Chevrolet Bolt EV Complaints (2019)

179 consumer complaints on file.

#11774481October 29, 2026
STEERING
When driving the car and turning the wheel, the steering wheel does not go back to center by itself. I have to physically turn it back to straight. This is a safety risk as the car isn't straightening out of a turn and physically harder to get back to center and center of the lane. I took it back to the dealership I purchased and their service team is saying they don't notice an issue, which is untrue, it's clearly seen when driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765956September 21, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, WHEELS
I am reporting a recurring safety defect with our 2019 Chevrolet Bolt (~80,000 miles). On multiple occasions the left front wheel has overheated severely while driving, accompanied by a rapid, severe side-to-side steering wheel wobble and a burning smell. On XXX after ~35 miles of driving (10+ miles at 50-63 mph), the steering wheel began shaking. We had to pull over and drive slowly along the shoulder, stopping twice to let the wheel cool. The left front wheel measured 627.9°F, while other wheels were under 200°F. On XXX, only three days after replacing the front brake pads and rotors, the left front wheel again overheated to 355°F (other wheels 116-139°F), with a burning smell. The problem is intermittent and has not been reproduced during dealership inspections. The vehicle was inspected by Bennett Chevrolet ([XXX]) and RK Chevrolet ([XXX]) multiple times; each time no cause was found and no repair made, aside from new tires and, most recently, replaced front brake pads/rotors, which did not resolve the issue. We believe this may involve the left front brake/caliper system or another component causing intermittent excessive heat and resistance at the wheel. We are concerned about loss of steering control and fire risk. We are elderly ([XXX] and [XXX]) and one of us is an above-knee amputee, making a roadside breakdown especially dangerous. We have photos/videos of the incidents, temperature documentation, and the old brake pads/rotors retained for inspection. GM EV Concierge case #XXX is open but unresolved. We are requesting this be investigated as a potential safety defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765648September 20, 2026
STEERING
The steering wheel on my 2019 Chevy bolt is feeling stiff and harder to turn when making a right and left turn.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11765061September 17, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
A rear passenger side door handle/latch stopped working. The door cannot be opened from the inside, only from the outside. It’s a safety issue and it has affected other 2019-2020 Bolts which resulted in their recall. Why not this one?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11749605July 10, 2026
STEERING
Steering wheel does not return to center on turns when driving at low speeds.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11743944June 13, 2026
STEERING
Steering wheel does not return to center after making a turn. Over time the steering rack fails leading to a steering wheel that will not return to center even when force is applied to wheel. The dealership is charging $3-4k to fix this safety issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738509May 18, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, STEERING
when driving my car from the airport at Bradley International in CT (parked for a week), I experienced a terrible vibration in the steering wheel which has been intermittent. The vibration went away at lower speeds. I brought the car in to the shop on 5/18/2026 with 74,000 miles on the car. They told me I had to replace rotors, brakes, calipers, brake fluid, and do a front end alignment because the rotors have failed internally. The EV doe not use braking as frequently and this was taken from the Chevy forum: ISSUE: Frozen or Seized Calipers The Issue: Because Bolt drivers heavily rely on regenerative braking, the physical brake pads and calipers are used far less frequently than in gas-powered cars. This can cause rust and debris to build up, leading to frozen calipers, uneven pad wear, or a sticking/grabbing brakes. The Fix: Have a trusted mechanic or a dealer regularly inspect and service the friction brakes. Regular preventive maintenance like flushing the brake fluid every few years is highly recommended to prevent moisture accumulation and seized calipers. The resultant failure is a safety issue and Chevy has decided to call it a PM problem. This is not acceptable and is all over the forums as an issue for these cars. I saved all parts and had them record everything on the car, except for the fluid. There are other recalls for this component. I would like it investigated and determination made on the issue. The invoices will be in my possession tonight.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737320May 12, 2026
STEERING
The steering wheel takes more effort to turn than it should and does not return to center after making a turn. It has been like this since I bought the car used, and I did not realize until recently that it should not be like this. Comments on some online forums indicate that this is a common issue with Chevy Bolts, usually requiring a steering rack replacement. This is a complex operation requiring certified EV technicians (I am told) and very expensive. I am not sure if GM has addressed this issue in any way.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737197May 11, 2026
STEERING
The steering wheel locks and stiffens on turns to the left or right refusing to come back to center on its own. In the middle of the turn the wheel locks up. Been told by multiple dealerships and forums I've read online it's a known issue with the car needing a steering gear replacement. A job that costs $4-5k per GM based on labor. There's no warning lights. GM has reproduced issue And based on this forum multiple accounts of this have happened to others [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11736792May 9, 2026
AIR BAGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
