2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
60 NHTSA owner complaints · 3 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
No Bolt EV year is an AVOID, but the 2019 and 2020 cars are CAUTION verdicts at 66 and 56, and the years to buy are 2021 and 2023, which both score 80, once the battery recall paperwork is complete. The 2017 and 2018 cars have no complaints on file and are DATA PENDING. Read the full note on the model page. 2023 specifically: a year the record favours — 60 complaints, score 80/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Chevrolet Volt, Bolt EV and Nissan Leaf: the years to avoid, including 2023 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 60 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 20.0
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
known issue with " anti click washer on Bolt EV " and resulting damage to related components can cause loss of control acceleration, stopping and major damage and cost, no warning lights or TSB other than for previous gen but same design and same defect, inspected by dealer shows broken anti click washer and damage to other components https://gmauthority.com/blog/2022/07/heres-why-your-chevy-bolt-ev-may-have-a-click…
Steering rack failure, does not return to center most of the time. Every once in a while it will. Loud clunking in steering, started right around 36k mile warranty expiration, but I didnt know what it was so did not report it right away.
Vehicle infotainment system on 2023 Chevrolet Bolt completely stopped functioning in May of May of 2026. Screen/radio/bluetooth and associated components had no functionality, including backup camera, safety warning features, etc. Dealership confirmed that the system needed replacement entirely and was non-functional. Vehicle was not inspected by any other parties but it was confirmed by the dealership that this is a…
Recalls: 3 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 23V567000 | Air Bags:Frontal | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. The instrument panel may be missing the perforation on the underside of the panel cover that allows the passenger-side air bag to deploy properly. |
| 23V845000 | Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | 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. |
| 22V930000 | Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 120 MPGe · estimated annual energy cost $650 · EPA range 259 mi
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electrical System17 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Steering17 complaints · typical job: Electric power-steering rack or column motor replacement (5.0 h labour + parts)$1,020–$2,500
- Unknown Or Other9 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Service Brakes8 complaints · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles (3.0 h labour + parts)$580–$1,140
- Fuel/Propulsion System7 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Exterior Lighting6 complaints · typical job: Headlamp assembly or lighting-module replacement (1.5 h labour + parts)$360–$1,380
Other Chevrolet Bolt EV years
Chevrolet Bolt EV years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (17 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 80/100, computed from 60 NHTSA complaints and 3 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV's most common problem?
17 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV cost to run per year?
About $2,120 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $10,600 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 10/08/2023. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compacts of about the same age.
What will a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 60 complaints, 3 recalls on record
- 60 NHTSA complaints on record (20.0/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (20.0/yr)
- 3 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems