2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV problems
Owners have filed 464 complaints about the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV with NHTSA. Steering accounts for 25.9% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of electrical system at 24.6%.
Complaints464
Crashes18
Fires6
Injuries8
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Steering 25.9% · 120
Electrical system 24.6% · 114
Fuel/propulsion system 15.1% · 70
Unknown or other 6.9% · 32
Power train 5.8% · 27
Service brakes 4.7% · 22
Engine 3.4% · 16
Visibility/wiper 2.6% · 12
Severity
Of those complaints, 18 describe a crash, 6 describe a fire and 8 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 4 model years of the Chevrolet Bolt EV in this data, 2017 draws the most complaints of any of them.
Filings have fallen off, 95 in the last three years against 274 in the three before. The issues here may already have been addressed.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 24,500 miles.
In owners' own words
My 2017 Chevy Bolt ev, (as well as others as found on the Chevy Bolt ev owners forum) has a problem with the steering wheel sticking during turns and not returning to center. The dealers want $2200 - $2500 to replace the steering rack. Since this is a frequently reported problem and can represent a hazard, should this be subject to a recall? I am puting in todays date, however this existed since purchasing the car. Steering
Sometimes, when driving in a turn, either direction, and hands are released from the steering wheel, the vehicle does not return to center. Force is required to cause the steering to begin returning to center. Once it begins returning to center, seems to always continue to center. This is a dangerous departure from decades of common vehicle operation. An unsuspecting driver can drive into an obstacle or people. Steering
The contact owns a 2017 Chevy Bolt. The contact stated that the vehicle's steering wheel fails to automatically straighten itself out when he releases his grip. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who diagnosed that the steering rack assembly failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 49,000 Steering
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…