Common Problems with the 2019 Chevrolet Bolt
Propulsion, Battery Problems:
“After driving the car for roughly 60-75 minutes while at highway speeds and within the posted speed limits: 65 mph-75mph, the car will chime and the driver information panel will flash "Propulsion Reduced." At that point, the vehicle's electrical propulsion will gradually reduce to a maximum output power of roughly 20KW. The propulsion will stay capped at 20 KW for a bit of time (15-20 minutes) and then gradually the cap will increase. Unfortunately, on I-25 in southern Colorado where this usually occurs, the speed limit is 75 mph and 20KW of propulsion results in the vehicle traveling on the interstate at roughly 45-55 mph which results in very unsafe situations. That road has a minimum speed of 55mph. This happened on the first day that I purchased the car, I can reproduce it with my family in the car, but the dealer has been unable to reproduce it. I have had the Chevrolet dealership inspect it multiple times, but they can not find a fault. It has happened when ambient temperatures are as low as 28F and as high as 98F there does not appear to be a correlation there. I have had it happen when the battery has a SOC of 70% and as low as 25%, that also does not show a correlation. I have seen a correlation with passengers/weight in the vehicle as that requires more KW of output to propel the car. Likewise, consistent average speed has a correlation. If traveling at 75mph (posted speed limit) the propulsion reduction will occur sooner rather than traveling at 73 mph.”
“We own a 2019 Chevy Bolt affected by the July 23 recall. There have been 9 2019 Bolts that have caught fire. The 2019 Bolts with batteries made in Korea are significantly impacted. We find the level of risk associated with continuing to use the vehicle to be unacceptable. Fire departments need special training to put out EV battery fires. We have no idea if our small local fire department has this kind of training. The new guidelines are difficult and probably inadequate. Parking in the driveway leaves the car still too close to our house. The fires in other cars have occurred 3-6 hours after charging. Could the car catch fire after being driven in that 6 hour window after charging? Could it catch fire while parked near other cars? What if a child was waiting for a parent in that car? With charging to only 90% and not letting the battery drop below 30%, we are left with far less safely usable range than what we paid for when we bought this expensive vehicle. Too many times this week we have watched the range drop with a level of fear that is just not OK. GM already tried to use software to detect defects, and they admit that it failed. They won’t say how things will be different this time. They also won’t say how the replaced cells will work effectively with the older cells. So even after the remedy is applied, can we trust the integrity of the battery pack? GM has given no timeline for this remedy. We have been told loaners or rental vehicles will be offered by GM, we don’t have it in writing and the dealership we are working with seems unaware of this policy and/or unwilling to part with any of its loaners. And we’ve been told that GM will not reimburse until the loaner or rental period ends, leaving owners to front the cost. What about the owners who can’t do that? GM must replace all battery backs, provide vehicle replacements, or buy back the cars from affected owners.”
“I have a 2019 Chevy Bolt EV, with a potential for the High Voltage Battery to catch on fire. There was a first recall back in Nov. 2020, Manufacture states that there was a final fix for the High Voltage Battery. I took the vehicle in for the final fix. Recently there was a 2019 Chevy Bolt that caught on fire with the final fix for the recall. Now there’s a second recall for the same issues, now I can NOT park my car inside the garage and not charge it at night, because of a potential for the vehicle to change on fire. I have 2 boys that lives about the garage and I live in a Townhouse. This recall is a safety problems for everyone, it poses a safety risk while the vehicle is charging. The vehicle is a safety hazards to the public and building structures.”
Steering Problems:
“Steering wheel does not return to center when turning right. Driver must manually turn wheel back to center.”
“The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Bolt. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and turning, the steering wheel failed to return to the center. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.”
“When making turns, the steering does not return to center. I must move the steering wheel to straighten the wheels to continue forward. I researched the issue and have found that this is a common complaint with the Bolt. From what I have read, this is due to a faulty steering gear. I called the dealer, and although there is a service advisory, this not a warranty or recall situation. I was quoted $3500 to repair this issue.”
Electrical System Malfunctions:
“The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact stated that while attempting to recharge the vehicle, the charging unit that plugs into the vehicle failed to securely lock into place. The battery had to be disconnected for approximately 5 minutes and then reconnect to the terminal. Once reconnected, a spark was created, releasing the blockage and allowing the charger to operate correctly. The door that covered the socket where the plug was inserted failed to seal correctly. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who was made aware of the failure however, the mechanic was unable to identify the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 18,106.”
“GM recalled Bolt for possible battery fire in 2020 & 2021. At the 2nd recall, I started MSRP Swap with GM. Since GM dragged my case intentionally, I filed BBB auto complaint. Though BBB, GM agreed with MSRP Swap on 9/9 (verbal agreement between BBB & GM). Since then GM has been silent. GM claimed they can't find a dealership to do MSRP Swap. However, as a consumer, this isn't my problem, but GM needs to step up to find a dealership for MSRP Swap. Otherwise, GM's MSRP Swap agreement is useless. Meanwhile, GM recommended Bolt owners to charge up to 90% of battery capacity, maintain battery mileage above 70M, park 50 ft from building/other cars, and park open space. The car is basically useless, and we fear our car might burn down our house/life as well as neighbors.”
“The Bolt has been recalled for a faulty battery issue, with no known timeline for repair. I have been told not to charge overnight, park indoors, let it drop below 70 miles or charge above 90%, and to park 50 feet away for other cars when charging and not let it charge unsupervised. The guidelines provided by GM are causing the vehicle to be out of service, as they make charging and driving the vehicle impossible.”
Sources: www.nhtsa.gov, carcomplaints.com
California Lemon Law and How Valero Law Can Assist
The California Lemon Law is a vital protection for consumers facing persistent issues with their vehicles. If you own a 2019 Chevrolet Bolt and have encountered problems 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 guide you through the process. We are dedicated to ensuring you understand your rights and priorities fully. Contact us for a free consultation, and we will work diligently to help you obtain the justice you deserve for your problematic vehicle.