2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV Engine Problems

While slowing to a stop, the vehicle suddenly experienced multiple (3–4) violent jerks. The vehicle fought against my firm brake pedal application, overpowered the brakes, and accelerated uncontrollably, resulting in a crash. During the impact: • The driver frontal airbag and pretensioners deployed. • The driver seatbelt unlatched mid-impact and then locked/retracted in a way that prevented it from latching again, even while I was sitting in the driver’s seat post-crash. I have only been provided with the limited Airbag Control Module (SDM) data, which shows the brake switch as “Off” and low accelerator pedal readings. This data does not match the events I experienced. I have formally requested full downloads from all other modules (Powertrain/PCM, ABS/EBCM, BCM, etc.) from both the insurance company (ESIS) and GM, but they have only provided the single SDM report. This appears to be a sudden unintended acceleration event combined with a brake override failure and seatbelt restraint system malfunction.

NHTSA ID

11743575

Incident

Jan 8, 2026

I am reporting a safety issue involving the high-voltage battery system of my vehicle. Vehicle: 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV VIN: [XXX] Mileage: 87,125 miles The vehicle has generated a P302F diagnostic trouble code, which indicates high-voltage battery cell imbalance. This condition may pose a safety risk related to battery performance and thermal stability. The authorized Chevrolet dealership has refused to diagnose the issue under warranty unless I pre-authorize a $600 diagnostic fee. The vehicle is covered under an active GM buyback warranty and a 10-year / 100,000-mile battery warranty due to a recall battery replacement. Due to the safety implications of a high-voltage battery fault, I believe refusal to diagnose the issue under warranty may pose a risk and warrants review. I am submitting this complaint to document the issue and request investigation. Thank you. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11707136

Incident

Nov 29, 2025

The battery has the potential to catch fire while it is charged or parked. The given precautions provided by GM makes the car unreliable and unusable. The battery and the vehicle is on usable due to its limitations based on charging. GM has no remedy for this vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11426904

Incident

Jul 19, 2021

I own a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt which is part of the recall announced today by GM. This is the second recall in less than a year for the same battery-related issue. It was supposed to have been fixed with a software update in June. This software was supposed to identify defective batteries but it has not been successful as evidenced by the mounting number of fires that have happened after the “fix”. As such, we are now under a recall a second time. As a result of their own manufacturing issue, we are now limited to how we charge our vehicles, where we park and even the mileage range that we paid for, while GM attempts another fix. GM stated today that they will again be using software to identify defective cells in our batteries and only the ones that are deternined to be defective will have those cells or battery packs replaced. As you can imagine, I no longer trust GM to be able to successfully identify whether or not my battery is defective. I’m extremely disappointed by the fact that GM continues to cut corners in an effort to save money, despite such a serious safety issue that can affect so many. Myself, my livelihood and even people I park next to while out in public are at risk. GM must be forced to replace the entire battery pack in every vehicle affected by this recall. They must also provide loaner vehicles, or details on reimbursement for rental cars, to those who need them due to the fact that their vehicle is virtually unusable while they clean up their mess.

NHTSA ID

11426228

Incident

Jul 23, 2021

There have been more vehicle fires after the safety recall "fix". General Motors has not said anything yet, and I am afraid to use my car or leave it near anything because of fire risk. This is a great safety concern for myself and others around me. I would like GM to say something.

NHTSA ID

11426013

Incident

Jul 20, 2021

THERE WAS A RECALL ON CHEVY BOLTS EV 2017, BECAUSE A FIRE OCCURRED. CHEVY ADVERTISE THAT IT CARS GET 234 MILES ON A FULL CHARGE. THIS IS NOT TRUE AND FALSE ADVERTISING FROM THE GMC MANUFACTURER. SINCE THE RECALL AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE RECALIBRATED TO 90 PERCENT, THE CAR GET MUCH LESS THAN 234 MILES . THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THIS A ALL ELECTRIC CAR. IS THIS NOT FALSE ADVERTISEMENT?

NHTSA ID

11408399

Incident

Mar 2, 2021

MY VEHICLE IS IMPACTED BY THE FOLLOWING RECALLS: 1) MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER N202311730, AND 2) NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 20V701. A FIX WAS SUPPOSED TO BE IN PLACE BY JANUARY 1. I FOLLOWED THE MANUFACTURER'S STEPS TO REDUCE CHARGE CAPACITY AND WAITED PATIENTLY UNTIL 1/29 FOR THE FIX. ON 1/29 I CALLED GM CONCIERGE LINE AT THAT TIME TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE FIX. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO UPDATE. I INQUIRED ABOUT MY OPTIONS INCLUDING A BUYBACK OR REPLACEMENT VEHICLE IN ADDITION TO A LOANER CAR DURING THE PERIOD OF TIME THE CAR WAS OUT OF COMMISSION. I WAS TOLD NO PROBLEM AND SOMEONE WOULD CONTACT ME. I'VE RECEIVED TWO CALLS SINCE THAT TIME, AND NONE OF THE PROMISED STEPS INCLUDING BUYBACK, REPLACEMENT VEHICLE, OR LOANER CARS WERE OFFERED. THE REPRESENTATIVES DO NOT RESPOND TO MY EMAILS, WHEN I CALL, THE ASSIGNED REP IGNORES MY CALLS, AND WHEN I ASK FOR A STATUS UPDATE I'M TOLD THERE ISN'T ONE. GM IS CLEARLY DELAYING THE ISSUE. I HAVE INFORMED GM THAT MY VEHICLE IS PARKED IN A VERY CLOSE QUARTERS GARAGE WHERE A FIRE WOULD CREATE AN IMMINENT LIFE/SAFETY ISSUE. GM CONTINUES TO NOT RESPOND TO MY INQUIRY. THE VEHICLE MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NONCONFORMITY VEHICLE UNDER THE TANNER ACT AND I AM REQUESTING ASSISTANCE TO ENSURE THAT THE VEHICLE IS REPURCHASED OR REPLACED. THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN CONFIRMATION POSTED THAT THE BATTERY PACKS NEED TO BE REPLACED ON THESE VEHICLE AND GM IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO ISSUE A FIX TO THE VEHICLE AND PREVENT FURTHER INJURY. I AM WRITING TO REQUEST AN INQUIRY BY NHTSA INTO WHAT GM IS ACTUALLY DOING TO PREVENT FURTHER LOSS OF LIFE AND/OR INJURY AND TO REPAIR OR REPLACE MY VEHICLE. I HAVE DOCUMENTED WEEKS OF EMAILS ON THE TOPIC WITH GM WHICH ARE NOT BEING REPLIED TO AND AM NOT SURE WHERE ELSE TO TURN TO GET GM TO ADDRESS THIS OPEN SAFETY ISSUE. THANKS.

