2017 CHEVROLET BOLT EV Complaints

The 1st recall for this problem was Nov 2020. We waited for 7 months for the "permanent fix," during which time we were forced to lose some of our range. During MN winters, this is an especially big problem, since range is already significantly reduced due to cold weather. In late July we learned that 2 more vehicles burst into flames despite having received the permanent fix, so now there is yet another recall with no remedy available. This time we are forced to reduce our range by nearly half, must charge after every use, and must leave our car parked outside. This is a huge problem due to a surge in stolen vehicles in our community. When winter arrives, this huge reduction in range will prevent them from meeting our needs. We invested a lot of money in these 2 Bolt EVs and are angry that GM put our family and home at risk for the nearly 4 years we have owned them, and further that they made us wait 7 months while they tried to develop a cheap software fix for a physical battery defect. We refuse to wait additional untold months to fix this defect, which continues to pose a potentially fatal risk to our family, and also to our home (since our charging stations are inside our garage, and it is impossible to watch them for hours each time we charge them). We requested that GM repurchase our 2 Bolt EVs, but they are giving us nothing but the runaround. Also, we never even received a notice in the mail about the recall for either of our affected Bolt EVs. We are fortunate to have discovered the recall by means other than GM, but it is unconscionable that GM would not notify every vehicle owner about this incredibly serious problem. It's time for GM to repurchase our cars so that we can purchase something that isn't a death risk with minimal driving range.

I'm upset that this car doesn't have the range it's supposed to because of battery defects and recalls

I recently took my vehicle to Carr Chevrolet 15005 SW Tualatin Valley Hwy, Beaverton, OR 97006 related to the ongoing Chevy Bolt recall, in particular the portion "Owners who have not visited their dealer to receive the original recall remedy should visit their nearest Chevrolet dealer to obtain this important software update, which includes a diagnostic check on the health of their vehicle’s battery system. After obtaining the software update, customers should still take the interim steps summarized above." I had only had the first of two software patches applied and the latest recall indicates I should indeed acquire the second patch. Despite my having an appointment with the reason noted being this software update, the service department attempted to refuse me service. They tried to convince me this software update was not needed, told me it would take a long time to apply and they'd have to try to fit me in, told me the software did nothing, and told me I should go home and not worry about it. This directly contradicts NHTSA and Chevrolet guidance and potentially puts me, my family, and my neighbors at risk. If this is representative of Chevrolet's response to the Bolt situation, this is very dangerous. At a minimum this dealership poses a danger to Oregon residents.

A recall by GM indicates that my 2017 Bolt is no longer safe for me to use as it may catch on fire. As I have to park the car in the garage for charging, this is an unacceptable situation. Also, the software fixes are known as not to be totally effective. I am logging this issue, which I am sure you already know, as a means of documenting this situation is happening to me.

Chevy has not managed the recall very well as the fire risk with the battery is a KNOWN issue from years ago, and yet the company tried to fix it with software. Fixing with software is impossible as it is a hardware issue. The safety of our family is compromised by owning this vehicle, and the company has been very difficult to reach for a buyback.

My 2017 Chevy Bolt has been recalled for the second time due to a defect in the battery. GM attempted to solve the hardware problem with a software fix, with the predictable result that cars are still exploding and burning down people's homes. The lack of transparency from GM is disturbing, considering that the defect puts my life at risk and makes the car unusable for its intended purpose, which is to drive long range during the day and charge overnight. I have called my local chevy dealer who I bought the car from multiple times and left messages, but their service department does not pick up the phone when I call them and do not respond to my messages.

I have a 2017 Bolt that is affected by the Bolt battery fire recall. I have patiently awaited for a real fix for this issue since November of 2017. I have lived in fear of this car burning up or my house burning up from this vehicle for 8 months. I need this vehicle it is my daily transportation. I paid more than $46,000 for this vehicle (including tax and registration). Now, Chevy has said I can't charge at night, I can't charge in my garage, and I can't use more than 60% (143 miles), they don't know the root cause of the fires, they don't have a fix, and they have not committed to changing our batteries. After all this, this car is unusable to me and I can't trust Chevy to detect the defect and apply a meaningful fix. I have applied for a buyback and was denied in June. I live in MN, where I am unaware of anyone that has had a successful buyback. I can't understand how GM is allowed to have a buyback policy where one state (CA) has hundreds of buybacks where another has none. When this is truly a serious safety problem that they do not know the fix. I need help getting a successful buyback for my vehicle.

The battery may be faulty and burst on fire. This was recall last year and this year and the remedie didn’t work. 2 more fires where confirm after the final remedy

Battery. The new guidelines from Chevy and the NHTSA for my battery recall render the car, which took some planning for charging before this happened, a major inconvenience at best. I live in an urban environment in a multi-family dwelling, and it is not possible for me to consistently park my car outdoors away from structures, as no such places exist. Expecting me to monitor my vehicle during charges that go on for 4-5 hours is also close to impossible. Nor am I sure what this 'monitoring' would even entail, as no one can realistically imagine owners are going to sit next to their vehicles and stare at them for multiple hours every week. I already had only a handful of charging options available and now, if I can't charge indoors, even more are taken away. I am proud to support our transition away from ICE cars, and was absolutely willing to endure some transitional issues, but even I were willing to tolerate the narrow range of ability of my vehicle before the battery swap is available (which there is no promised date for) expecting these absurd limits for people who want to use their cars as normal transit is simply discouraging future EV owners, and that is not a situation our climate can afford. I'm sure the NHTSA knows that 40% of greenhouse gases come from transportation, and I sincerely hope your agency does it all it can to not discourage early adopters like me from being a small part of the solution to this problem.

I'm concerned about the recent battery related fires post-recall for 2017-19 models. I'm not pleased with GMs response.