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Exterior lightingPart report

2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
6about this part
Share
10%of 62 total for the year
Median mileage
—not reported
Trend
Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.

NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 10% of the 62 complaints for this model year. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“Headlights were brushed clear of snow prior to driving. While driving in snow conditions, the headlights became covered in snow and would not provide illumination to the road ahead. This put me at safety risk making road visibility extremely poor at night. While driving I couldn’t understand why the road was so difficult to see. Upon arriving home, I inspected the headlights to see the snow had completely covered the headlights.”

NHTSA complaint #11711873, filed 2026-01

“I have a 3 month old Chevy Bolt EV. I like this car. I rarely have any accidents. I am a safe driver. I was hit hard from behind driving while stopped. I was driving on a crowded freeway in Austin TX in stop and go traffic. This was a hard hit that broke the rear bumper and bent the rear frame of the car. The Chevy Bolt rear brake lights are only low on the bumper and not in the expected tail light location. There is a pattern of this accident with this car. I am concerned that this is a usual event in a car with rear brake light issues. …”

NHTSA complaint #11558243, filed 2023-12

“The brake lighting only includes the upper light and the lower lights of the vehicle. The lights on the hatch do not light up when braking. Given that the upper light and lower lights are relatively small and hard to see from a close distance or in taller vehicles, this poses a significant risk for rear-ending from another vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #11526242, filed 2023-06

“Rear brake lights that illuminate upon braking are embedded low in the bumper of the vehicle, NOT in a location commonly expected by motorists. Rear red taillights are in fact conventionally-located upon the vehicle, but they do not illuminate when brakes are applied. They only light up when the headlights are turned on. As a result, the potential for being rear-ended is elevated due to insufficient warning / poor visibility for any motorist following behind. …”

NHTSA complaint #11551855, filed 2023-10

“Been almost rear ended twice, both drivers said my brake lights were out, after checking, brake lights were working but are so low on car they did not see them”

NHTSA complaint #11494365, filed 2022-11

Related service bulletins

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2023610%
202223%
202053%
201811%
201731%

Other parts of the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Electrical system
18 complaints
Steering
17 complaints
Other or unknown
10 complaints
Brakes
8 complaints
Fuel system
7 complaints
Air bags
5 complaints
Engine
4 complaints
Back-over prevention (rear camera)
3 complaints
Suspension
3 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
3 complaints
Vehicle speed control
3 complaints
Forward collision avoidance
2 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology