Research · Small Station Wagons

2019 Chevrolet BoltRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 179 owner complaints for the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt. Most complaints involve electrical system (85) and steering (47). The EPA rates it 119 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
119mpg
EPA · 1 version
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
6campaigns
Latest Dec 2023
Owner complaints
179
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$650est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

6 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Electrical system: traction battery

Park outsideRemedy pending

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.

Electrical systemReported Jul 23, 2021NHTSA 21V560000

Electrical system: traction battery

Park outsideRemedy pending

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.

Electrical systemReported Nov 13, 2020NHTSA 20V701000

Structure: roof and pillars

Free remedy

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.

StructureReported Dec 14, 2023NHTSA 23V845000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

179 complaints filed with NHTSA · Nov 2018 – Oct 2026
  1. Electrical system85
  2. Steering47
  3. Fuel/propulsion system44
  4. Power train13
  5. Service brakes5
  6. Forward collision avoidance5
  7. Visibility/wiper4
  8. Air bags3
  9. Seat belts3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Bolt model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2017326
201874
2019179
2020176
202167
202259
202363
20277
Crashes reported
2
Fires reported
10
Injuries reported
5
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

85 reports9 fires
“Water has infiltrated the lower trunk area and fried the sound amplifier. The result is no sounds can be heard from the speakers. This includes sounds and warnings from the safety systems. Seat belt, ADAS, BLIS, OnStar, Turn Signals, Radio. The rear hatch seals seem to be intact and it is unclear how water is entering this lower area as there is no evidence of water anywhere else in the rear cargo area. A google search reveals many other Bolt owners are experiencing the same issue”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 11, 2026Electrical system, Seat belts, Lane departureODI 11717281

Steering

47 reports
“When driving the car and turning the wheel, the steering wheel does not go back to center by itself. I have to physically turn it back to straight. This is a safety risk as the car isn't straightening out of a turn and physically harder to get back to center and center of the lane. I took it back to the dealership I purchased and their service team is saying they don't notice an issue, which is untrue, it's clearly seen when driving.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 29, 2026SteeringODI 11774481

Fuel/propulsion system

44 reports3 fires
“While driving on the freeway at 65 mph during morning rush-hour, the vehicle unexpectedly decelerated without warning and came to a stop. The vehicle was barely able to make it to the shoulder before losing all momentum. There is a high-risk of a fatal collision when a vehicle unexpectedly stops or drastically slows on a freeway with 65 - 70 mph traffic, which is compounded during peak travel times. This is a risk to not only the vehicle occupants, but other drivers and vehicles as well. Several error messages were displayed on the dashboard as the car was decelerating: Drivetrain malfunction: Stop and turn off engine; Service high voltage battery system; Service Vehicle Soon; Unable to shift. The battery range dropped from just under 50% (~115 mi) to 0 while attempting to pull over on the shoulder. After the vehicle was stopped, it was unable to be powered off for about an hour. It was not successful in shifting or moving and the battery range showed 0. An hour and a half (1.5 hours) after the incident, the vehicle would power on and show a battery range between 121 - 110, which would drop to 0 within 15 seconds with a message that it is unable to charge. At…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2023Power train, Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11521369
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

1 version rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Station Wagons
Engines
Electric motor
Transmissions
Automatic (A1)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Electricity
EV range
238 mi (EPA)

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Bolt EV
Auto (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive
128110119$650—
  • Bolt EV
    Auto (A1)
    128 city · 110 hwy · $650/yr
    119
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Chevrolet Bolt EV 5 HB FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
5 of 5
Rollover risk
9.7%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 13584
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Tire rotation6,000–8,000 mi6–12 monthsEVs wear tires faster (weight, torque)
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–4 yearsRegen braking spares the pads, not the fluid
Battery coolantPer manualPer manualIntervals vary widely by maker
12V battery—3–5 years
  • Tire rotation6,000–8,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–4 years
  • Battery coolantPer manual
    Per manual
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2019 Bolt questions

How many recalls does the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt have?

6 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2019 Chevrolet Bolt problems?

Owners filed 179 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (85), steering (47), fuel/propulsion system (44). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt get?

The EPA rates the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt at 119 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (1 version rated).

How safe is the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026