2023 Chevrolet Bolt Euv Owner Complaints

While driving my 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV at approximately 136,594 miles, the vehicle suddenly began making severe mechanical clacking/grinding noises and vibrating heavily. I could no longer safely drive the vehicle at normal road speed and was only able to move it very slowly. Fortunately, this occurred when traffic around me was light. If this failure had occurred in heavy or high-speed traffic, the sudden loss of normal drivability could have created a serious safety risk to me and other motorists. The vehicle was towed to Simpson Chevrolet of Irvine for diagnosis. The Chevrolet dealer found a large hole in the transmission/transaxle case and confirmed that the unit had lost all of its fluid. Diagnostic code P17C8 was also present. The dealer described this as an unusual failure. I specifically asked whether an external impact or road debris caused the damage. The dealer stated that there were no visible signs of impact to the undercarriage other than the hole in the transmission case itself and that they could not determine the exact cause. I did not shift the vehicle into Park while it was moving, and I do not recall striking any road debris or other object that could explain this catastrophic damage. I am reporting this because a sudden catastrophic drive-unit/transaxle failure while a vehicle is in motion may present a significant safety risk. I believe this failure should be documented and reviewed to determine whether similar failures have occurred in other Chevrolet Bolt EV/EUV vehicles.

NHTSA ID

11764449

Incident

Aug 19, 2026

The electric power steering / steering gear assembly exhibits mechanical binding ("sticky steering") and completely fails to return to center. When going around a curve in the road, the steering wheel "memorizes" or holds the turned angle and will not unwind or self-center like it used to and as I would expect it to. I'm having to apply continuous, deliberate manual counter-steering to bring the vehicle back to straight. The steering also has a distinct "notchy" or sticking sensation when making small steering adjustments that make clear audible clicking or knocking sounds at lower speeds. The issue began intermittently from my recollection around early 2026 and has grown progressively worse. It's most certainly progressed to feeling like a serious safety hazard by potentially causing significant driver fatigue, over-correction, and difficulty maintaining lane discipline, increasing the risk of lane departure or an inability to complete emergency evasive maneuvers. I will have a teenage driver soon and would not feel comfortable with her driving this vehicle in its current state. I verified that all "driver assistance" features were disabled and were not the cause of the mechanical resistance. No warning lights or error codes have illuminated. I need to get it fixed, but for the time being, the vehicle and its original steering components are available for inspection if that is useful.

NHTSA ID

11762966

Incident

Feb 1, 2026

The electric power steering (EPS) rack has developed an internal binding at times, causing the steering wheel to sometimes fail to naturally return to the center position after completing both low-speed and highway-rate turns. Instead of self-centering, the wheel holds its turned angle, forcing me to manually pull it back to straight-line navigation. This creates a serious safety hazard, as it requires unnatural steering corrections and can lead to overcorrection or unintended lane departure. No warning lights or diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) have appeared on the dashboard. This is a well-documented issue across Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUV models. Dozens of owners on public forums and in existing NHTSA complaint filings report identical symptoms—often occurring between 30,000 and 60,000 miles—where internal gear binding or degraded factory lubrication inside the steering rack requires a complete, costly rack-and-pinion replacement to resolve safely.

NHTSA ID

11761717

Incident

Aug 13, 2026

Steering Rack: The internal components of the rack bind up and create heavy resistance, causing the wheel to lock into a turned position rather than gliding back on its own to maintain control. This issue forces you to manually pull the steering wheel back straight after every turn, making high-speed and everyday driving unpredictable and dangerous. Power train: The powertrain is loose when moving forward and backward potentially causing a risk to others when leaving the vehicle in park.

NHTSA ID

11761423

Incident

Aug 28, 2026

Collision warning failed to warn driver and automatic emergency braking failed to engage, causing an accident.

