2018 Chevrolet Bolt Ev Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt Ev.

20172019
Complaints
115
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
2
Fatalities
—
Recalls
5

Worst 2018 Chevrolet Bolt Ev Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#133 complaints

Steering Defects

Avg mileage:42,987 mi
#229 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:16,506 mi
Fires:1
#312 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:13,098 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt Ev.

Steering Defects
33
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
42,987
Electrical Faults
29
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
16,506
Transmission / Drivetrain
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
13,098
Fuel System
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
6,937
Brakes
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
14,750
Engine Problems
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
22,458
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wipers & Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Airbags
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt Ev. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2018 Chevrolet Bolt Ev

5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~436,987 vehicles.

23V845000Seat Belts:pretensioner · Structure:body:roof And Pillars
~6,771 affected

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.

22V930000Seat Belts:pretensioner · Structure:body:roof And Pillars
~111,242 affected

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.

21V560000Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery
~57,414 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles previously recalled under NHTSA recall number 20V-701. The high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.

20V701000Electrical System:propulsion System:traction Battery
~50,932 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling all 2017-2018 and certain 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. The high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity.

18V576000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper
~210,628 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.

Other Chevrolet Bolt Ev Years

2017201820192020202120222023

2018 Chevrolet Bolt Ev — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt Ev reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2018 Chevrolet Bolt Ev has 115 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash-related, and 5 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Steering Defects with 33 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt Ev?
Top reported problems: Steering Defects (33 complaints, avg 42,987 mi); Electrical Faults (29 complaints, avg 16,506 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (12 complaints, avg 13,098 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt Ev?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 24,188 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt Ev?
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt Ev include 2 crash-related reports, 1 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt Ev have any recalls?
Yes — 5 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 436,987 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2018 Chevrolet Bolt Ev?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Bolt Ev reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2018 Chevrolet Bolt Ev

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