2021 Chevrolet Bolt Safety Report

The 2021 Chevrolet Bolt exhibits a concerning safety profile, primarily due to a high volume of complaints related to its electrical and propulsion systems, despite having no official NHTSA safety ratings available. With 66 total complaints, a significant portion (20 complaints) points to the 'ELECTRICAL SYSTEM', often intertwined with 'FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM' issues, leading to critical failures like sudden loss of propulsion power. Several complaints detail the vehicle stalling on the road or experiencing 'Reduced Propulsion Power' warnings, posing immediate safety risks. Furthermore, a widespread and critical issue involves the high-voltage battery, with numerous owners reporting unaddressed recall N212345940 (NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V650000) for fire risk, with parts still unavailable for repair over a year after the recall was issued. This recall significantly impacts vehicle usability, as owners are advised to limit charging to 80% and avoid letting the charge drop below 30%, effectively reducing the usable range. Beyond the propulsion issues, 'STEERING' is another notable problem area, with 5 complaints describing issues like the steering wheel not returning to center, binding, or becoming progressively harder to turn. These steering problems, often attributed to a 'documented manufacturing error' in the steering rack, directly compromise vehicle control and driver safety. There are also 4 reported crashes, including one where airbags failed to deploy, resulting in facial injuries, and another where the 'Forward Collision Avoidance' feature allegedly failed. The lack of NHTSA crash test ratings makes it difficult to assess the vehicle's structural integrity and occupant protection performance in a collision. The combination of critical propulsion system failures, unaddressed fire risk recalls, and steering defects paints a picture of significant safety concerns for the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt.

Our recommendation: Given the critical unaddressed battery fire recall, frequent propulsion system failures, and steering defects, exercise extreme caution; thorough pre-purchase inspection and verification of recall completion are essential.