After GM recalled the Chevrolet Bolt for battery fires, Chevrolet dealers replaced the battery modules in most of the cars, so many of the used Bolts for sale today are running on their second set. Before you buy one, ask the seller for the paperwork from that repair.
Some of the newer cars got diagnostic software instead, which watches the pack and holds back a full charge until it has gone enough miles without finding a fault.
I took the complaint and recall figures from the 2017-2023 Bolt page in The Weekly Driver’s Reliability Database on November 9, 2026, and the remedy details from GM’s recall notices and the class-action settlement site.
Key Takeaways
- Five battery recalls cover every 2017-2022 Bolt EV and the 2022 Bolt EUV, for cells with a torn anode tab and a folded separator.
- Replacement modules carry an 8-year/100,000-mile limited warranty that starts when they were installed, so a 2018 with a 2022 battery still has years of coverage.
- Some 2020-2022 cars got software instead. Two 2024 recalls, 24V481 and 24V812, reinstall it where the first install was done wrong or failed.
- EPA range is 238 miles for 2017-2019, 259 for the 2020-2023 Bolt EV and 247 for the Bolt EUV.
- The generation scores 3.8 out of 10 in the Reliability Database, on 544 drive-system, battery, charging and electrical complaints where similar EVs drew about 178.
- The 2023 model year scores highest, at 5.7, and the 2021 lowest, at 3.0.
- Steering is the second-largest complaint group, and 110 of its 266 reports are on 2017 cars.
- The settlement claim window has closed, so a buyer today should not count on a payment.
Five Battery Recalls Cover Every 2017-2022 Bolt
GM traced the fires to two flaws in the same LG battery cell, a torn anode tab and a folded separator, and expanded the recall in August 2021 from the 2017-2019 cars to every 2020-2022 Bolt EV and Bolt EUV. The expansion added 63,683 of the newer cars and 9,335 remaining 2019s, and GM put the extra cost at about $1 billion.
| Campaign | Filed | Covers | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20V701 | Nov 2020 | All 2017-2018, some 2019 Bolt EV | Interim software capping charge at 90%; replaced by 21V560 |
| 21V560 | Jul 2021 | 2017-2019 Bolt EV | New battery modules |
| 21V650 | Aug 2021 | Remaining 2019, all 2020-2022 Bolt EV and 2022 Bolt EUV | New battery modules, or diagnostic software on eligible 2020-2022 cars |
| 24V481 | Jun 2024 | 2020-2022 cars remedied under 21V650 | Reinstall diagnostic software that may have been installed incorrectly |
| 24V812 | Oct 2024 | Same population | Reinstall diagnostic software whose install may have failed |
Until a car was repaired, GM told owners to keep the charge at 90% or lower, avoid running below about 70 miles of range, park outside and skip overnight charging indoors.
A seller who still follows those steps may never have taken the car in.
How to Tell Which Fix a Bolt Got
Run the VIN through NHTSA’s lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls and through GM’s search on its Bolt recall page. An open 21V560, 21V650, 24V481 or 24V812 means the work is still waiting. You can also run it through the used-car checklist in the Reliability Database.
Then ask the seller for the dealer repair order. A battery remedy shows module or pack replacement and a date; a software remedy shows the Advanced Diagnostic Software install. On a software car, the charge should stop at 80% for about 6,200 miles after the install and then climb to 100% without another dealer visit, according to GM.
A car still capped below 100% long after that needs a dealer’s look before you agree on a price.
The software keeps monitoring the pack after it releases the cap. If it finds an anomaly, a warning appears in the driver information center and the affected module gets replaced.
The Replacement Battery Has Its Own Warranty
GM’s August 2021 release says batteries with the new modules come with an 8-year/100,000-mile limited warranty. A 2022 dealer bulletin, GCUS-9-13550, adds that many owners did not know about it, and GM mailed certificates with a sticker for its warranty tracker.
The clock starts at replacement, so a 2017 Bolt whose modules were swapped in 2022 can carry battery coverage into 2030, years after its original warranty ran out.
Ask for that certificate, or the repair order with the install date and mileage.
A software-remedy car that later needs a battery gets the same extended warranty from that replacement date, according to the settlement terms, if the software went on before March 31, 2024 and the fault showed up before March 31, 2025.
