2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV, and owners have filed 67 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Software (electrical system) and traction battery (electrical system) Park outside
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 Bolt EUV vehicles previously repaired under Recall 21V-650. The installation of advanced diagnostic software may have failed. As such, the high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.
Remedy: Owners are advised to take the following interim steps: Set the Target Charge Level feature in their vehicle to limit the charge level to 90%, charge their vehicle more frequently, avoid depleting the battery to 70…
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Traction battery (electrical system) Park outside
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV vehicles that were previously remedied under recall number 21V-650. The advanced diagnostic software may have been incorrectly installed and fail to detect defective battery modules, possibly resulting in a battery fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised to take the following interim steps: Set the Target Charge Level feature in their vehicle to limit the charge level to 90%, charge their vehicle more frequently, avoid depleting the battery to 70…
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Pretensioner (seat belts) and roof and pillars (structure)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. This recall includes certain vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under NHTSA recall number 22V-930. After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect both front seat belt pretensioners and, if necessary, install metal foil at the carpet near the pretensioner exhaust. Certain vehicles will also need a pretensioner cover installed. Repairs will be…
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Pretensioner (seat belts) and roof and pillars (structure)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will install metal foil at the carpet near the pretensioner exhaust, and install a pretensioner cover as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between January 23, 2023 and April 25,…
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Traction battery (electrical system) Park outside
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV vehicles. The high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.
Remedy: Owners are advised to take the following interim steps: Set the Target Charge Level feature in their vehicle to limit the charge level to 90%, charge their vehicle more frequently, avoid depleting the battery to 70…
67 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV have filed 67 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 5,183 miles. Complaints peaked in 2021 with 25 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The electronic steering gear (steering rack) on my 2021 Chevrolet Bolt has malfunctioned, causing the steering to feel rough, stiff, and sticky. Crucially, the steering wheel fails to naturally return”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 26, 2026 · Steering
“My 2021 Chevy Bolt keeps showing a battery or power-Propulsion warning light related to the high-voltage system. The warning keeps coming back even after multiple repairs. The first repair was on Apri”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 2, 2026 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 118 MPGe |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 127 / 108 |
| Fuel | Electricity |
| EPA class | Small Station Wagons |
| Transmission | Automatic (variable gear ratios) |
Compare Chevrolet Bolt EV model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Bolt EV model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV | 4 | 348 |
| 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV | 5 | 89 |
| 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV | 6 | 178 |
| 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV | 8 | 174 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV | 5 | 67 |
| 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV | 7 | 59 |
| 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV | 3 | 61 |
| 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV | 1 | 5 |
Checking a specific 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV
How do I know if my 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 21V650000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Chevrolet models
- Malibu19,364 complaints
- Silverado 150018,029 complaints
- Impala10,434 complaints
- Tahoe10,032 complaints
- Equinox9,161 complaints
- Silverado8,799 complaints
- Blazer8,192 complaints
- Suburban8,164 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.