MODEL
Chevrolet Bolt Ev
NHTSA safety across every Chevrolet Bolt Ev model year we cover.
Across the 5 model years of the Chevrolet Bolt Ev we cover (2019 to 2023), the strongest crash-test showing is the 2023 at 91 on the NHTSA Safety Index, and the lowest is the 2020 at 71. 29 recalls have been issued across those years.
The Chevrolet Bolt EV is a compact all-electric hatchback, though NHTSA classifies it as a sedan, aimed squarely at urban commuters and eco-conscious buyers who want practical range without the premium price of a Tesla. Spanning model years 2019 through 2023, the Bolt EV has been one of GM's most visible bets on mainstream electric mobility, and its safety record tells a complicated but ultimately instructive story.
On pure crash-test merit, the Chevrolet Bolt EV earns genuine respect. The 2023 model year reaches a MotorCaliber Safety Index of 91 out of 100, landing in our Exceptional band, and the best-performing years post perfect five-star scores across frontal, side, and rollover categories. That is about as clean a structural performance as any vehicle in this segment can claim. The problem is that crash-test excellence does not tell the whole story here. Across the 2019 to 2023 model years, the Bolt EV carries 29 recalls, a figure that is notably high for a five-year window on a single nameplate. Most alarming is that 11 of those campaigns are classified as park-outside or do-not-drive directives, meaning federal regulators determined the risk was serious enough to restrict normal use while remedies were developed. The fire concern driving those campaigns is well-documented public history tied to the high-voltage battery pack. Owner complaints across covered years total 525, with 15 fire allegations and 24 crash allegations among them. These are unverified by NHTSA, but the volume reinforces the pattern. The honest bottom line is this: the Bolt EV is a structurally strong car that has been undermined by a serious battery-related recall history. Shoppers should verify that any used example has had all outstanding recall work completed before purchase.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally praise the Bolt EV for its accessible electric range, responsive driving character, and competitive value within the affordable EV segment. Most acknowledge the battery recall history as a significant chapter in the model's story but note that post-remedy examples have addressed the core concern. Practicality and ease of daily use are consistently highlighted as strengths.
- The Bolt EV earned a top-tier 91 out of 100 MotorCaliber Safety Index in its 2023 model year, with five-star NHTSA ratings across every crash-test category, making its structural safety performance genuinely strong.
- Across 2019 to 2023, the Bolt EV accumulated 29 recalls, and 11 of those were serious enough to carry park-outside or do-not-drive designations, primarily tied to a high-voltage battery fire risk that drew widespread federal and public attention.
- Owner complaints total 525 across covered model years, including 15 fire allegations and 24 crash allegations. These are unverified claims, but the concentration of fire-related reports aligns with and reinforces the recall record.
- Before buying any used Bolt EV from these model years, shoppers should run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup tool and confirm with a dealer that all open recall repairs, especially battery-related campaigns, have been fully completed.
Most-recalled year on record: 2020 Chevrolet Bolt Ev with 8 recalls.