YearToAvoid

2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#5 most-complained of 7 Bolt EV years

The 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV ranks 5th worst out of 7 model years, with a Complaint Index of 33 and a "Good" verdict relative to other Bolt years. It has 67 complaints, 5 recalls, and no reported fires, with the top problem area being the Electrical System (49% of complaints).

Complaints
67
Recalls
5
Crashes / fires
4 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
118
127 city / 108 hwy

Top 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV problems

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

  1. Electrical System33 (49%)
  2. Fuel System15 (22%)
  3. Other12 (18%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain10 (15%)
  5. Steering9 (13%)
  6. Engine7 (10%)
  7. Brakes3 (4%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (4%)
  9. Airbags2 (3%)
  10. Lane Departure1 (1%)

What owners report

  • Vehicle unexpectedly lunges forward when shifted into park, sometimes resulting in a collision.
  • Airbags fail to deploy during side-impact or frontal collisions despite significant force.
  • Sudden uncommanded acceleration reported when shifting from reverse into drive, with brakes unable to stop the vehicle.
  • Vehicle loses power abruptly on the highway with a 'propulsion power is reduced' warning, causing abrupt deceleration.
  • Infotainment and backup camera systems malfunction and freeze the display at highway speeds.
  • Steering makes groaning or squeaking noises with sluggish turning, described as premature part failure.
2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV complaints: complaints filed per month16May 2021Oct 2021Jun 2022Jan 2023Jul 2023Sep 2024Aug 2025Aug 2026
97 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2021 to Aug 2026; peak Sep 2021 (16).

2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V812000Oct 31, 2024Electrical System107 vehiclesPark Outside

    Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery thermal:management:software

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 Bolt EUV vehicles previously repaired under Recall 21V-650. The installation of advanced diagnostic software may have failed. As such, 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: Set the Target Charge Level 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. Dealers will reinstall advanced diagnostic software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 3, 2024. Owners may contact the Bolt EV Concierge Team at 1-833-382-4389. GM's number for this recall is N242470160.

  2. NHTSA 24V481000Jun 27, 2024Electrical System72 vehiclesPark Outside

    Electrical system:propulsion system:traction battery

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV vehicles that were previously remedied under recall number 21V-650. The advanced diagnostic software may have been incorrectly installed and fail to detect defective battery modules, possibly resulting in a battery fire.

    Risk: A battery fire increases the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Owners are advised to take the following interim steps: Set the Target Charge Level 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. Dealers will reinstall the advanced diagnostic software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 1, 2024. Owners may contact the Bolt EV Concierge Team at 1-833-382-4389. GM's numbers for this recall are N242443000 and N242443002.

  3. 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.

See all 5 recalls for the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV →

2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV fuel economy and fuel cost

City
127 MPG
Highway
108 MPG
Combined
118 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.

2021 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
2019Avoid831786119
2020Caution671748118
2021Good33675118
2022Best17597120
2023Caution50603120

All Chevrolet Bolt EV years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2021 Bolt EV has a Complaint Index of 33 and ranks 5th worst out of 7 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Bolt years.
What are the biggest problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV?
NHTSA complaints show the Electrical System is the top problem area, accounting for 49% of complaints, followed by Fuel System issues at 22% and Transmission & Powertrain issues at 15%.
Does the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV have a battery fire recall?
Yes. Recall 21V-650000 covers the 2020-2022 Bolt EV and Bolt EUV for a high voltage battery that could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity, and later software recalls (24V481000, 24V812000) address incomplete diagnostic software fixes.
How many recalls does the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV have?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2021 Bolt EV, covering the Electrical System and Seat Belts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV?
EPA rates the 2021 Bolt EV at 118 MPG combined (127 city / 108 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $650.

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.