NHTSA ID

11760626

Incident

Aug 29, 2026

Was initially stopped at a red light heading northbound while in the right turn lane. The cross street had two lanes of traffic heading in each direction separated by a median divider to the west and a left turn lane to the east. After cross traffic cleared from the nearest eastbound lane, but cars continuing to travel in the far eastbound lane, I began a ‘right turn on red’ into the nearest eastbound lane. Somewhere near, but short of completing the entire 90° turn, the AEB system violently slammed on the brakes causing strong vibrations like I had hit or been hit by another car. My estimated speed at the time was approx. 15 mph. Not positive, but I believe the collision alert beeped and red dot HUD activated at the same time indicating an impending collision. Believing I had been hit, I think I applied the brake pedal to ensure the vehicle completely stopped rolling. After visually checking my surroundings, I saw no other vehicles, pedestrians, or objects anywhere near or around my vehicle. Concerned I had possibly run over something instead, I slowly proceeded forward to visually check the road surface to see if anything was in the road behind. The vehicle operated normally, I saw no debris, and pulled over to the side of the road to visually check for damage. Seeing none, I continued my travel without further incident. The vehicle has not been inspected or has the problem been reproduced, but it is available upon request. This is the first occurrence of phantom breaking since owning the vehicle for the past 10 months and there have been no prior symptoms or related problems. In this case the lane I entered was free of traffic. If instead I had pulled into a gap in traffic that would otherwise have been sufficient to safely merge into, my sudden and unexpected stop could have easily caused oncoming traffic to hit me from behind.

NHTSA ID

11759774

Incident

Aug 22, 2026

After completing a turn, the car's steering wheel does not fully return to center. It remains at 30 degrees under 10mph, 10-15 degrees at 20mph. Dealer has claimed it is behaving as intended.

NHTSA ID

11758965

Incident

Aug 4, 2026

I was taking a left turn from [XXX] onto [XXX] in the outer (right) lane. As I was exiting the turn, the AEB went off suddenly without warning -- the car came to a sudden and complete stop. There were no cars or obstacles in the road ahead of us in either lane and so it is unclear what would cause the braking event. Due to the sudden stop, a man driving a moped was not able to stop in time--he was able to swerve to avoid a head on collision, but he collided with our rear passenger bumper. While, fortunately, there were no injuries, both vehicles sustained minor damage. This is the second incident of "phantom braking" I have experienced with this car. The first incident was within the first year of owning it driving on a 35 MPH road when it mistakenly thought a car was veering into our lane (oncoming traffic) -- in this case the phantom braking was brief and did not bring the vehicle to a stop. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11757057

Incident

Aug 14, 2026

When driving and turning, the steering wheel does not come back to center and the car keeps turning after releasing the steering wheel causing the car to veer off the road if not turned back manually. This is very unexpected and an unsuspecting driver might not realize this until too late. I am in the process of contacting the dealer I bought the car from. But, searching the internet it seems to be a know problem.

NHTSA ID

11756146

Incident

Aug 4, 2026

Steering gear box failure diagnosis from dealer

NHTSA ID

11755554

Incident

Aug 7, 2026

Steering fails to return to center after turning. This is unexpected behavior and creates a danger when turning and releasing the steering wheel. There are no warnings or messages that coincide with this issue.

NHTSA ID

11754266

Incident

Jan 1, 2026

The steering is heavier on the car and does not return to center after turning. This causes danger while driving if someone cuts off in front of me or I have to stop suddenly due to an animal or any other conditions. I am also assuming this will be dangerous to drive in wet weather as well. I took it to the dealer to check it, and it was diagnosed as a failing steering system; the rack and pinion need to be replaced.

NHTSA ID

11753794

Incident

May 13, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle displayed a Service ESC warning, indicating a possible malfunction in the electronic stability control system. I have had difficulty reproducing the issue, but the vehicle and any related components are available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The malfunction may have reduced the vehicle’s stability and traction assistance, which could increase the risk of losing control while driving. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? I have taken the vehicle to the dealer three times. The first time, the dealer replaced the battery. The second time, the dealer installed a software update. The third time, they were unable to reproduce the issue. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has been inspected by the dealer. No inspection by police, insurance representatives, or other third parties has occurred. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? The Service ESC warning first appeared while driving on July 19, 2026 and May 22, 2026. I did notice the service light turn on before then, but do not have a picture to send at this time.

NHTSA ID

11752728

Incident

Jul 19, 2026

Rattling noise started coming from the steering wheel, it can be felt through the steering wheel. Doing an inspection it's coming from the the U joint area and steering wheel. The steering wheel also doesn't properly turn back into place when turning at lower speeds. Issue started around 40k miles. Searching the online the issue lots of people are having the same issue. Per Chevy Dealership, In need of roughly $2,850 repair parts are Steering Gear, Steering Shaft, Steering ujoin

NHTSA ID

11751103

Incident

Oct 1, 2025

I was driving on the highway with GM Super Cruise engaged. I was within the speed limit on a straight road with my hands near the wheel. Without warning, the steering turned sharply to the left on its own and locked — I was unable to correct it or override the system. The vehicle left the road, spun, and was totaled. I walked away with minor injuries. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure. The vehicle has been inspected by police (report exists) and insurance representatives. The vehicle is currently at a dealership and is available for inspection. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer. I believe the Super Cruise system malfunctioned and caused the steering to lock in a direction I could not override.

