2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2022 Bolt EV most often describe recall repairs, particularly for the high-voltage battery, that are delayed because replacement parts are not yet available. Battery fire concern and charging limits applied while waiting are also frequent themes, along with sudden loss of propulsion and transmission warnings that prevent shifting. Where mileage is recorded, most reports are under 10,000 miles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Recall repairs delayed while parts are unavailable

   • 16 complaints (27%)
   • median 7,000 mi at 0.4 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe recall notices for battery and airbag repairs that could not be completed because the replacement parts were not yet available. Some report waiting for months, including a battery replacement that had been pending for over a year, and some say GM did not provide a timeline. Many say the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable time for the repair, and some say a vehicle identification number lookup confirmed the parts were not available. Many of these owners had not yet had a failure, while others describe error codes or charging limits applied while waiting. Where mileage is recorded it is about 2,000 to 7,000 miles, and many of these complaints say no failure had occurred yet.

   Recall 21V650000Recall 23V567000Recall 22V930000

   What to check: Ask a dealer to check the open recall status for the vehicle identification number, including whether a repair part is available. Get any delay or error messages in writing, since some owners report waiting for months.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “General Motors is making brand new Bolt ev/Euvs using batteries that are supposed to be used to fix cars that could potential catch fire. They stated that the old vehicles effected by the recall would be given priority. I have had a bolt EUV on reserve that has been waiting on a battery replacement for over a year. GM will not inform me or the dealership of when it might be repaired. Concurrently GM is making and selling new bolts that use the battery pack that could be used to fix the old bolts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11474584, filed 2022-07

   “General Motors is making brand new Bolt ev/Euvs using batteries that are supposed to be used to fix cars that could potential catch fire. They stated that the old vehicles effected by the recall would be given priority. I have had a bolt EUV on reserve that has been waiting on a battery replacement for over a year. GM will not inform me or the dealership of when it might be repaired. Concurrently GM is making and selling new bolts that use the battery pack that could be used to fix the old bolts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11474582, filed 2022-07
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Battery fire risk and charging limits under recall

   • 20 complaints (34%)
   • median 9,000 mi at 1.1 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe worry that the high-voltage battery could catch fire, and some bought the car shortly after a fire-related recall was announced. Some say they reduced the maximum charge level, as GM advised, and charge or park outdoors, and some say the charge limit did not help on commutes over 70 miles. Some describe being told not to park near other cars or inside a garage, and some say GM did not provide a timeline for battery replacement. Some owners want a refund or buyback because of the fire concern. Mileage is not recorded in these complaints, and most describe concern about the battery rather than a completed failure.

   Recall 21V650000Recall 24V812000Recall 24V481000

   What to check: Ask the seller or dealer whether the battery has been checked under the recall and whether the fire-related recall status has been confirmed. Ask about the status of any battery replacement and get the expected completion date in writing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The battery of my car is at risk of catching fire and i am concerned that my life and others are in danger. The car does not meet my needs anymore as GM has decreased the number of miles it may be driven and thus is not the vehicle I purchased. GM is taking too long to discuss options for me to get rid of this dangerous vehicle and i am concerned for safety of my life and others.”

   NHTSA complaint #11433284, filed 2021-09

   “I am hoping to get a full refund on my car. When I bought it, I was never warned of the fire dangers. I park it in a carport and there is no other area where I park it. I worry every night because I can’t park far from other cars. Also, the carplay constantly freezes and the maps show completely different areas”

   NHTSA complaint #11433409, filed 2021-09
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Sudden propulsion reduction or power loss while driving

   • 9 complaints (15%)
   • median 65,000 mi at 3.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe a sudden propulsion reduced message or power loss while driving, sometimes at highway speed, with speed limited to 50 or 30 mph and little or no response to the accelerator. Some say the car stopped in traffic or on the road, and some describe the battery charge showing zero or the vehicle refusing to charge past a certain level. Some vehicles were at the dealer for weeks, and complaints describe a blown service disconnect fuse or a faulty charging station as the source in some cases. Where mileage is recorded it is about 65,000, and some reports describe the warning on a new car used for only about 30 days.

