2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV Driver assistance Problems

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

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

I was driving on a highway access road when my Chevy Bolt's automatic emergency braking system suddenly and unexpectedly applied the brakes. I have noticed that the proximity warning system is fairly sensitive - often beeping even when I am applying brakes to decelerate at a rate that feels comfortable and reasonable to me given the distance of the vehicle in front of me. In this instance, however, there was no beeping of the warning system. Additionally, I was not closing the distance between my vehicle and the one in front of me, nor were they braking. I was concerned that the unexpected and unnecessary emergency braking could have caused me to be rear-ended had a vehicle been behind me. It was very heavy braking - disproportionate to the distance and speed between myself and the vehicle in front of me.

NHTSA ID

11514657

Incident

Feb 28, 2023

Rainwater leaks through the rear windshield wiper grommet and runs down into the trunk shorting out the amplifier that is located at the bottom underneath the tire change kit. Collision alert sounds and turn signal sounds do not function because the amplifier is shorted out. There is no visible sign of water leak unless you disassemble and entirely remove 1) the top trunk cargo liner, 2) lower trunk charger compartment liner, and 3) large styrofoam tray with tire change kit. Water pools around the amplifier corroding terminals and shorting out the amplifier creating an electrical shock hazard. There are no drainage holes in the trunk well so rainwater has no way of draining.

NHTSA ID

11502012

Incident

Dec 1, 2022

I made the mistke of purchasing a Chevy Bolt EV in 2019. The cars have been on a recall since 11/2020 for batteries that set fire. Three times Chevy has called my car back to the dealership and done nothing but reduce my battery charge level to 80%. This is not acceptable because the car will no longer cross the Island and return at this level. They kepp saying they will put never batteries int he cars but that started over a year ago and they have done nothing. When I asked them about when the battery swap might happen they tell me they do not know. When I asked if they had Bolts with good batteries that they could swap they said no. I'm being given the run around by GM.

NHTSA ID

11442548

Incident

Dec 2, 2021

The center touchscreen will intermittently freeze when started and not recover when driving. When this occurs the HVAC and radio hard buttons also stop responding which prevents control of the defrost, creating a visibility hazard that could result in a crash. Sometimes the freeze will result in the backup camera remaining on while driving forward. When in reverse the freeze results in the backup camera guidelines, parking collision warning and rear cross traffic warning being unavailable. Failure of these systems intended to prevent collisions is a safety hazard because unavailability of these systems could result in a collision. The freezing did not occur frequently when the vehicle was new, but over time this has become a frequent occurrence. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The problem has been reproduced by a dealer and been subject to repair twice, but the issue has continued to occur after each repair attempt. The vehicle was subject to bulletin 20-NA-119 which was intended to correct radio screen black/freezes after boot up, but this does not appear to have resolved the issue.

NHTSA ID

11418305

Incident

May 12, 2021

THIS FRONT COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK WELL, TODAY I WAS DRIVING ON A CAR POOL LANE AT A SPEED ABOUT 65-70 MPH, A WHITE FORD EXPLORER SUDDENLY CUT IN, THE SYSTEM DIDN'T MAKE ANY WARNING OR BRAKE AT ALL. I HAVE A DASH CAM RECORDED IT. WHEN THIS HAPPENED, IT WAS SUNNY, CLEAR DAY, ON A STRAIGHT FREE WAY. AFTER A WHILE, WHEN I LEFT THE FREE WAY, THE SYSTEM STARTED TO MAKE WARNINGS WHILE THE SPEED DROPPED TO 50 MPH.

NHTSA ID

11414219

Incident

Apr 27, 2021

Mileage

35,000 mi

THIS IS A NOTE REGARDING THE MANUAL DISCONNECT FUSE ON CHEVROLET BOLTS, INCLUDING THE 2019 MODEL. FAILURE OF THE FUSE WHILE DRIVING CAN CAUSE INJURY/DEATH. MY CHEVROLET DEALER IS TAKING THREE WEEKS TO FIX THE ISSUE. CHEVROLET IS NOT ALLOWING THE DEALERS TO KEEP THE REPLACEMENT FUSE IN STOCK, SO YOU HAVE THE CAR INSPECTED, THEN THEY ORDER THE FUSE. IN MY CASE IT TOOK TWO WEEKS FOR THE FUSE TO ARRIVE, ANOTHER WEEK TO AN APPOITMENT. TOTAL OF THREE WEEKS.

NHTSA ID

11355317

Incident

Sep 1, 2020

Mileage

14,502 mi