2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV Electrical Problems

The vehicle suffers from severe, unresolvable electrical failures causing recurring loss of propulsion, shifting lockouts ("No Driving Conditions" / stuck in Park), complete exterior lighting failures, and loss of communication with the Restraints Control Module (RCM) and airbag impact sensors. The primary failure involves short circuits, open circuits, poor terminal contact, and thermal damage with melted, charred wiring and exposed copper in the main harness[cite: 6]. On May 25, 2026, OnStar telematics issued a critical red alert for the Regenerative Braking System[cite: 7]. All damaged components and diagnostic reports are available for inspection upon request[cite: 6, 7]. Safety risks include sudden loss of propulsion at highway speeds, total headlight and tail light loss during night driving, and potential non-deployment or malfunction of airbag restraint systems during a collision. The issues have been repeatedly reproduced and confirmed by an authorized dealership through 7 repair attempts between Sept 2024 and Apr 2025. Diagnostic steps included opening GM TAC Case 9-13634782861, consulting GM engineers, and testing 33 ground points. On Oct 28, 2024, the dealer and an insurance adjuster officially confirmed the failures are covered under GM warranty and unrelated to any accident[cite: 8]. Symptoms first appeared on Sept 10, 2024 (at 5,144 miles) with a "Waiting initialization to shift" message, blown Fuse 58, and loss of power to the ECM. Warning signs prior to subsequent failures included "Service Trans" warnings, "Reduced Propulsion" alerts, dim headlights, Check Engine Lights, SRS/Airbag warning lights, and total shifting lockouts after hitting road bumps. Despite replacing Fuse 58 (multiple times), Fuse 64, IP Fuse 7, the underhood fuse block, ECM connector terminals, headlamp assemblies, the RCM module, and multiple airbag impact sensors, the underlying electrical instability remains unresolved.

NHTSA ID

11754113

Incident

Sep 10, 2024

Vehicle infotainment system on 2023 Chevrolet Bolt completely stopped functioning in May of May of 2026. Screen/radio/bluetooth and associated components had no functionality, including backup camera, safety warning features, etc. Dealership confirmed that the system needed replacement entirely and was non-functional. Vehicle was not inspected by any other parties but it was confirmed by the dealership that this is a "common issue" for Chevrolet vehicles, even newer models. There were no warnings prior to the issue - the system simply did not work one day and never functioned again.

NHTSA ID

11745689

Incident

May 1, 2026

Without any warning or physical impact, the central infotainment screen completely blanked out and suffered an irreversible hardware failure. This screen acts as the mandatory display terminal for the vehicle's rear-visibility backup camera, as well as the audio generation module for the vehicle's driver alerts. Because of this component failure, the vehicle is in direct non-compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS): 1.FMVSS 111 (Rear Visibility): The vehicle completely fails to display a rear-view image when shifted into reverse, creating an immediate blind-spot hazard for pedestrians. 2. FMVSS 101 (Controls and Displays): All critical audible safety alerts, pedestrian alerts, and driver warning chimes have been entirely silenced. The manufacturer (General Motors) and the authorized franchise dealership (F.H. Dailey Chevrolet) have acknowledged the failure and have the part on backorder, but refuse to fully cover the safety restoration under warranty or provide a temporary loaner vehicle. This forces the primary driver, a [XXX] senior citizen, to choose between total isolation or operating a hazardous, federally non-compliant vehicle. This appears to be a systemic manufacturing or design defect inherently tied to the internal HMI module architecture on the late-model Chevrolet Bolt EV platform, rather than individual wear and tear. A formal investigation is requested to mandate a safety recall and enforce full manufacturer accountability. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11740712

Incident

Apr 19, 2026

Recurring electronic transmission shift control failure on a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The Electronic Transmission Shift Control Pushbutton Circuit Board (GM part designation K212) has failed twice within approximately 9,300 miles. First failure occurred at approximately 45,695 miles in July 2025. The dashboard displayed a malfunction indicator and a "Service Transmission" warning. Diagnostic trouble code U18D2 was set: Lost Communication with Transmission Range Selector Control Module on the Powertrain Sensor CAN Bus. The selling Chevrolet dealer replaced the K212 pushbutton circuit board and reprogrammed the HPCM2 module. Second failure occurred at approximately 54,969 miles in March 2026, only about 9,300 miles after the first repair. Same diagnostic code family, including the identical U18D2 code, plus U0076, U18C6, and U240E. The same dealer replaced the same K212 pushbutton circuit board a second time. The repair was processed under manufacturer warranty. Safety risk: when the failure occurs, communication with the transmission range selector is lost intermittently and without warning, leaving the vehicle unable to be reliably shifted into Drive, Reverse, or Park. This creates a clear hazard in traffic, parking lots, and on inclines. The failure mode is sudden and the warning lamps appear only after the malfunction has begun. The component is located beneath the center cup holder area. There is no visible waterproofing or moisture isolation around the circuit board, despite its location directly under a known liquid exposure zone. The failed component from the second repair was reportedly shipped back to GM by the dealer. The vehicle is available for inspection. The failure has been confirmed twice by an authorized Chevrolet dealer.

