2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 33 Electrical System complaints for the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 49% of its 67 total complaints. Nearly all trace to the high-voltage battery fire risk covered by recall 21V650000, plus two follow-up recalls (24V481000, 24V812000) after the original fix failed. Median mileage at failure was 5,000 miles.
- Electrical System complaints
- 33
- 49% of 67
- Crashes reported
- 1
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 5,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 3
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Owners report the high-voltage LG lithium battery poses a fire risk, requiring them to park outside away from other vehicles or structures.
- Some describe sudden emergency shutdowns while driving, with an 'Emergency Power Failure, Seek Service Immediately' message forcing the vehicle to stall at highway speed.
- Several owners say recall parts for the battery fix (21V650000) were unavailable for extended periods, leaving the vehicle undrivable or restricted to reduced charge levels.
- Owners report the infotainment and backup camera system malfunctioned while driving at freeway speed, with the backup camera image locking onto the display and blocking other information.
- Some owners say GM offered a buyback or battery replacement instead of an immediate repair, with no clear timeline given.
When 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Jun 17, 2021, latest Mar 2, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV
- 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.
- 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.
- NHTSA 21V650000Aug 20, 2021Electrical System52,414 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. 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. Defective battery modules will be replaced by GM, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 1, 2021 and June 23, 2023. Owners may contact the Bolt EV Concierge Team at 1-833-382-4389. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall 21V-560. GM's number for this recall is N212345940.
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
- Are 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV electrical problems common?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 33 Electrical System complaints for the 2021 Bolt EV, which is 49% of all 67 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV electrical system?
- Yes. Recall 21V650000 covers a high-voltage battery fire risk, and two later recalls, 24V481000 and 24V812000, address diagnostic software that failed to properly monitor the earlier repair.
- At what mileage do 2021 Bolt EV electrical problems appear?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 5,000 miles for Electrical System complaints on this model year.
- Did the 2021 Bolt EV electrical issues cause fires or injuries?
- NHTSA records show 1 crash, 0 fires, and 0 injuries linked to Electrical System complaints for the 2021 Bolt EV, despite the battery fire recall.
- How does 2021 compare to other Bolt EV years for electrical complaints?
- The 2021 model's 49% share of complaints tied to the Electrical System is close to 2020 (56%) and 2022 (51%), and higher than 2023 (38%) and 2017 (34%).