NHTSA ID

11396670

Incident

Jan 29, 2021

Mileage

63,500 mi

IN NOVEMBER 2020, GENERAL MOTORS HAS DECIDED THAT A DEFECT WHICH RELATES TO MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY EXISTS IN CERTAIN 2017-2019 MODEL YEAR CHEVROLET BOLT EV VEHICLES. THIS NOTICE APPLIES TO MY VEHICLE, VIN: [XXX]. AS A RESULT, GM IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL, N202311730. MORE SPECIFICALLY, A CERTAIN NUMBER OF THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH HIGH VOLTAGE CELLS PRODUCED AT LG CHEM?S OCHANG, KOREA FACILITY THAT MAY POSE A RISK OF FIRE WHEN CHARGED TO FULL, OR VERY CLOSE TO FULL, CAPACITY. THE SEVERITY OF THE RECALL NOTICE WAS ALARMING TO MY FAMILY AS WE DRIVE IT DAILY AND OFTEN EXTENDED MILES. SAFETY IS MY PRIMARY CONCERN AND I AM REQUESTING REMEDIATION IMMEDIATELY. THE RISK AND DANGER IS TOO GREAT FOR ME TO WAIT AND SEE AS GM INVESTIGATES. WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE NOW? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR *JS

NHTSA ID

11385437

Incident

Dec 10, 2020

Mileage

55,556 mi

WHILE SLOWING TO MAKE A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND WOULD NOT STOP. THE CAR STRUCK THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT A COUPLE OF TIMES AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ID

11282618

Incident

Nov 25, 2019

GOT THE MESSAGE: PROPULSION POWER IS REDUCED I COULD START THE CAR BUT NOT SHIFT GEAR. GOT THE ERROR "CANNOT SHIFT GEAR CONDITIONS NOT RIGHT

NHTSA ID

11282342

Incident

Nov 11, 2019

Mileage

32,000 mi

MY 2017 CHEVY BOLT LOST PROPULSION WHILE IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS IN LOS ANGELES IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING FROM EITHER ON STAR OR THE VEHICLE. THE BATTERY INDICATED APPROXIMATELY AN 60% CHARGE. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT EL CAMINO CHEVROLET IN MONTEREY PARK, CA., WAITING ON SERVICE.

NHTSA ID

11243074

Incident

Aug 8, 2019

Mileage

27,000 mi

I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE 12-VOLT BATTERY. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER, STALLS, AND THEN IT LOOSES ALL FUNCTIONS - CANNOT BE EVEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL TO MOVE IT, CANNOT OPEN REAR DOORS. WE COULDN'T EVEN GET IN ON A TOW TRUCK.

NHTSA ID

11141635

Incident

Oct 20, 2018

Mileage

7,000 mi

DRIVING AT 65 MPH WITH 100+ MILE RANGE, CAR HAD A SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LACK OF PROPULSION. ELECTRONICS IN THE CAR CONTINUED TO WORK, BUT ABSOLUTELY NO PROPULSION. COULD SHIFT CAR TO NEUTRAL. CAR EVENTUALLY TOWED TO DEALER.

NHTSA ID

11127952

Incident

Sep 2, 2018

Mileage

12,500 mi

CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAD TO COAST TO A STOP. THE HIGH-VOLTAGE BATTERY WHICH HAD BEEN 3/4 FULL WENT DOWN TO ZERO. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE CAR COULD NO LONGER BE DRIVE. I'D ALREADY HAD GM'S RECALL INSTALLED N172127150

NHTSA ID

11115887

Incident

Aug 3, 2018

Mileage

18,000 mi

THE BOLT STOPPED PROVIDING POWER WHEN I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 4 LANE FREEWAY. IT HAS ALREADY FAILED 3 TIMES IN THE PAST, THIS IS THE 4TH TIME.

NHTSA ID

11113064

Incident

Jul 20, 2018

Mileage

14,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET BOLT EV. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A FEATURE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL THAT SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN AND GENERATED ENERGY TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. WHILE DRIVING 25-35 MPH, THE CONTACT UTILIZED THE ENERGY SAVING FEATURE. INSTEAD OF THE VEHICLE SLOWING DOWN, IT ACCELERATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED A FREE INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COMMUNITY CHEVROLET (200 W OLIVE AVE, BURBANK, CA 91502 (888) 295-6276), BUT WAS NOT GIVEN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BECAUSE AN ERROR WAS NOT FOUND. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO SEND AN INSPECTOR TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER DENIED THE CLAIM FOR THE VEHICLE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11053501

Incident

Oct 16, 2017