2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV Electrical System Problems
Electrical System complaints account for 117 of 346 total complaints (34%) filed on the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, with a median failure mileage of 21,500 miles. Two related recalls (20V701000 and 21V560000) address high-voltage battery fire risk.
- Electrical System complaints
- 117
- 34% of 346
- Crashes reported
- 3
- Fires reported
- 4
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 21,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Vehicles lose propulsion while driving and display a propulsion warning light, sometimes requiring a battery replacement.
- High-voltage battery packs have caught fire while charging, including one incident where the battery burned entirely under the vehicle.
- Some owners report the battery stops charging fully and dealers find nothing wrong despite repeated visits.
- Regenerative braking has triggered unintended acceleration or braking behavior instead of slowing the vehicle, in one case leading to a crash.
- Complete electrical shutdowns have occurred with the car unable to start even with a fully charged battery, requiring a jump and tow.
- A five-second delay in brake light illumination during regenerative braking was reported without any warning indicator.
When 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Sep 2, 2017, latest Jun 12, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV
- NHTSA 21V560000Jul 23, 2021Electrical System57,414 vehiclesPark Outside
Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles previously recalled under NHTSA recall number 20V-701. The high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.
Risk: A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to take the following interim steps: Activate either the Hill Top Reserve (2017 and 2018 models) or Target Charge Level (2019 models) feature in their vehicle to limit the charge level to 90%, charge their vehicle more frequently, avoid depleting the battery to 70 miles range remaining, park outside after charging, and do not charge the vehicle indoors overnight. Defective battery modules will be replaced by GM, free of charge. Interim notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 13, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 13, 2021. Owners may contact the Bolt EV Concierge Team at 1-833-382-4389. GM's number for this recall is N212343880.
- NHTSA 20V701000Nov 13, 2020Electrical System50,932 vehiclesPark Outside
Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling all 2017-2018 and certain 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. The high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.
Risk: A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: This recall has been superseded by recall number 21V-560. Vehicles previously repaired under 20V-701 will still need to have the new remedy under recall 21V-560. GM will notify owners, and as an interim repair, beginning on November 17, 2020, dealers will reprogram the hybrid propulsion control module 2 (HPCM2) to limit the full charge to 90%, free of charge. Owners are advised to activate either the Hill Top Reserve (2017 and 2018 models) or Target Charge Level (2019 models) feature in their vehicle to limit the charge level to 90%, or park outside, until the software update is completed. Owners were notified of the interim repair beginning November 17, 2020. The second notice was mailed on May 11, 2021. Owners may contact the Bolt EV Concierge Team at 1-833-382-4389. GM's number for this recall is N202311730.
Electrical System complaints by Bolt EV model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are electrical system problems in the 2017 Chevy Bolt EV?
- NHTSA lists 117 Electrical System complaints for the 2017 Bolt EV, which is 34% of the 346 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2017 Chevy Bolt EV's electrical or battery system?
- Yes. NHTSA recalls 20V701000 and 21V560000 cover 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles for high-voltage battery fire risk during full or near-full charging.
- At what mileage do Bolt EV electrical problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2017 Bolt EV is 21,500 miles.
- Have there been fires or crashes linked to the 2017 Bolt EV's electrical system?
- NHTSA data shows 4 fires and 3 crashes tied to Electrical System complaints for the 2017 Bolt EV, with no reported injuries.
- How does the 2017 Bolt EV compare to other years for electrical complaints?
- The 2017 model's 34% share of complaints tied to the Electrical System is lower than the 2020 model (56%) and 2019 model (48%), but still a substantial portion of all complaints filed.