   What to check: On a test drive, watch the instrument display for propulsion, speed-limit, or charge warnings. Ask whether the high-voltage service disconnect and the charging equipment have been checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Around 5 PM on 10/7/22 I was driving on Purcell Road in Manassas VA. The car has a 60% charge on it EV battery showing a range of around 170 miles. As I was driving I felt the Chevrolet Bolt stutter twice, as if it was loosing power. Then, when I stopped at the stop light at Purcell and Hoadly the car shifted into park and would not shift into any other gear, including neutral. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11488609, filed 2022-10

   “Vehicle will not charge passed 30%, receiving a reduced propulsion reduced message. Code P0BBD. Also No air conditioning. GM is holding the car till there's a fix and they have NO ETA and NO communication about an ETA. I'm irate and need my car back yesterday.”

   NHTSA complaint #11479796, filed 2022-08
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission warning and failure to shift

   • 12 complaints (20%)
   • median 7,806 mi at 1.0 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe a service transmission message, sometimes with other warning lights, followed by an inability to shift into gear or move the car. Some describe the car stuck in Park, or unable to shift into Drive or Reverse, and some describe sudden deceleration or thud-like noises. According to complaints, dealer visits sometimes did not reproduce the failure or led to repeated part replacements, such as a fuse, a control module, or a battery cable, and the failure returned. Where mileage is recorded it is about 6,600 to 9,000 miles, and some complaints describe the warning on a nearly new vehicle.

   What to check: Ask whether the service transmission message has appeared and whether the transmission and battery cable connections have been inspected. On a test drive, check that the car shifts smoothly into Drive and Reverse and that the warning does not return after a restart.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While waiting to make a left turn, the car lurched forward about a foot and went into park.It would not shift into any gear. A warning briefly showed up on drivers display which said DO NOT SHIFT UNTIL ???? RESETS. I turned car off but it immediately came back on automatically, and for twenty minutes I was in the intersection blocking traffic (police called to protect me from traffic). On drivers display a car symbol with exclamation point through the car was showing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11543576, filed 2023-09

   “While pulling into a parking spot the car made a loud noise and came to a complete stop. Car was able to pull into the spot. When the car was turned on after parking a warning message came up to service transmission, unable to shift soon. Vehicle was driven to dealer for service and would make thud noises when decelerating at low speed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11479297, filed 2022-08
5. 5
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended acceleration or lurching

   • 8 complaints (14%)
   • median 29,000 mi at 3.6 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners describe the car speeding up or lurching forward without accelerator input, including while parking, turning, or waiting at an intersection. Another owner found that a cruise control switch was being bumped, which they say activated cruise and led to acceleration. In some cases the driver braked hard to stop the car before a crash, and in others a crash into a parked vehicle occurred. In some cases no warning light was on. Where mileage is recorded it is about 29,000, and other reports describe the event while parking or turning at low speed.

   What to check: On a test drive, check that the cruise control switches are not easy to bump and that the car creeps and accelerates smoothly at low speed. Ask whether a dealer has recorded or reviewed any sudden acceleration event.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving 72 mph, and went to accelerate to 75 mph to set my cruise control. As soon as I stepped on the accelerator pedal, my 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV jerked violently and immediately applied braking to car to take it from 72 mph to about 30 mph within 1 second. Had someone been behind me I would have been rear ended. I was able to pull over to the shoulder of the road, and put my car into park. I was unable to turn off the vehicle or shift into any gears (reverse, neutral, drive). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11569705, filed 2024-02

   “The Bolt EUV suddenly and unintentionally sped forward when being parked in our garage. My wife slammed on the brakes and stopped the vehicle before it could hit the garage wall. No damage occurred.”

   NHTSA complaint #11429528, filed 2021-08

Buying note. For a buyer considering this model year, ask for the current status of any battery or airbag recall repair, including whether the replacement part is available, and confirm that the charge and drive warnings are clear during a test drive. Because repair timing comes up often in these complaints, get any recall or repair commitments in writing before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 56 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.