YearToAvoid

2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#7 most-complained of 7 Bolt EV years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV ranks best among 7 model years, with a complaint index of 0 and 89 complaints. It carries 5 recalls, mostly tied to high-voltage battery fire risk and seat belt pretensioners, but reported problems are lower than every other Bolt EV year.

Complaints
89
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
2 / 1
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
119
128 city / 110 hwy

Top 2018 Chevy Bolt EV problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering38 (43%)
  2. Electrical System31 (35%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain12 (13%)
  4. Fuel System11 (12%)
  5. Engine8 (9%)
  6. Other8 (9%)
  7. Brakes7 (8%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (2%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers2 (2%)
  10. Airbags1 (1%)

What owners report

  • Steering can develop a clicking noise and become harder to handle, reported around 42,987 miles.
  • The high-voltage battery has caught fire while charging, with smoke reported coming from the rear battery area.
  • The gauge cluster has displayed a 'limited driving capability' or 'system shutting down' message, with the vehicle shifting to park or seizing in the road at low speed.
  • Owners report the vehicle losing significant driving range, with GM attributing part of the reduction to a recall-related fix.
  • Front wipers have frozen to the base of the windshield in cold weather, impairing visibility while driving.
  • The main computer screen has gone black with intermittent loss of power on the highway, requiring computer replacement.
2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV complaints: complaints filed per month13Feb 2018Oct 2020Aug 2021Jun 2022Mar 2023Apr 2024May 2025Jan 2026
120 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2018 to Sep 2026; peak Aug 2021 (13).

2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V845000Dec 14, 2023Seat Belts6,771 vehicles

    Seat belts:pretensioner

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. This recall includes certain vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under NHTSA recall number 22V-930. After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire.

    Risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect both front seat belt pretensioners and, if necessary, install metal foil at the carpet near the pretensioner exhaust. Certain vehicles will also need a pretensioner cover installed. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2024. These vehicles were previously recalled for this same issue under recall number 22V-930 and will need to have the new remedy performed. Owners may contact GM EV Concierge at 1-833-EVCHEVY (1-833-382-4389) (TTY 711 / 1-800-833-2438) or Customer Service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232421970.

  2. NHTSA 22V930000Dec 15, 2022Seat Belts111,242 vehicles

    Seat belts:pretensioner

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire.

    Risk: A vehicle fire can increase the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will install metal foil at the carpet near the pretensioner exhaust, and install a pretensioner cover as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between January 23, 2023 and April 25, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N222383790.

  3. 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.

See all 5 recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV →

2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV fuel economy and fuel cost

City
128 MPG
Highway
110 MPG
Combined
119 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$650
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Electricity
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2018 compared with other Bolt EV years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002017201820192020202120222023
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017Avoid1003464119
2018Best0895119
2019Avoid831786119
2020Caution671748118

All Chevrolet Bolt EV years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2018 Bolt EV has a complaint index of 0 and ranks best (1st of 7) among all Bolt EV model years, with 89 complaints logged.
What problems does the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV have?
The top problem area is Steering, accounting for 43% of complaints (38 of 89), followed by Electrical System issues at 35% (31 complaints), including battery fire concerns.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV have a battery fire recall?
Yes. Recalls 20V701000 and 21V560000 cover 2017-2018 (and some 2019) Bolt EVs whose high-voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.
How many recalls does the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV have?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2018 Bolt EV, covering seat belts, electrical system/battery fire risk, and brakes.
How does the 2018 Bolt EV compare to other years?
With a complaint index of 0, the 2018 Bolt EV is the best-ranked year, well below the 2017 model's index of 100 and the 2019 model's index of 83.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.