CarRecallWatchThe 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV has 5 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 67 complaints with NHTSA, including 4 crashes, 1 injury.
The most-reported problem area is Electrical System (33 reports).
2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV recalls
Bolt EV Battery May Catch Fire When Fully Charged
Certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 Bolt EUV vehicles that were previously repaired under an earlier battery recall may still have a problem.
Bolt EV battery may fail to detect faults, risking fire
Some 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 Bolt EUV vehicles had earlier battery recall work (21V-650), but the advanced diagnostic software may have been installed incorrectly.
Seat Belt Gas Can Ignite Carpet and Cause a Fire
After a crash in which a front seat belt pretensioner deploys, its exhaust gas may ignite the carpet fibers near the B-pillar, which can start a fire inside the vehicle.
Seat Belt Pretensioner Can Ignite Carpet and Cause Fire
After a crash in which the seat belt pretensioner deploys, its exhaust gas can ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, which can start a vehicle fire.
High-Voltage Battery Can Catch Fire When Fully Charged
The high-voltage traction battery in certain 2020-2022 vehicles can catch fire when it is charged to full or nearly full capacity.
Most common 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV problems
Problem areas named in the 67 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 33 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 15 |
| Unknown Or Other | 12 |
| Power Train | 10 |
| Steering | 9 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
What owners report
The electronic steering gear (steering rack) on my 2021 Chevrolet Bolt has malfunctioned, causing the steering to feel rough, stiff, and sticky. Crucially, the steering wheel fails to naturally return to the center position after completing a turn, forcing me to manually pull the wheel back straight. This poses a severe safety hazard, as the vehicle will continue turning off the road or into oncoming traffic unless actively corrected, and the increased physical resistance makes precise lane adjustments difficult at highway speeds. There were no warning lights, error codes, or diagnostic messages on the dashboard prior to or during this failure, as the issue is strictly mechanical
My 2021 Chevy Bolt keeps showing a battery or power-Propulsion warning light related to the high-voltage system. The warning keeps coming back even after multiple repairs. The first repair was on April 28, 2025, the second was on December 17, 2025, and it is scheduled again for another repair on March 3, 2026. The light is the same every time and affects the carâs performance and reliability. Iâm concerned this could be a safety issue involving the battery or propulsion system. The dealer repairs it temporarily, but the warning keeps returning, and the problem has never been fully resolved.
I was in a car accident on February 9th, in which my airbags did not deploy, however, I did receive an error in my Chevy app that my Air Bag system requires attention. I sustained facial injuries due to impact with the steering wheel. I believe the airbags should have deployed, but did not.
Steering rack binding. Becoming progressively harder to turn over time. Steering wheel doesn't return to center. Clunking in front end occasionally heard when hitting bumps.
The steering wheel will not return to center and feels like its binding on something, sometimes its tough to steer other times not. Does not feel safe. No warning lamps and nobody has inspected or worked on it yet.
2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV questions
Does the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls for the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV: Bolt EV Battery May Catch Fire When Fully Charged; Bolt EV battery may fail to detect faults, risking fire; Seat Belt Gas Can Ignite Carpet and Cause a Fire; Seat Belt Pretensioner Can Ignite Carpet and Cause Fire; High-Voltage Battery Can Catch Fire When Fully Charged. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV?
Based on 67 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (33), Fuel/Propulsion System (15), Unknown Or Other (12).
How do I check if a recall on my 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.