This page covers 8 recalls, 167 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt.
118 MPGe combined
Small Station Wagons
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
Electrical system complaints dominate owner reports for the 2020 Bolt EV, making up by far the largest share of filed issues. Owners most commonly describe battery and charging problems, the high-voltage battery failing to accept a charge, error messages appearing during charging attempts, and real-world range falling well short of the rated estimate. Some owners report voltage variation faults detected across battery cell modules. Steering complaints are the second most-reported area, though the narratives in this set are thin on detail. A smaller cluster of propulsion-related reports describes an accelerator pedal getting trapped under the all-weather floor mat, causing the vehicle to continue accelerating after the driver's foot was removed, owners in those cases say they had to brake against the motor to slow down enough to shift to park.
167
Total Complaints
7
Crash-Related
4
Fire-Related
By System
The 2020 Chevrolet Bolt has 8 recalls, the most serious being a high-voltage battery that can catch fire when charged to full or near-full capacity, a risk that persisted after earlier repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue.
A separate fire risk exists after a crash: if the seatbelt pretensioners deploy, hot exhaust gases can ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar. Prior repair attempts for this issue also did not fully resolve it for some vehicles. On the brake side, the front left brake caliper may have been improperly cast and can fracture under hard braking, causing brake fluid loss and reduced stopping ability. There is also a seatbelt attachment concern: incorrect bolts may have been used to anchor the seatbelt assemblies to the vehicle structure, meaning the belts may not hold properly in a crash. Finally, a rear door cable inside the door may be too long, allowing it to contact the window and become damaged. A damaged cable can cause the rear door to swing open while driving or prevent the interior handle from opening the door at all.
At a glance
What can fail
Advanced diagnostic software may not have installed correctly during a previous repair. This can allow the high voltage battery to overheat and catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will reinstall the advanced diagnostic software at no cost to restore proper battery monitoring and fire prevention.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The advanced diagnostic software may have been incorrectly installed and fail to detect defective battery modules, which could result in a battery fire.
What the fix does
Dealers will reinstall the advanced diagnostic software at no cost to identify and address defective battery modules.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
After a crash that deploys the seat belt pretensioner, hot exhaust from the pretensioner can ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, potentially causing a fire.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect both front seat belt pretensioners and install metal foil at the carpet near the exhaust. Some vehicles will also receive a pretensioner cover.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
After a crash, the seat belt pretensioner releases hot exhaust that may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, potentially causing a fire.
What the fix does
Dealers will install metal foil under the carpet near the pretensioner exhaust and add a pretensioner cover to prevent ignition.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The high-voltage battery can catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.
What the fix does
Defective battery modules will be replaced at no charge. Until replacement, limit charging to 90%, charge more often, keep battery above 70-mile range, and park outside after charging.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Seat belt fastening bolts may be incorrect, causing seat belts to not attach properly to the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the suspect bolts with correct ones at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front left brake caliper may be improperly cast and can fracture during hard braking, potentially reducing braking effectiveness.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the front left brake caliper's casting lot number and replace it if needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The door-handle cable in rear doors may be too long and contact the window when opened, potentially damaging the cable. A damaged cable can cause the rear door to open unintentionally when the rear window is opened or prevent the rear inside door handle from working.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear inside door-handle cables at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
