2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV Owner Complaints

I am reporting a recurring safety defect with our 2019 Chevrolet Bolt (~80,000 miles). On multiple occasions the left front wheel has overheated severely while driving, accompanied by a rapid, severe side-to-side steering wheel wobble and a burning smell. On XXX after ~35 miles of driving (10+ miles at 50-63 mph), the steering wheel began shaking. We had to pull over and drive slowly along the shoulder, stopping twice to let the wheel cool. The left front wheel measured 627.9°F, while other wheels were under 200°F. On XXX, only three days after replacing the front brake pads and rotors, the left front wheel again overheated to 355°F (other wheels 116-139°F), with a burning smell. The problem is intermittent and has not been reproduced during dealership inspections. The vehicle was inspected by Bennett Chevrolet ([XXX]) and RK Chevrolet ([XXX]) multiple times; each time no cause was found and no repair made, aside from new tires and, most recently, replaced front brake pads/rotors, which did not resolve the issue. We believe this may involve the left front brake/caliper system or another component causing intermittent excessive heat and resistance at the wheel. We are concerned about loss of steering control and fire risk. We are elderly ([XXX] and [XXX]) and one of us is an above-knee amputee, making a roadside breakdown especially dangerous. We have photos/videos of the incidents, temperature documentation, and the old brake pads/rotors retained for inspection. GM EV Concierge case #XXX is open but unresolved. We are requesting this be investigated as a potential safety defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11765956

Incident

Sep 2, 2026

The steering wheel on my 2019 Chevy bolt is feeling stiff and harder to turn when making a right and left turn.

NHTSA ID

11765648

Incident

Sep 19, 2026

A rear passenger side door handle/latch stopped working. The door cannot be opened from the inside, only from the outside. It’s a safety issue and it has affected other 2019-2020 Bolts which resulted in their recall. Why not this one?

NHTSA ID

11765061

Incident

Sep 16, 2026

Steering wheel does not return to center on turns when driving at low speeds.

NHTSA ID

11749605

Incident

Jul 10, 2026

Steering wheel does not return to center after making a turn. Over time the steering rack fails leading to a steering wheel that will not return to center even when force is applied to wheel. The dealership is charging $3-4k to fix this safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11743944

Incident

Oct 30, 2025

when driving my car from the airport at Bradley International in CT (parked for a week), I experienced a terrible vibration in the steering wheel which has been intermittent. The vibration went away at lower speeds. I brought the car in to the shop on 5/18/2026 with 74,000 miles on the car. They told me I had to replace rotors, brakes, calipers, brake fluid, and do a front end alignment because the rotors have failed internally. The EV doe not use braking as frequently and this was taken from the Chevy forum: ISSUE: Frozen or Seized Calipers The Issue: Because Bolt drivers heavily rely on regenerative braking, the physical brake pads and calipers are used far less frequently than in gas-powered cars. This can cause rust and debris to build up, leading to frozen calipers, uneven pad wear, or a sticking/grabbing brakes. The Fix: Have a trusted mechanic or a dealer regularly inspect and service the friction brakes. Regular preventive maintenance like flushing the brake fluid every few years is highly recommended to prevent moisture accumulation and seized calipers. The resultant failure is a safety issue and Chevy has decided to call it a PM problem. This is not acceptable and is all over the forums as an issue for these cars. I saved all parts and had them record everything on the car, except for the fluid. There are other recalls for this component. I would like it investigated and determination made on the issue. The invoices will be in my possession tonight.

NHTSA ID

11738509

Incident

May 17, 2026

The steering wheel takes more effort to turn than it should and does not return to center after making a turn. It has been like this since I bought the car used, and I did not realize until recently that it should not be like this. Comments on some online forums indicate that this is a common issue with Chevy Bolts, usually requiring a steering rack replacement. This is a complex operation requiring certified EV technicians (I am told) and very expensive. I am not sure if GM has addressed this issue in any way.

NHTSA ID

11737320

Incident

May 11, 2026

The steering wheel locks and stiffens on turns to the left or right refusing to come back to center on its own. In the middle of the turn the wheel locks up. Been told by multiple dealerships and forums I've read online it's a known issue with the car needing a steering gear replacement. A job that costs $4-5k per GM based on labor. There's no warning lights. GM has reproduced issue And based on this forum multiple accounts of this have happened to others [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11737197

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

Issue: Total failure of Frontview Camera ADAS sensor, disabling Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB), Front Pedestrian Braking, and Lane Keep Assist. Technical Evidence: GDS2 telemetry confirms a "No Communication" status for the camera hardware. Core safety modules including the Electronic Brake Control (EBCM) and the Inflatable Restraint (Airbag) Sensing Module report active communication failures (DTC U026A/U216A). These safety-critical modules are currently unable to receive the sensor data required for crash avoidance and occupant protection. Forensic Timeline: Vehicle NVRAM reveals a manual "Clear Codes" event occurred at 46,838.3 miles—exactly 0.4 miles after the sale contract was signed. The fault reappeared with a 0 km offset (immediate return) and has been active for 162 ignition cycles, proving the defect existed throughout the dealership's possession. Dealer Response: The selling dealer delivered the vehicle with an unsigned 125-Point Inspection. Despite being presented with GDS2 telemetry proof of the braking and airbag communication blackout, management refused repair, mischaracterizing the disabled emergency braking system as a "luxury feature" and claiming the vehicle is "safe" to drive. Symptoms: "Service Front Camera" warning, intermittent loss of HVAC controls, and gear display (PRNDL) blackout due to systemic serial data bus interference caused by the hardware failure.