Issue: Total failure of Frontview Camera ADAS sensor, disabling Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Front Pedestrian Braking, and Lane Keep Assist. Technical Evidence: GDS2 telemetry confirms a "No Communication" status for the camera hardware. Core safety modules including the Electronic Brake Control (EBCM) and the Inflatable Restraint (Airbag) Sensing Module report active communication failures (DTC U026A/U216A). These safety-critical modules are currently unable to receive the sensor data required for crash avoidance and occupant protection. Forensic Timeline: Vehicle NVRAM reveals a manual "Clear Codes" event occurred at 46,838.3 miles—exactly 0.4 miles after the sale contract was signed. The fault reappeared with a 0 km offset (immediate return) and has been active for 162 ignition cycles, proving the defect existed throughout the dealership's possession. Dealer Response: The selling dealer delivered the vehicle with an unsigned 125-Point Inspection. Despite being presented with GDS2 telemetry proof of the braking and airbag communication blackout, management refused repair, mischaracterizing the disabled emergency braking system as a "luxury feature" and claiming the vehicle is "safe" to drive. Symptoms: "Service Front Camera" warning, intermittent loss of HVAC controls, and gear display (PRNDL) blackout due to systemic serial data bus interference caused by the hardware failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11730090April 9, 2026
STEERING
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The steering gear in this vehicle began to fail around 40K miles. It clunks at low speed, doesn't roll out of turns, and recently has begun to oscillate during straight driving. I will keep the old part for inspection once replaced. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The cars steering does not return to center during a turn. Now, the steering is shaking violently during driving. It will likely seize if left unfixed. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. I also have video. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? This is a well documented issue with Chevy steering. I will include an AI overview screenshot.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11729235April 4, 2026
STEERING
Steering gear and torque sensor failure at 39,000 miles. Car is unsafe to drive and costs over $3500 to fix. The problem has been diagnosed at a dealership. No warning lights or codes apparent, problem is worsening and the car is becoming unsafe to drive. Steering gear or rack could be available for inspection.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11727201March 26, 2026
STEERING
Vehicle steering wheel fails to return to center after sweeping turn. Found it’s a common issue and is incredibly dangerous and should be recalled!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11723297March 10, 2026
STEERING
The steering on my car is sticking and failing. When I make a turn, the steering wheel does not go back to the center on its own. I have to physically pull it back, otherwise the car will keep turning. When driving straight, the steering wheel gets "stuck." I have to use extra force to make small adjustments, which makes the car jerk. The steering also makes clunking noises. This is extremely dangerous because it makes the car very hard to control, and I could easily drift into another lane, overcorrect, or crash.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11717281February 11, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
Water has infiltrated the lower trunk area and fried the sound amplifier. The result is no sounds can be heard from the speakers. This includes sounds and warnings from the safety systems. Seat belt, ADAS, BLIS, OnStar, Turn Signals, Radio. The rear hatch seals seem to be intact and it is unclear how water is entering this lower area as there is no evidence of water anywhere else in the rear cargo area. A google search reveals many other Bolt owners are experiencing the same issue
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11705458December 16, 2025
STEERING
As with other Chevy bolts, the rack and pinion steering completely broke no longer able to steer vehicle.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11704587December 11, 2025
STEERING
Steering will not return to center. After going around a turn, or even a curve like an exit ramp, the steering will remain locked in position and not re- center. It requires close attention and considerable force to return it to center and continue along a straight road.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11697610November 5, 2025
STEERING
Steering will not return to center. After going around a turn, or even a curve like an exit ramp, the steering will remain locked in position and not re- center. It requires close attention and considerable force to return it to center and continue along a straight road.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11694175October 17, 2025
STEERING
The steering wheel does not return to center. This appears to be a common issue on Chevy Bolts based on various forums, for example https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/steering-wont-return-to-center-bad-steering-gear-steering-sticking-in-one-direction.42988/. One has to be very aware of the steering issue as it requires the driver to actively force the steering wheel to return to center. This can be an even bigger issue when having to react to avoid debris or sudden breaking. There are no warning lights. The manufactuer claims that this is not a prevalent issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11677813August 1, 2025
STEERING
So I bought a used Bolt and the steering is sticking, at moderate speed (50mph) sweeping corners it lightly wants to pull harder into the corner and won't return to center if you let off the wheel, regardless of direction, you must always forcefully guide the steering wheel back to center. This is wrong, if your Bolt does this your steering rack is likely failing. This is a malfunction, in the GM service manual for the Bolt there is a diagnosis for "POOR RETURN OF STEERING WHEEL" which is described as "After completing a turn, extra steering input is required for the steering wheel to return to center."
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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