NHTSA ID

11736684

Incident

Mar 12, 2026

While driving at approximately 45 mph, the regenerative braking feature of the vehicle suddenly failed, and also generated a master caution light on the dashboard display. This is the second time this has happened while driving and resulted in a sudden, alarming change in vehicle dynamics. Regenerative braking is the normal operation regime of the vehicle, with the traditional mechanical-hydraulic brake pedal available for added braking, as demonstrated by the Chevrolet dealership during a test drive and confirmed with the vehicle manual. Furthermore, the vehicle will no longer shut itself off and could pose a fire risk when stored in a garage, parking deck, other vehicles, etc. These issues happened in November 2024. The car was returned to the dealer for warranty repair. Even after extensive repairs to the electrical system, the car has repeated the alarming failure mid-drive. This indicates that there is a serious problem with the electronic and poses a serious safety risk.

NHTSA ID

11729055

Incident

Apr 2, 2026

THIS VEHICLE JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC, NOT GIVING ME TIME TO PULL OVER. THE SCREEN JUST SAID, "SERVICE MODE", AND WOULD NOT GO INTO NEUTRAL TO ENABLE THE CAR TO BE PUSHED TO A SAFE SPOT. HIGHWAY PETROL HAD TO STOP TRAFFIC AND HAVE IT TOWED OFF. THIS WAS ENDANGERING EVERYONE INVOLVED. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER CHEVY BOLTS, IT DEFINITELY NEEDS ADDRESSING.

NHTSA ID

11705604

Incident

Dec 6, 2025

I own a 2023 Chevy Bolt EV. Around 9/27/24 at 5,144 miles, the vehicle began experiencing serious electrical and propulsion issues. It has been to the dealership six times, each requiring a tow due to total loss of function. Issues include blown fuses, charging failures, shifting problems, propulsion loss, and repeated warning messages. Repairs have involved fuse box replacements, a new wiring harness, and other electrical components. The car has spent over 100 hours inactive at the dealership. Problems have been confirmed by technicians, but persist despite repairs. Additional safety concerns include a defective impact sensor, airbag warning lights, and a burned-out headlamp. These compromise crash readiness and visibility. Due to ongoing issues, the vehicle has been parked and unused for months, as it is unsafe and unreliable to drive. The manufacturer has not inspected the vehicle. Based on repeated failures and unresolved safety risks, I believe this vehicle qualifies as a lemon and request further investigation.

NHTSA ID

11678653

Incident

Sep 27, 2024

I just purchased this vehicle from Hertz authorized dealer in December 2024, January 2025 the Electrical system, infotainment became non functioning. This caused my vehicle to stall, on star safety charge, etc to fail and not function. No communication within the vehicle that is an electric vehicle that requires this system for all components to function and provide a safe car to drive. Power to vehicle, back up camera, on star for emergencies, charging, this affects all the ADAS components in this vehicle to function properly causing a safety hazard. Took this vehicle into the dealer they diagnosed this system is down and no communication with radio. Also Set false DTC was completed. It is scary that a radio component can cause an emergency service to fail and other components in the vehicle to fail all electrical components in this vehicle. I am writing a complaint to Hertz since they stated all was okay when the radio, on star never worked, an update for the main system was no corrected and they failed to make sure the EV batteries were properly connected.

NHTSA ID

11650154

Incident

Jan 23, 2025

The vehicle was driving and lost all power and came to a stop. After about 5 seconds vehicle regained power. The "check engine light" illuminated on the dash. took to dealer and stated could not replicate problem. Only have the report from vehicle computer and the EV technician did not understand the information and had to call GM for help. Got car back and problem happen again. Dealer had GM specialist out to help. GM reset computer and problem just happens again.