NHTSA ID

11736792

Incident

Mar 5, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The steering gear in this vehicle began to fail around 40K miles. It clunks at low speed, doesn't roll out of turns, and recently has begun to oscillate during straight driving. I will keep the old part for inspection once replaced. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The cars steering does not return to center during a turn. Now, the steering is shaking violently during driving. It will likely seize if left unfixed. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. I also have video. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? This is a well documented issue with Chevy steering. I will include an AI overview screenshot.

NHTSA ID

11730090

Incident

Mar 1, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11729235

Incident

Mar 1, 2026

Vehicle steering wheel fails to return to center after sweeping turn. Found it’s a common issue and is incredibly dangerous and should be recalled!

NHTSA ID

11727201

Incident

Mar 21, 2026

The steering on my car is sticking and failing. When I make a turn, the steering wheel does not go back to the center on its own. I have to physically pull it back, otherwise the car will keep turning. When driving straight, the steering wheel gets "stuck." I have to use extra force to make small adjustments, which makes the car jerk. The steering also makes clunking noises. This is extremely dangerous because it makes the car very hard to control, and I could easily drift into another lane, overcorrect, or crash.

NHTSA ID

11723297

Incident

Mar 10, 2026

Water has infiltrated the lower trunk area and fried the sound amplifier. The result is no sounds can be heard from the speakers. This includes sounds and warnings from the safety systems. Seat belt, ADAS, BLIS, OnStar, Turn Signals, Radio. The rear hatch seals seem to be intact and it is unclear how water is entering this lower area as there is no evidence of water anywhere else in the rear cargo area. A google search reveals many other Bolt owners are experiencing the same issue

NHTSA ID

11717281

Incident

Dec 2, 2025

As with other Chevy bolts, the rack and pinion steering completely broke no longer able to steer vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11705458

Incident

Dec 16, 2025

Steering will not return to center. After going around a turn, or even a curve like an exit ramp, the steering will remain locked in position and not re- center. It requires close attention and considerable force to return it to center and continue along a straight road.

NHTSA ID

11704587

Incident

Dec 10, 2025

Steering will not return to center. After going around a turn, or even a curve like an exit ramp, the steering will remain locked in position and not re- center. It requires close attention and considerable force to return it to center and continue along a straight road.

NHTSA ID

11697610

Incident

Nov 3, 2025

The steering wheel does not return to center. This appears to be a common issue on Chevy Bolts based on various forums, for example https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/steering-wont-return-to-center-bad-steering-gear-steering-sticking-in-one-direction.42988/. One has to be very aware of the steering issue as it requires the driver to actively force the steering wheel to return to center. This can be an even bigger issue when having to react to avoid debris or sudden breaking. There are no warning lights. The manufactuer claims that this is not a prevalent issue.

NHTSA ID

11694175

Incident

Oct 15, 2025

So I bought a used Bolt and the steering is sticking, at moderate speed (50mph) sweeping corners it lightly wants to pull harder into the corner and won't return to center if you let off the wheel, regardless of direction, you must always forcefully guide the steering wheel back to center. This is wrong, if your Bolt does this your steering rack is likely failing. This is a malfunction, in the GM service manual for the Bolt there is a diagnosis for "POOR RETURN OF STEERING WHEEL" which is described as "After completing a turn, extra steering input is required for the steering wheel to return to center."

NHTSA ID

11677813

Incident

Jul 31, 2025

Steering rack is binding, not returning to center after completing a turn. Only 50,000 miles on it.

NHTSA ID

11673407

Incident

Jun 5, 2025

Steering wheel does not return to center after making sharp turns. Steering wheel must be manually returned to center to avoid crashing.

NHTSA ID

11671085

Incident

Jul 1, 2024

Power steering fails go return to center intermittently causing unexpected handling characteristics while turning that could cause to over/undershoot a turn. Haven't taken it to the dealer to check and there are no warnings or lights.

NHTSA ID

11662880

Incident

May 15, 2025

I am filing this urgent safety complaint regarding a critical failure of the steering system in my 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV, which began experiencing problems at approximately 40,000 miles. This is not an isolated incident; numerous identical reports exist from other Bolt EV owners on public forums like Reddit ([XXX]) and [XXX], often occurring at similarly low mileage (typically 30,000-60,000 miles). The symptoms began with distinct clicking and knocking sounds when turning the steering wheel. This has progressed rapidly to increased steering effort (stiffness) and a failure of the steering wheel to return to center smoothly after a turn. This constitutes a severe and unacceptable degradation of a primary vehicle control system. When I had the vehicle inspected I was informed that the degradation would progress and risk my ability to safely steer the vehicle, and that the car should no longer be operated without performing a repair. A repair diagnosis indicated failure of the steering gear/rack assembly, with an initial repair quote of over $7000. This exorbitant cost is nearly prohibitive and approaches the residual value of the vehicle itself. It is deeply concerning and frankly unacceptable that a fundamental safety system like the steering is failing prematurely on these vehicles. Furthermore, the extremely high repair cost creates a dangerous secondary safety risk: owners may be forced to choose between a financially crippling repair or dangerously deferring maintenance, continuing to operate vehicles with compromised steering and risking catastrophic failure on the road. Steering integrity is paramount and should not be failing at such low mileage under any normal operating conditions. This pattern of premature steering failure reported by numerous owners indicates a potential design flaw, manufacturing defect, or component quality issue with the Chevrolet Bolt EV steering system that warrants immediate investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11655468

Incident

Apr 1, 2025

Low mileage vehicle purchased preowned with only 32,166 miles, and steering wheel (steering rack & pinion) is stiff and will not return wheel to center after turning more than a quarter turn.

NHTSA ID

11654295

Incident

Apr 1, 2025

Steering not returning to center when coming out of turns. Many have reported this issue with the steering rack. Concerned that steering will bind and cause an accident

NHTSA ID

11653798

Incident

Apr 9, 2025