Common Problems with the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt
Electrical System Problems:
“The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V560000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. The contact stated that they were on a waitlist with the dealership but then suddenly taken off. The contact has been suggested to pay the shipping cost to send the vehicle outside of Alaska for repairs. The contact stated that they are still waiting for the recall repairs to be made and they have not heard back from GMC.”
“The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with One Pedal Driving mode that allowed the brakes to apply independently when releasing the accelerator pedal; however, while driving at various speeds with One Pedal Driving mode engaged, the accelerator pedal was released but the vehicle continued to move forward. The contact depressed the brake pedal and the vehicle responded. Additionally, the contact stated that the electronic parking brake failed to respond when engaged. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring intermittently. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer where the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.”
“I've been using my BOLT for 4 years without incident and have been charging my car at my home with my home level 2 charger for 18 months without incident. I began the process with GM to either buyback my 2017 BOLT or exchange the batteries as per the recall. However, on Tuesday, I found my car smoking with a strong burning plastic smell as it was charging at my house. I disconnected and now have damage to both my charger and my charging port of my car. I do not feel safe trying to charge this car again and do not even know if it's possible in its current state. I contacted Chevy and they referred me to another branch of their company to investigate this incident. They are now asking me to hire an electrician and have the plug inspected, at my expense. I am currently using the same plug to charge my Tesla and there are no problems with this circuit. I would like this car repaired or bought back and it is unusable in its current state. I do not wish to pay for repairs to the charging port when the car is clearly a danger. I want it gone and I do not wish to put more good money into a car that is a hazard.”
Propulsion, Battery Problems:
“After about 5 years and a warranty replacement battery, I intermittently find the “Propulsion Reduced-Service Soon” light on. It can appear any time after which only a third of the 60kWh battery is on-line, and in any event the battery will not charge over one third. Highway driving on a crowded Interstate 5 becomes very hairs as both acceleration and regeneration braking are markedly reduced. It is now at the service department of Bill Pierre Chevrolet in Seattle. Those guys are great, and are doing everything they can, looking to GM for a promised reprogram that has not been forthcoming for some two weeks and counting. This might seem like a minor consumer gripe, but it turns out that this is not a new condition, and has persisted since shortly after the 2017 Bolt came out. See . The Bolt is a great car, but this has shaken my sense of safety in long distance 80+ miles of highway travel. I no longer consider this to be a safe car.”
“After the second recall replacement of the lithium-ion battery, the car became undriveable because it could not be charged. A message appeared before stating "Propulsion Power is Reduced". This is after the 2nd new battery was installed. The car has been taken to the dealership. The dealership stated that it is a software problem which GM is looking into.”
“Since the November, 2020 recall of the Chevy Bolt for its battery defects, I have had only limited use of the vehicle and it remains a fire threat whether parked inside a garage or outside. The recommended restrictions of charging and parking by General Motors do nothing to fix the fire threat, and put an undue burden on me without any expectation of a timely repair. GM has acknowledged that they do not currently have repair parts (new battery modules), and due to the volume of units necessary (140,000 recalled vehicles), and the likely pace of production and repairs once they actually begin producing new battery modules, it will take at least 2 years for the process to be completed. Added to the 10 months already passed since the first recall, this means a potential total wait period approaching 3 years. This is wholly unacceptable and a vehicle buyback to make owners whole for their losses is the only acceptable course of action.”
Braking Issues:
“In Sept 2020, GM issued Service Bulletin 20-NA-170 regarding rapid popping or clicking noises coming from the I-Booster hardware under the hood in the BOLT braking system. Earlier fixes for this issue involved replacing the I-Booster hardware, but that didn't solve the problem. The new fix called for a software update to the Brake Booster Control Module. The Bulletin states: "Correction -- DO NOT replace the I-booster assembly. Update the Brake Booster Control Module with the latest software." What happens to the brake system if the software update is not applied? Does the I-Booster hardware eventually fail because of the 1000's of unnecessary use cycles, and then what happens? Why hasn't a recall been issued for this possible safety issue caused by a software defect?”
“Exact details UNKNOWN. Description: About 2 yrs ago, releasing the brake pedal started triggering rapid popping sounds from engine compartment. The popping sounds are rapid--maybe 4 or 5 per second--and continue for a few seconds or more, up to at least 30 seconds depending on ambient temperature and main battery charge level. Opening the driver side door following vehicle at rest can also trigger this popping noise. But mostly the popping occurs when the brake pedal is fully released during operation of the vehicle. GM responded initially to reports of this issue by replacing brake control parts; but more recently, according to a service bulletin (see uploaded document), a software update may be used to fix the problem. Since many vehicles which have the problem are out-of-warranty, GM charges owners for applying this software update. How can we be sure that this issue is not safety-related? If this is a software defect in the braking control system, why is warranty coverage required for the update?”
“When using mechanical brakes the iBooster makes a knocking noise. Every time the brake pedal is used the noise appears. This is concerning as I'm afraid it may impair the brake faction and potentially create a danger on the road. So far dealers are unwilling to help.”
Steering Problems:
“The steering has begun binding and after turning, the steering wheel does not smoothly return to center like it used to. Steering randomly sticks. I worry the steering rack will fail completely, potentially causing loss of control of the vehicle.”
“When I turn at slower speeds the steering does not return to center when I release pressure on the steering wheel. It will maintain the turn or increase the turn. This is when I turn the wheel 1/4 to 1/2 revolution or more. The car could remain in a turn when that is not desired. I have not taken it to the dealer. It has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police or others. There are no indications of failure on the panel. This is a new car to me. It is used with 93,000 miles.”
“The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact stated that while turning the vehicle to the left or right the steering wheel failed to return to center as expected. The contact had to use excessive force to maneuver the steering wheel back to the center while driving. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact researched the failure and linked the failure to the steering rack. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.”
Sources: www.nhtsa.gov, carcomplaints.com
California Lemon Law and How Valero Law Can Assist
The California Lemon Law serves as a critical safeguard for consumers who find themselves with persistently problematic vehicles. If you are the owner of a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt and have faced issues similar to those mentioned above, you may be eligible for protection under the Lemon Law. Valero Law specializes in handling Lemon Law cases and can provide guidance throughout the process. We are committed to ensuring you are fully aware of your rights and priorities. Contact us today for a free consultation, and we will work diligently to help you secure the justice you deserve for your problematic vehicle.