2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV Electrical System Problems
Owners filed 31 electrical system complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 35% of all 89 complaints filed for the year, with a median failure mileage of 18,000. Two related recalls (21V560000 and 20V701000) cover high-voltage battery fire risk, and one fire was reported in the sample data.
- Electrical System complaints
- 31
- 35% of 89
- Crashes reported
- 0
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 18,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- High-voltage battery cells combusted while parked and charging, producing smoke and fire from the rear battery area.
- Vehicles displayed a 'limited driving capability' or 'system shutting down' warning, then lost propulsion or shifted into park unexpectedly at low speed.
- Main touchscreen/computer went black and the car intermittently lost power on the freeway, requiring computer replacement.
- Rear view camera stayed on continuously at freeway speeds, locking out climate and radio controls and making it hard to shift into park.
- Owners reported charge capacity limits imposed by GM after the recall, cutting usable range and requiring more frequent charging stops.
- Infotainment system restarted or shut down while driving, with the speed display fading out during the restart.
When 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Aug 31, 2018, latest Oct 31, 2025.
Electrical System recalls for the 2018 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 many electrical complaints does the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV have?
- NHTSA lists 31 electrical system complaints for the 2018 Bolt EV, which is 35% of the 89 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV electrical system?
- Yes. Recall 20V701000 (filed 2020-11-13) and its successor 21V560000 (filed 2021-07-23) both address a high-voltage battery that could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity. Neither recall requires owners to stop driving, but both advise parking outside.
- At what mileage do 2018 Bolt EV electrical problems typically occur?
- The median mileage at failure for electrical system complaints on the 2018 Bolt EV is 18,000 miles.
- Did any 2018 Bolt EV electrical complaints involve a fire?
- Yes, NHTSA data shows 1 fire among the 31 electrical system complaints for the 2018 Bolt EV, with 0 crashes and 0 injuries reported.
- What specific electrical issues do owners describe?
- Owners describe battery fires while charging, sudden loss of drive power with warning messages, screen/computer failures causing intermittent power loss, and a rear view camera that stays on and locks out other controls.