2019 Chevrolet Bolt: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 168 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, steering, and fuel system. The 11 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2019- Owner complaints
- 168
- Recalls
- 6
- 2 urgent
- Crashes reported
- 2
- 5 injuries
Two recalls on this model year told owners to park outside until the repair was done.
Do not buy until you have dealer paperwork or a recall lookup showing they were completed for this VIN.
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/11 checked
2019 Chevrolet Bolt: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/6
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/3
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Bolt is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | FWD | 238 mi range |
- With a full charge, the range estimate on the dash should land near the EPA figure of 238 miles. A much lower number on a mild day can mean a worn battery; ask for a battery health report.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Steering won't return to center
26,861–50,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Electrical75No crashes
Battery fires dominate these reports. The cars start smoking from the rear underbody while parked, often in a garage while charging, after charging, or shortly after a drive. Owners describe white smoke, popping sounds and fires that spread to garages, homes and nearby vehicles. Eight complaints involve fire and two involve injuries. Many other complaints are about living with the battery recall: charging limits, parking outdoors, no overnight charging and no repair date. A few describe high-voltage battery warnings or the car shutting down completely at low mileage.
Steering39No crashes
The wheel stops returning to center after a turn, and the steering feels stiff or sticky. Clicking, popping or knocking often comes with it. The trouble usually starts somewhere between 26,861 and 50,000 miles. It gets worse over time and does not trigger a warning light. Drivers say they have to force the wheel back to straight. Dealers find a failed steering gear or rack, sometimes along with an intermediate shaft or coupler, and quote around $3,000 once the warranty has run out. One report describes the pinion housing breaking free and steering being lost entirely.
Fuel system16No crashes
Power cuts out suddenly, sometimes at highway speed. Some cars put themselves into Park and will not shift again. One dealer traced a failure on a car with 82 miles to the high-voltage manual disconnect fuse, and another complaint blames the same disconnect lever. Other drivers get a Propulsion Reduced warning that caps power after long highway runs. Most remaining complaints are about the battery fire recall: slow remedies, limits on charging and parking, and one fire that damaged a home.
Transmission13No crashes
The car loses propulsion while moving. It slows sharply on the freeway, sometimes shifting itself into Park, and shows messages such as drivetrain malfunction or unable to shift. One car stopped dead in an intersection. Repairs mentioned include a control module and a wiring harness. In one case the car surged, then smoked and burned after the driver pulled over. Smaller complaints cover a charge-port latch that sticks and blocks charging, a failed battery pack, a ticking shifter, and hot electronics under the hood during charging.
Wipers and visibility21 crash
A light gray dashboard reflects onto the windshield and can wash out the view ahead in bright sun. One complaint describes the windshield seeming to turn white during a left turn at midday, which led to a crash with three injuries. Another says the reflection makes the windshield and side mirror hard to see through, and that the manufacturer would not call the dashboard color a defect.
Airbags21 crash
Two unrelated problems appear here. In a collision with a deer, the steering wheel airbag did not deploy, even though smoke and igniter fumes filled the cabin. The other complaint describes dashboard side panels near the A-pillars that keep coming loose after repeated dealer repairs. The owner worries the trim could strike occupants if the airbags fire. With only two complaints, there is no broad pattern.
Seat belts2No crashes
One complaint describes a dealer who could not do a seat belt pretensioner recall repair because the remedy was not available yet. The other combines several faults: a rear middle seat belt that does not retract, a parking brake that engages on its own with a grinding noise, and a backup camera image that shrank after a software update. Neither points to a widespread seat belt failure.
Automatic emergency braking2No crashes
Automatic emergency braking fails in both directions. One driver reports the brakes clamping on with no warning while no car was closing in ahead, which raises the risk of being rear-ended. Another reports no warning and no braking at highway speed when a vehicle cut in, with alerts returning only at lower speed. The forward collision warning is also described as overly sensitive in normal traffic.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Bolt owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
I received another recall letter regarding the battery issue today stating the fix has no date in sight. I was denied a buyback by GM. GM has further stated that it's unsafe to charge the car fully, unattended, near a structure, nor should it be allowed to fall below 70 miles of range. My safety and that of my passengers and my home are at risk. Also, I'm paying full price for a car that I have fractional use of. This is entirely unacceptable
Filed with NHTSA, August 2021
The Bolt has been recalled for a faulty battery issue, with no known timeline for repair. I have been told not to charge overnight, park indoors, let it drop below 70 miles or charge above 90%, and to park 50 feet away for other cars when charging and not let it charge unsupervised. The guidelines provided by GM are causing the vehicle to be out of service, as they make charging and driving the vehicle impossible.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2021
Vehicle steering does not return to center when exiting a gradual turn. This occurs intermittently. On line research indicates that this problem is likely the result of a faulty steering rack and that many other owners have experienced this behavior; as this could result in a dangerous situation I am reporting. The vehicle has about 43,000 miles on it. I have not had it repaired as yet.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2024
Steering gear and torque sensor failure at 39,000 miles. Car is unsafe to drive and costs over $3500 to fix. The problem has been diagnosed at a dealership. No warning lights or codes apparent, problem is worsening and the car is becoming unsafe to drive. Steering gear or rack could be available for inspection.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2026
GM's recall solution is unacceptable and leaves consumers with virtually unusable vehicles if they follow GM's safety recommendations. This situation has been allowed to go on too long and we are lucky that no one has gotten hurt.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2021
Solenoid on charge receptacle that asserts locking latch gets stuck in extended state leaving the car in a bricked state - out of charge and unable to insert a charger. This occurred after receiving the new battery packs covered by recall and the dealer did the associated firmware upgrade after the battery recall fix. Also - when observing the Bolt forums the "stuck latch preventing charging" is occurring on quite a number of other Bolts - FW bug??
Filed with NHTSA, January 2022
Battery pack is failed and needs replacing, attempts have already been made to no avail. We should have our batteries replaced at no expense along with loaner provided until completed. Than you
Filed with NHTSA, July 2021
How the 2019 compares with other Bolt years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2019 has the most owner complaints of the 5 Bolt years we cover, about 1.9 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Electrical7528
- Steering3916
- Fuel system165
- Transmission1310
- Wipers and visibility21
- Airbags22
Where the 2019 fits in the Bolt's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2019 is the third model year of the Bolt's first generation (2017–2023).
Chevrolet updated the Bolt for 2022, so a 2019 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2022 (not on a 2019)
- Front and rear styling revisions
- Revised interior with upgraded seats
- New electronic systems
Recalls to confirm (6)
Recall repairs are free at any Chevrolet dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
21V560000ElectricalPark outsideJul 2021
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.
Fix: 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.
20V701000ElectricalPark outsideNov 2020
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.
Fix: 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.
23V845000Body and structureDec 2023
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.
Fix: 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.
22V930000Body and structureDec 2022
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.
Fix: 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.
20V184000Door latches and locksMar 2020
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. The door-handle cable inside the rear doors may be too long, allowing contact with the window when it is opened, possibly damaging the cable. A damaged cable may cause the rear door to open unintentionally when the rear window is opened. Additionally, it may cause the rear inside door handle to not work.
Risk: If the rear door opens while driving, or the door handle fails to open the rear door, there is an increased risk of injury to the rear passengers.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear inside door-handle cables, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A202298320.
18V576000BrakesAug 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
Risk: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
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