Is there a best year for the Chevrolet Bolt EV?

No. Every Bolt EV year is capped by recall campaigns, so none reaches a Good or Best verdict. The lowest-risk years are 2018, 2021, and 2022.

Does the Chevrolet Bolt EV have a battery fire recall?

Yes. NHTSA recalls affecting 2017-2022 Bolt EV models address high-voltage battery fire risk, including a 2021 recall (21V560000) advising interim charging limits and later 2024 recalls (24V812000, 24V481000) covering incomplete software repairs.

What is the most common complaint on the Chevrolet Bolt EV?

Across all years, electrical system issues are most common with 417 complaints (43% share), followed by steering at 259 complaints (27%) and fuel system at 189 complaints (19%).

Is the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV reliable?

The 2020 Bolt EV is rated Avoid, with a complaint index of 83 and 174 total complaints, mostly electrical system issues reported at a median mileage of 30,000 for that category.

Chevrolet Bolt EV Best and Worst Years (2017–2023)

Chevrolet Bolt EV owners should avoid 2017 and 2020, which have the highest complaint indexes (100 and 83) and rank worst overall. No Bolt EV year earns a Good or Best verdict because every year carries recall campaigns; 2018, 2021, and 2022 are the lowest-risk choices among the Caution years.

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.

Avoid 2017 Avoid 2020Lowest-risk years:Caution 2018 Caution 2021 Caution 2022

Model years: 7; 2017–2023
NHTSA complaints: 973
Recall campaigns: 13
Crashes reported: 37
Fires reported: 21
Top problem area: Electrical System

Bolt EV Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Chevrolet Bolt EV problems and recalls by year

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Recalls	Top issue	MPG	NCAP
2017	Avoid	100	346	11	5	4	Steering	119	—
2018	Caution	0	89	2	1	5	Steering	119	—
2019	Caution	67	178	2	10	6	Electrical System	119	5★
2020	Avoid	83	174	7	4	8	Electrical System	118	5★
2021	Caution	33	67	4	0	5	Electrical System	118	5★
2022	Caution	17	59	3	0	7	Electrical System	120	5★
2023	Caution	50	60	8	1	3	Electrical System	120	5★

Bolt EV years to avoid: what went wrong

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV Index 100 · 346 complaints · 4 recalls

The 2017 Bolt EV has the highest complaint index (100) and 346 total complaints, ranking worst of all years. Steering is the top problem area (123 complaints, 36% share, median mileage 41,750), followed closely by electrical system issues (117 complaints, 34% share, median mileage 21,500). Owners reported unintended acceleration or failure to slow during regenerative braking use, brake pedals not delivering full stopping power, and crashes tied to these failures. The year carries 4 recalls, including seat belt pretensioner fire risk and a high-voltage battery fire recall requiring interim charging limits.

2017 steering problems →2017 electrical system problems →2017 fuel system problems →

2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV Index 83 · 174 complaints · 8 recalls

The 2020 Bolt EV has a complaint index of 83, the second-worst among Bolt EV years, with 174 total complaints. Electrical system problems dominate (98 complaints, 56% share, median mileage 30,000), including reports of vehicles lunging forward unexpectedly while parking or in low-speed maneuvers, and at least one report of a vehicle catching fire while parked after charging. The year has 8 recalls, including two tied to incomplete advanced diagnostic software repairs from an earlier battery-fire recall, plus the seat belt pretensioner fire recall shared across model years.

2020 electrical system problems →2020 fuel system problems →2020 steering problems →

Most common Chevy Bolt EV problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.

Electrical System417 (43%)
Steering259 (27%)
Fuel System189 (19%)
Other117 (12%)
Transmission & Powertrain86 (9%)
Engine75 (8%)
Brakes56 (6%)
Suspension, Wheels & Tires27 (3%)
Collision Avoidance & Cameras24 (2%)
Visibility & Wipers24 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

Frequently asked questions

What year Chevrolet Bolt EV should I avoid?: Avoid the 2017 and 2020 Bolt EV. They have the highest complaint indexes (100 and 83) and rank as the two worst years out of seven.
Is there a best year for the Chevrolet Bolt EV?: No. Every Bolt EV year is capped by recall campaigns, so none reaches a Good or Best verdict. The lowest-risk years are 2018, 2021, and 2022.
Does the Chevrolet Bolt EV have a battery fire recall?: Yes. NHTSA recalls affecting 2017-2022 Bolt EV models address high-voltage battery fire risk, including a 2021 recall (21V560000) advising interim charging limits and later 2024 recalls (24V812000, 24V481000) covering incomplete software repairs.
What is the most common complaint on the Chevrolet Bolt EV?: Across all years, electrical system issues are most common with 417 complaints (43% share), followed by steering at 259 complaints (27%) and fuel system at 189 complaints (19%).
Is the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV reliable?: The 2020 Bolt EV is rated Avoid, with a complaint index of 83 and 174 total complaints, mostly electrical system issues reported at a median mileage of 30,000 for that category.