Reliable Auto DB

2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV holds 60 complaints after 4 years, a rate of 13 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Bolt EV years here — under the median of the other years, which is 17. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Roof and pillars and Frontal.

2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV
Photo by Kevauto, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

60

Per year

13

Recalls

3

Years on the road

4

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (17 of 60), then Steering (17) and Service brakes (8). Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 3 that report an injury.

Next to 2022

The 2022 Bolt EV has 59 complaints, 17 per year. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (3)

Recall structure, body, roof and pillars 2023-12-14 · NHTSA campaign 23V845000
Summary 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.
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.
Recall air bags, frontal 2023-08-10 · NHTSA campaign 23V567000
Summary General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. The instrument panel may be missing the perforation on the underside of the panel cover that allows the passenger-side air bag to deploy properly.
Remedy Dealers will replace the instrument panel, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 21, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232414710.
Recall structure, body, roof and pillars 2022-12-15 · NHTSA campaign 22V930000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (60 total)

Electrical system
17
Steering
17
Service brakes
8
Fuel and propulsion system
7
Exterior lighting
6
Air bags
5
Engine
4
Back-over prevention
3
Powertrain
3
Speed control
3
Suspension
3
Forward collision avoidance
2
Visibility and wipers
2
Engine and engine cooling
1
Equipment
1
Lane departure
1
Seat belts
1
Seats
1
Structure
1
Show 11 more Show less
Crash-flagged

8

Fire-flagged

1

Injury reports

3

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

3202292023122024152025212026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Both front wheel drive shaft anti-click washers on my 2023 Bolt EV fractured at 18,269 miles. The failure caused a repeatable click/clunk from the front of the vehicle on torque application — accelerating from a full…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-09-15
  • "known issue with " anti click washer on Bolt EV " and resulting damage to related components can cause loss of control acceleration, stopping and major damage and cost, no warning lights or TSB other than for previous…"
    Speed control, Unknown or other, Service brakes · filed 2026-08-14
  • "The vehicle suffers from severe, unresolvable electrical failures causing recurring loss of propulsion, shifting lockouts ("No Driving Conditions" / stuck in Park), complete exterior lighting failures, and loss of…"
    Electrical system, Service brakes, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-08-01
  • "While driving a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt during a turn maneuver, one of the two bolts (nearest the driver) holding the lower control arm (to the vehicle on the front driver side) sheared completely. An inspection of the…"
    Suspension · filed 2026-07-01
  • "Steering rack failure, does not return to center most of the time. Every once in a while it will. Loud clunking in steering, started right around 36k mile warranty expiration, but I didnt know what it was so did not…"
    Steering · filed 2026-06-27

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV 5 HB FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Bolt EV — Automatic (1-speed) Front-wheel drive 131 109 120 MPG / 259 mi range $650

Specs and fitment

1st generation, 2017–2023
Body styles Hatchback
Tire size 215/50R17

Known issues for this generation

Recall 21V-650 covers certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 Bolt EUV vehicles: the high-voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity; GM's remedy includes battery module replacement and advanced diagnostic software. Earlier recall 20V-701 and 21V-560 addressed the same battery fire risk on 2017-2019 and previously repaired packs. Follow-up recalls 24V-481 and 24V-812 address failures in installing that diagnostic software on some vehicles already remedied under 21V-650. Recall 22V-930 covers certain 2017-2023 Bolt EV vehicles: after a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar.

Compare

Previous year 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV See every Chevrolet Bolt EV model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV holds 60 complaints after 4 years, a rate of 13 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Bolt EV years here — under the median of the other years, which is 17. NHTSA has 3 recalls on file, including Roof and pillars and Frontal.

What are common problems with a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (17 of 60), then Steering (17) and Service brakes (8). Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 1 that reports a fire, and 3 that report an injury.

Is the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2022 Bolt EV has 59 complaints, 17 per year. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV been recalled?

The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV has 3 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV?

Owners have filed 60 complaints about the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV is 120 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

Does the Chevrolet Bolt EV use engine oil?

No. It is battery-electric; routine fluid checks focus on brake fluid and coolant loops, not motor oil.

What tire size does a Chevrolet Bolt EV use?

US first-generation pages list 215/50R17.

What model years does the first-generation Chevrolet Bolt EV cover?

2017-2023 on this site's Bolt EV record.