EPA Range by Model Year
| Model year | Model | EPA range | MPGe city/hwy/combined | 240V full charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-2019 | Bolt EV | 238 miles | 128 / 110 / 119 | 9.3 hours |
| 2020-2021 | Bolt EV | 259 miles | 127 / 108 / 118 | 10.0 hours |
| 2022-2023 | Bolt EV | 259 miles | 131 / 109 / 120 | 7.5 hours |
| 2022-2023 | Bolt EUV | 247 miles | 125 / 104 / 115 | 7.5 hours |
The 2020 update added 21 miles of rated range. On a car with replacement modules, the range you see also depends on the new pack, and on an older car a test charge from low to full tells you more than the EPA figure.
For DC fast charging, GM rates the 2022 Bolt EV at up to 100 miles of range in 30 minutes and the Bolt EUV at up to 95. A few owners report slower fast charging after a battery replacement, so plug a candidate into a DC fast charger during the test drive.
Bolt EV or Bolt EUV
The Bolt EUV arrived for 2022 as a stretched Bolt EV, 6.9 inches longer on a wheelbase 2.9 inches longer. The back seat gains 3.1 inches of legroom, 39.1 against 36.0 in the EV, according to GM’s specifications.
| 2022 spec | Bolt EV | Bolt EUV |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 102.4 in. | 105.3 in. |
| Rear legroom | 36.0 in. | 39.1 in. |
| Cargo behind rear seat | 16.6 cu ft | 16.3 cu ft |
| Curb weight | 3,589 lb | 3,679 lb |
| EPA range | 259 miles | 247 miles |
Only two EUV model years exist, and the 2022 is in the battery recall while the 2023 is outside it.
Owners have filed 119 complaints on the 2023 EUV, more than on the 2023 Bolt EV, and the newest model years are still collecting reports.
Owner Complaints by Model Year
The Reliability Database scores each model year from 1.0 to 10.0 by comparing the owner complaints filed with NHTSA about the drive system, battery, charging and electrical system, per vehicle built, with what similar EVs drew at the same age. A 7.0 means as many as similar vehicles; lower means more. The whole 2017-2023 generation scores 3.8, on 544 such complaints where about 178 would be typical.
| Model year | Reliability score | Complaints counted in the score |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 3.5 | 152 |
| 2018 | 4.3 | 39 |
| 2019 | 3.4 | 110 |
| 2020 | 3.6 | 103 |
| 2021 | 3.0 | 46 |
| 2022 | 4.1 | 42 |
| 2023 | 5.7 | 52 |
Among model years on the road five years or more, the 2018 scores highest. Most of the complaints are on cars built before 2023. The score counts complaints rather than the share of cars that failed.
What Owners Report Besides the Battery
Electrical complaints lead the generation with 431, and steering comes second with 266. Of those steering reports, 110 are on 2017 cars, and the ones I read describe a wheel that stiffens or will not return to center, with some owners quoting repairs above $4,000. No recall covers it, so treat it as an owner-reported pattern and check it on the drive: after a tight turn, the wheel should unwind on its own.
NHTSA files 196 Bolt complaints under “fuel system,” which on an electric car is its fuel and propulsion category. Most describe a “Propulsion Power is Reduced” warning and a loss of drive power. Forward collision avoidance draws 51 reports and vehicle speed control 45, and nine mention the 12-volt battery.
Other Recalls to Check
| Campaign | Model years | Issue |
|---|---|---|
| 18V576 | 2018-2019 Bolt EV | Rear brake caliper piston coating |
| 20V184 | 2019-2020 Bolt EV | Rear door handle cable can contact the window, so the door may open |
| 20V808 | Some 2020 Bolt EV | Front left brake caliper may be improperly cast and fracture |
| 20V811 | Some 2020 Bolt EV | Incorrect seat belt anchor bolts |
| 21V517 | Some 2022 Bolt EV and EUV | Driver air bag fastener missing or loose |
| 22V930 | Some 2017-2023 Bolt EV | Seat belt pretensioner exhaust can ignite carpet fibers after a crash |
| 23V567 | Some 2022-2023 Bolt EV | Passenger air bag perforation missing from the instrument panel |
| 23V845 | 2017-2023 Bolt EV | Same carpet issue as 22V930, including cars repaired incorrectly |
The Class-Action Settlement Has Closed
The settlement in In re Chevrolet Bolt EV Battery Litigation paid $700 per car that got or was eligible for new battery modules and $1,400 per car that got the software remedy, with the $700 payment split among successive owners. It covered 2017-2022 Bolts built and shipped to a dealer by August 19, 2021, and counted about 80,000 cars on the battery remedy and about 22,560 on the software.
