AI Damage2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about steering. The maker issued 536 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 536
What fails most often
- Steering: 6 complaints (100% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 10.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- electric
- automatic, 1-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering | 6 | 0 | 10 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 222 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 154 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 37 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Tires | 0 | 0 | 21 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 19 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 11 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Steering has resistance and will not to return to center/neutral position without driver manipulation. I've never experienced this probelm with another car and See many other Chevrolet Bolt owners have experienced the same problem. IT definitely seems to be a design and /or assembly flaw.
There were no warning lights or other signs of malfunction. The problem has made the wheels out of alignment, however.
Over the last month I have noticed that the steering fails to return to center once I turn the front wheels more than a few degrees to the right or left. I thought it could be a tire wear or miss-alignment issue so I got new tires and an alignment but the problem is still quite bad.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 1,633 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (among the 22% least complained about).
On average one model year of the Bolt EV has 66 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 6, below average.
What to check before buying
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Wheels. Wheel runout, cracks, signs of a wheel strike.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it
- This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance
- PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size…
- This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a…
This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
- Certain vehicles may have been sold with a GM NACS Level 2 EV charging adapter (NACS to J1772) in which a…
Certain vehicles may have been sold with a GM NACS Level 2 EV charging adapter (NACS to J1772) in which a quality issue was identified. Dealers are to provide the customer with the latest design charging adapter.
- This service bulletin provides information on Tire Sidewall Irregularities
- This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have…
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions…
- This service bulletin provides dealers with Warranty Administration information on North American Charging…
This service bulletin provides dealers with Warranty Administration information on North American Charging Standard (NACS) DC Adapter Warranty Claim Information.
- This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and…
This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and Transaction Submission information.
- This engineering information (EI) will assist GM to recover a small number of electric vehicle battery…
This engineering information (EI) will assist GM to recover a small number of electric vehicle battery packs from customer-owned vehicles in the field for further engineering study and analysis.
- New Vehicle Monitoring Programs Section in IVH
NHTSA lists 536 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: steering. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (17%), warning lights, check engine (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV?
NHTSA lists 536 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2018 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.