2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2019 Bolt EV most often describe two very different problems: high-voltage battery fire concerns and related recall/software steps, and a steering rack that stops returning to center on its own. A smaller but consistent group reports sudden loss of propulsion, sometimes tied to the manual disconnect fuse, plus infotainment and dash reflection complaints.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Battery fire risk and recall/software limits

   • 92 complaints (52%)
   • median 17,000 mi at 2.0 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe high-voltage battery packs catching fire while parked or charging, sometimes in garages and occasionally after recall software had already been applied. Many others say the car spent long stretches under recall with no replacement parts, while charging and parking were restricted to reduce fire risk. Owners report repeated software updates instead of a new pack, and that range and charging convenience were limited as a result. Spread across all mileages, including cars parked or charging overnight; many filed in 2020-2021 during the recall campaigns.

   Recall 21V560000Recall 20V7010002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the recall history by VIN and whether the battery pack was actually replaced rather than only software-updated. Confirm charging and parking guidance currently applies to the car.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At approximately 4 am on 10/6/2020, we (myself and my children) woke up to an explosion. I ran to find out what it was and saw smoke entering our home under the door going out to the garage. I grabbed my children and got out of the house as fast as I could. When I opened the front door of my house to go outside, there were flames coming out the front of the garage and the garage was engulfed in flames. We ran across the street to our neighbors house and I called 911, by this time, our entire garage was engulfed in flames. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11407212, filed 2021-04, 17,000 miles

   “This is the second recall for a faulty battery. There is severe limitation on how I’m supposed to use my car. If I don’t follow it there is a risk of fire putting me and my family at risk. I have to charge the car or I will not have a way to work. The batteries are clearly faulty and should be replaced. They knew doing half measures putting all owners at risk.”

   NHTSA complaint #11426256, filed 2021-07
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Sudden loss of power while driving

   • 15 complaints (8%)
   • median 4,097 mi at 1.4 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2023

   Complaints describe the car losing propulsion without warning, sometimes at highway speed, with warnings such as service vehicle soon or conditions not correct to shift, and the vehicle dropping to zero range. Several owners say the dealer traced it to the high-voltage manual disconnect fuse or a related control component. In some cases the car was towed and held while parts were back-ordered. Reported from as low as a few hundred miles up to about 30,000, often at highway or moderate speeds.

   What to check: Ask whether the manual disconnect fuse or propulsion control parts have been replaced, and check for stored diagnostic codes during a pre-purchase inspection.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2019 bolt EV (mileage approximately 10k) that automatically shifted gear to park mode from the l mode and slowed to an almost stop while I was on the highway at rush hour driving approximately 65 mi/hr. I was able to safely steer the car to a median and call on star after repeatedly shutting power off and back on again. I was able to connect with on star for live diagnostics showing a failure in the hybrid control processor (p0a78). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11309133, filed 2020-02, 10,000 miles

   “The car (bolt EV) suddenly stopped and lost all power while I was stopping at a red light. The car would not move and the error message conditions not correct to shift . I had over 180 miles of range and all of a sudden it dropped to zero.”

   NHTSA complaint #11308891, filed 2020-02, 1,648 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Steering wheel will not return to center

   • 42 complaints (24%)
   • median 29,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • owner-quoted repair $3,400 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe the steering wheel staying off-center after a turn and having to be pulled back by hand, along with clunking, popping or jerking noises while turning. Several say a dealer diagnosed a failed steering rack or rack-and-pinion assembly, and a few report the repair was quoted at a few thousand dollars. Some note the problem returned or appeared again on a later Bolt. Mostly reported between roughly 24,000 and 46,000 miles, with some as low as a few thousand.

   What to check: On a test drive, complete a slow sweeping turn and let go of the wheel slightly to see whether it self-centers. Ask whether the steering rack has been replaced and keep records if it has.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The steering will not return to center after completing a turn while vehicle is moving. I have two other Bolt EVs (2017 and 2021) and a Chevrolet Suburban 2018 and they all return almost perfectly to center while moving after a turn. Dealership is refusing to fix under warranty and the warranty is just about expired. I believe the problem is related to poor quality grease used in the Steering gear (otherwise know as the rack part of a Rack and Pinion).”

   NHTSA complaint #11468575, filed 2022-06

   “Around 46,000 miles this 5 yr old car began making popping sounds in the steering. Took into dealer and diagnosed steering rack failure and intermediate shaft. Cost to repair was close to $3,000. Looking into this, this is a common issue with Chevy Bolts due to poorly designed boots on the rack. This should be covered by a recall when failing so early. Happened to my previous 2018 Bolt too but the car was totaled in an accident prior to me undergoing the repair.”

   NHTSA complaint #11598540, filed 2024-07
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Infotainment screen freezes or goes dark

   • 9 complaints (5%)
   • median 12,800 mi at 1.4 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report the center touchscreen going black or locking up, which also takes out climate controls and the backup camera. A few mention a burning electrical smell from the dash and that the dealer described the behavior as normal until the screen failed entirely. Others describe losing charging status on the display. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 46,000, often starting when the car was new.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: During a test drive, cycle through climate and audio menus and check the backup camera. Ask whether the screen or amplifier has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Back up cam remains on after I put my car in drive. Also a loss of control of the infotainment console. You cannot lower the radio or control your climate control which means when the windshield is fogging up I cannot correct it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11240560, filed 2019-07, 6,600 miles

   “Since new I've had an issue with the bolt EV's infotainment display going black to include the backup camera. I cannot control the screen, the climate control settings or anything. I've been bringing it in since it was new and was told by Chevrolet that it's normal operation. Now it's fried with a burning electrical smell in the center of the dashboard and uncontrollable or unresettable. I have video of the incident and have taken videos of prior incidents which GM states they cannot fix based off of a video of the occurrance. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11363166, filed 2020-10, 46,321 miles
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield glare from dash reflection

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the light-colored dashboard reflecting strongly onto the windshield and side glass in bright sun, at times to the point of losing sight of traffic. Some owners say the dealer acknowledged it but offered no fix. One report describes a collision at an intersection during strong midday sun. Reported on new or low-mileage cars, typically under about 12,000 miles, in sunny conditions.

   What to check: Drive the car on a sunny day and look at how the dash reflects on the windshield. A dash mat or darker cover is a common owner workaround to ask about.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dash reflect excessive light onto windshield blinding driver. I have a turn from sr-95 south to I-15 north ramp and I am blinded while making the turn potentially causing a crash. Seems this has been a known issue since 2017 and no fixes has been mad.”

   NHTSA complaint #11375733, filed 2020-11, 11,500 miles

   “I experienced extreme windshield glare while driving my new chevy bolt at midday on a very sunny day. The glare was manageable at first, as I approached an intersection to make a left turn. As I entered the intersection, the windshield seemed to turn white. I lost my view of oncoming traffic and was hit by an SUV. This was the first really sunny day after I took possession of the bolt. Prior to that day, the weather had been partly/mostly cloudy. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11230428, filed 2019-07, 275 miles

Buying note. Check the recall status by VIN and whether the high-voltage battery was replaced rather than just software-updated, and test the steering self-centering and touchscreen on a drive. Service records for the steering rack and disconnect fuse are worth asking for.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.