NHTSA ID

11743970

Incident

Jun 4, 2026

I have a 2023 Chevy Bolt EUV, and I'm experiencing a steering issue. When making left or right turn, the steering wheel does not return to center automatically. This problem has been present since the beginning, and it has gradually been getting worse.

NHTSA ID

11741046

Incident

May 1, 2026

Clear day and dry conditions. Pulling into a parking space going 4-5mph with foot hovering brake. Car then accelerated on its own into a building.

NHTSA ID

11740412

Incident

Feb 13, 2026

Steering wheel does not return to center; likely due to failing steering gear or rack due to faulty lubrication at factory.

NHTSA ID

11736201

Incident

May 5, 2026

Steering rack failure (wheel does not return to center, crunchy steering with increasingly more resistance over time).

NHTSA ID

11731208

Incident

Sep 1, 2025

Steering gear assembly malfunction. Internal rack & pinion failure is present. Rack is binding/seized. When making a turn on the vehicle, the steering wheel does not return to center, creating a highly dangerous situation where if the steering wheel is not manually returned to center it can cause a motor vehicle accident. In other words, once a turn is initiated the car will remain in a turned state unless the steering wheel is wrestled with to return to traveling in a straight line. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed by an independent service center. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representative, or others outside of an independent service center. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior the failure. The failure appeared starting at about 25,000 miles and gradually became worse to just under 40,000 miles which is the mileage on the car now.

NHTSA ID

11720568

Incident

Feb 25, 2026

Rear backup camera cuts out periodically while using. Multiple reports of this issue in online discussion groups.

NHTSA ID

11719841

Incident

Feb 21, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EUV. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the message "Service Transmission - Unauthorized Shift" was displayed. While attempting to shift into drive(D), the gear shifter failed to move to the intended selection. The contact stated that a tow truck arrived and while loading the vehicle onto the flatbed, the driver attempted to shift into neutral (N), but the transmission failed to respond. The vehicle was towed to a dealer; however, the failure could not be replicated. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

NHTSA ID

11719466

Incident

Feb 16, 2026

Mileage

28,000 mi

The radio amplifier is mounted in the rear trunk wheel well attached to the bottom, along with the subwoofer assembly. Under the amplifier is a small drain. My trunk leaked during the rain and shorted out the amplifier. This shut off all communication noise in car. No noise from blinkers or warnings of dangerous situations. According to AI, "The 2023 Chevy Bolt EV shares the same basic body structure and rear hatch design as earlier models (2017–2020), and there is no confirmed evidence that the trunk seal was redesigned or improved to prevent water intrusion. Despite a known issue with water leaks into the trunk—often due to voids in seam sealer or compromised tailgate gaskets—General Motors issued a service bulletin (18-NA-182) that applied only to 2017–2020 models. However, owners of 2022 and 2023 models have reported identical leaks, with water pooling in the rear cargo area and damaging components like the amplifier located in the spare tire well." Remember, when the amplifier goes out, every warning signal goes out, as well as radio and hand free operation of cell phones.

NHTSA ID

11718978

Incident

Feb 16, 2026

Turn Signal no longer returns to the original position after making a turn.

NHTSA ID

11718271

Incident

Jan 31, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The door locks automatically unlock when the car shuts itself off if the key fob is inside. Yes, it is available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Twice now, once in this car, and once in my previous car (a Bolt rather than an EUV) I fell asleep at a charging station, in the Texas summer, with the A/C running, and when I woke up, the car was off and the doors had automatically unlocked. I believe this has happened to other people. See, for example: https://westchester.news12.com/police-duo-to-be-charged-after-stealing-a-car-while-it-was-charging Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No, but as I wrote, it has happened to me with two separate vehicles, a 2019 Bolt, and a 2023 Bolt EUV, and it is eminently reproducible. Get in the car, lock the doors, leave the car on and wait an hour. When the car shuts itself off, it will unlock the doors (I believe because the key fob is inside.) Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. But I sent an unacknowledged email to GM's general counsel on 9/1/2019 the first time it happened in my 2019 Bolt EV. It still happens in my Bolt EUV. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No.

NHTSA ID

11714596

Incident

Jun 1, 2023