The claim deadline has passed, according to the settlement site, and a late window for owners who had opted out ran to March 23, 2026. The money and the repair are separate, so an expired claim leaves the free remedy in place.
What to Check Before You Buy
- Recall status by VIN at NHTSA and on GM’s Bolt recall page.
- The repair order showing new modules or the software install, with a date and mileage.
- The replacement battery warranty certificate on a car with new modules.
- The charge limit on the energy settings: a software car past about 6,200 miles should charge to 100%.
- A DC fast-charge session to see that the car takes a fast charge.
- Steering return after a tight turn, especially on a 2017.
- A battery health report from a dealer or an EV-capable scan tool.
Which Used Bolt to Look For
- For the longest battery coverage: a 2017-2022 car with new modules installed late in the recall, and the certificate to prove the date.
- For the most rated range: a 2020-2023 Bolt EV at 259 miles.
- For rear-seat room: a 2022-2023 Bolt EUV, with 3.1 more inches of rear legroom than the EV.
- For a car outside the battery campaigns: a 2023 Bolt EV or Bolt EUV, which also scores highest on owner complaints at 5.7.
- For a new car with a factory warranty: the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt, a redesign on a lithium iron phosphate pack.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to buy a used Chevy Bolt?
Every 2017-2022 Bolt was recalled for battery fire risk, and the remedy is either new battery modules or diagnostic software that monitors the pack. A car with the remedy completed, confirmed by VIN lookup and the dealer repair order, has had the defect addressed. The 2023 model year is not part of the battery recalls.
Did every Chevy Bolt get a new battery?
Most did. In the class-action settlement about 80,000 cars were counted on the battery replacement remedy and about 22,560 on the software remedy, which installs diagnostic software and replaces a module only if it detects a fault.
How do I check if a used Bolt had the battery recall done?
Enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and on GM’s Bolt recall page. An open 21V560, 21V650, 24V481 or 24V812 means the work is still outstanding. Ask the seller for the dealer repair order as well.
Does the replacement Bolt battery have a warranty?
Yes. Batteries with the new modules carry an 8-year/100,000-mile limited warranty that starts on the replacement date, separate from the car’s original coverage. GM mailed owners a certificate for it.
What is the range of a used Chevy Bolt?
The EPA rates the 2017-2019 Bolt EV at 238 miles, the 2020-2023 Bolt EV at 259 miles and the 2022-2023 Bolt EUV at 247 miles. A car’s actual range depends on its battery’s condition and whether it has new modules.
What is the best year for a used Chevy Bolt?
The 2023 scores highest in the Reliability Database at 5.7 and sits outside the battery recalls, though it is still early in its complaint record. Among years on the road five years or more, the 2018 scores highest at 4.3. A 2017-2022 car with new modules carries battery coverage that runs eight years from its replacement date.
What is the difference between the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV?
The Bolt EUV is 6.9 inches longer on a 2.9-inch-longer wheelbase, with 39.1 inches of rear legroom against 36.0 in the Bolt EV. It is rated at 247 miles against the EV’s 259 and was sold only for 2022 and 2023.
Can I still get money from the Chevy Bolt battery settlement?
The claim deadline has passed, according to the settlement administrator, and the late window for earlier opt-outs closed March 23, 2026. The free recall remedy is separate and remains available through Chevrolet dealers.
What problems do used Chevy Bolts have besides the battery?
Electrical complaints are the largest group at 431, and steering is second at 266, with 110 of those on 2017 cars describing a wheel that stiffens or will not return to center. Owners also report “Propulsion Power is Reduced” warnings with a loss of drive power.
Why does my used Bolt only charge to 80%?
Cars with GM’s diagnostic software remedy hold the charge to 80% for about 6,200 miles after the install, then return to 100% automatically if no fault is found, according to GM. A car that stays capped long after that should go to a Chevrolet dealer.
Michael Kahn
Michael Kahn is the writer, photographer, and publisher behind The Weekly Driver. He cares about how cars drive and what they're like to own. He covers automobile industry news, car shows and events, and new car reviews. The reviews come from behind the wheel: day trips that favor back routes, treating a good meal as half the reason to go. He directs and produces the visual media, matching each car to a setting and mood that fit it. When he's not reviewing new cars, Michael races paddleboards, camels, and ostriches, along with the occasional exotic car on the racetrack, and has driven in every state and country visited.
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