NHTSA ID

11636983

Incident

Oct 24, 2024

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA ID

11606996

Incident

Mar 8, 2024

I was sitting in the passenger seat of my new 2023 Chevy Bolt EV while parked at a convenience station. The vehicle was on and not hooked up to a charger. I smelled something burning and quickly thereafter I saw smoke coming from under the driver side seat. The driver exited the vehicle and looked under the seat. The driver attempted to put out the fire with his hand and the carpeting under the seat. The fire got bigger. I ran to the closest extinguisher and pulled the pin to extinguish the fire. It was out for several seconds before re-igniting again. Another round of extinguisher foam was released and the fire was put out. I reported the damage to the dealership, the car manufacturer and my insurance company. I towed it to the dealership where it has been sitting since 6/1/24. Nothing further has been done since then. The dealership refuses to assess the vehicle and to date the manufacturer has not sent any inspectors to diagnose the reason of the fire. As A matter of fact my insurance company, the dealership and the manufacturer all advised me to get and pay for my own inspection from a 3rd party inspector which I am working on scheduling now.

NHTSA ID

11600123

Incident

May 31, 2024

Sudden rapid acceleration of car while parking vehicle on December 20, 2023 at approximately 2:00pm. The sudden rapid acceleration caused the vehicle to jump a curb and hit the base of the light pole damaging the right front of the car. Car was towed to the dealership and is currently there. If the car had not hit the base of the light pole, the car could have continued on into a driving lane possibly striking another car or pedestrian. To date , 12/31/23, the car has not been inspected to my knowledge. There was no warning lamps or messages. While reaching down to push the Park button, the engine, which is normally quiet, made a loud whirring noise and then lurched forward.

NHTSA ID

11562910

Incident

Dec 20, 2023

On 11-17-23 someone rear ended me making me lose control of the vehicle and getting off the road into the woods and eventually hitting a tree, the airbags did not deploy, the car is equipped with OnStar system from Chevrolet as a safety feature in which as soon as there is a collision I supposed to get a call from an advisor so they could call an ambulance and a towing service, it's included in my monthly payment, but that did not happen, no one called me to check on me also the braking system should have prevented me from hitting a tree, the safety system failed

NHTSA ID

11558150

Incident

Nov 17, 2023

The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V567000 (Air Bags, Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced the failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ID

11555423

Incident

Nov 16, 2023

Was sitting at a stop light when I accelerated on green I felt a lurch, it felt like someone had hit me from behind. Within 15 seconds of acceleration this light came on, a car with an exclamination point on it, and said to pull over ASAP. Car would not go any faster than 30mph and luckily I was not on an interstate or major highway. I was able to pull over in a parking lot and at that time the car was disabled. I could not put it in driver or reverse and it did not want to turn off I had to open the door to turn it off. On Star diagnostics said it was the electric drive unit not preforming as expected, codes P0A3F and P0A40. Car would not move and luckily it was daylight in the area I was at, at night this would have been bad as I would have feared for my safety as a female alone in a car that would not go. Car had to be towed to dealership and from the dealer "drive motor position sensor erratic. Found bulletin 19-NA-220 to replace engine harness (42840881 2525C F-HARNESS) for this concern due to improper instatallation of harness causing issues due to terminal damage".

NHTSA ID

11549415

Incident

Sep 28, 2023

My wife had just parked the vehicle in our garage and had plugged it into the charger. She walked to the back of the vehicle to open the rear hatch and as she was raising the hatch she felt an electrical shock up her arm, it was strong enough that she immediately came into the house holding her elbow. It couldn't have been static electricity, she was already in contact with the vehicle when the shock occurred, the humidity was very high as it had been raining, plus the vehicle should be grounded through the charging plug. I immediately went into the garage and unplugged the car. Tomorrow I'll plug the car back in and use my voltmeter to check for any voltage between the vehicle body and ground.

NHTSA ID

11530025

Incident

Jul 2, 2023

I have purchased the Autel Energy EVSE for my vehicle and had it installed by certified electricians in my garage. The unit malfunctions frequently and requires it to be restarted. The unit is hard wired and and the only way to reset it is to turn the breaker off and back on, as instructed by the manufacturer. NEV specifically says that using the breaker as a switch is no recommended. The purpose of the breaker is a power interruption device in case of an electrical fault. Using it as a switch to turn power off and back on could prematurely wear it out which creates a fire risk. The manufacturer has explicitly instructed me to create a fire hazard in my home to be able to use their product. This is a serious safety hazard.

NHTSA ID

11494961

Incident

Nov 26, 2022