY. THIS HAPPENED ON AUG. 6, 2020. CHEVY REPLACED THE BATTERY UNDER WARRANTY. I TOOK THE CAR TO ALFANO CHEVROLET IN SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA WHERE I BOUGHT IT. I MENTION THIS BECAUSE I'VE HEARD OF BOLT BATTERIES CATCHING FIRE OR MELTING RESULTING IIN DESTRUCTION OF THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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