This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and Transaction Submission information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 Bolt EV | 75 |
| 2020 Bolt EV | 86 |
| 2021 Bolt EV | 29 |
| 2022 Bolt EV | 26 |
| 2023 Bolt EV (this page) | 13 |
2crashes
1fire
1injury
What stands out
Of the 5 model years of Chevrolet Bolt EV we track for electrical problems, this one has the fewest owner complaints on file (13).
Electrical accounts for 23% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 3 categories tracked.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This engineering information (EI) will assist GM to recover a small number of electric vehicle battery packs from customer-owned vehicles in the field for further engineering study and analysis.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Warranty Administration service bulletin provides Lithium-Ion battery Exchange Process and Transaction Submission information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides dealers with Warranty Administration information on North American Charging Standard (NACS) DC Adapter Warranty Claim Information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This warranty administration bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on System Reset and Connector Reconnect Labor Code Numbers.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2023 Bolt EVs are reporting a cluster of electrical failures with life-safety implications. One owner experienced a fire originating under the driver-side seat while the car sat parked and powered on; the dealership has declined inspection and the manufacturer has not sent technicians despite six months of storage. Another owner lost all propulsion at a traffic light after a sudden lurching acceleration, with codes P0A3F and P0A40 indicating a drive motor position sensor failure traced to improper harness installation and terminal damage. A third owner reports six towing events and over 100 hours at the dealership for blown fuses, charging failures, and repeated warning messages that persist even after harness replacement and fuse box work.
Regenerative braking—the primary braking mode on this EV—has failed mid-drive at least twice in one complaint, with the vehicle refusing to shut off afterward, creating fire risk if garaged. One owner reports sudden, unintended acceleration while parking that jumped a curb and struck a light pole. Another describes a complete shutdown mid-traffic with the vehicle locked in "Service Mode" and unable to shift into Neutral for manual moving to safety. A collision victim reports that airbags failed to deploy and the OnStar safety system did not activate despite advertised real-time emergency notification. Additionally, one owner received an electrical shock while opening the rear hatch during charging, suggesting a grounding issue, and another owner's EVSE charger malfunctions repeatedly, requiring unsafe circuit-breaker cycling that creates fire hazard.
Same Chevrolet Bolt EV electrical reports on nearby years: 2020 · 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Thermal runaway / fire under seat
Battery or electrical component fire originating under driver-side seat, re-igniting after extinguisher use. Vehicle was parked and powered on, not charging. Owner report indicates dealer and manufacturer have not inspected the vehicle despite fire damage and extended storage.
When: 6/1/24 (early June 2024)
Symptoms owners cite: Burning smell; Smoke from under driver seat; Fire that re-ignited after extinguisher use
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealership; no repairs attempted. Owner advised to obtain independent third-party inspection at owner expense.
Electric drive unit failure with propulsion loss
Electric motor drive unit ceased normal operation, limiting vehicle to 30 mph and preventing shifting or vehicle shutdown. OnStar diagnostics reported erratic drive motor position sensor. Dealership identified improper harness installation causing terminal damage.
When: At traffic light during acceleration (no mileage stated)
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden lurch during acceleration; Warning light (car icon with exclamation point); Maximum speed limited to 30 mph; Unable to shift into Drive or Reverse; Vehicle would not turn off normally
Codes mentioned: P0A3F, P0A40
Repairs/costs cited: Engine harness replaced (part 42840881 2525C F-HARNESS). Bulletin 19-NA-220 referenced for terminal damage repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Technical Service Bulletin 19-NA-220 issued for harness replacement.
Repeated electrical and propulsion faults
Recurring blown fuses, charging failures, shifting problems, propulsion loss, and warning messages despite multiple repair attempts. Vehicle has required six tows and over 100 hours at dealership. Safety concerns include defective impact sensor, airbag warnings, and burned-out headlamp.
When: 9/27/24 at 5,144 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Blown fuses; Charging failures; Shifting problems; Propulsion loss; Repeated warning messages; Defective impact sensor; Airbag warning lights; Burned-out headlamp
Repairs/costs cited: Fuse box replacements, new wiring harness, and other electrical component repairs. Issues persist despite repairs.
Regenerative braking system failure
Regenerative braking feature suddenly failed during driving, occurring at least twice. Master caution light appeared on dashboard. Vehicle also would not shut itself off after failure events, creating potential fire risk when stored indoors. Failures continued even after extensive electrical system repairs.
When: November 2024 (multiple incidents)
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden failure of regenerative braking while driving at ~45 mph; Master caution light on dashboard; Vehicle would not shut itself off; Alarming change in vehicle dynamics
Repairs/costs cited: Extensive repairs to electrical system performed; failures repeated after repair.
Vehicle sudden acceleration while parking
Vehicle accelerated rapidly while owner was attempting to park, jumping a curb and striking light pole base. Loud whirring noise from motor preceded acceleration. No warning lights or messages. Vehicle was towed; dealership inspection status unknown.
When: 12/20/23 at approximately 2:00 PM
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden rapid acceleration during parking; Loud whirring noise from motor; Vehicle jumped curb and struck light pole
Complete propulsion shutdown in traffic
Vehicle entered Service Mode and stopped completely in middle of traffic without warning. Vehicle would not shift into Neutral, preventing owner from pushing it to safety. Highway patrol had to stop traffic for towing.
When: No date specified
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stopped in middle of traffic; 'Service Mode' message on screen; Would not enter Neutral; No warning before failure
Electrical shock hazard while charging
Owner's wife received electrical shock up her arm when opening rear hatch during charging. Vehicle was grounded through charging plug and humidity was high. Owner planned voltmeter test to check for voltage between vehicle body and ground.
When: No date specified
Symptoms owners cite: Electrical shock to hand/arm; Shock occurred despite vehicle being grounded through charger plug
EVSE charger malfunction
Autel Energy EVSE charger unit malfunctions frequently and requires manual restart via circuit breaker. Manufacturer instructions to use breaker as on/off switch creates fire hazard by prematurely wearing the breaker, which should only function as a fault-protection device.
When: No date specified
Symptoms owners cite: EVSE unit malfunctions frequently; Requires manual restart via circuit breaker; Improper breaker use creates fire risk
Repairs/costs cited: Hard-wired unit with no remote restart capability.
Recall parts unavailable
Owner notified of NHTSA Campaign 23V567000 (Air Bags, Electrical System) but required parts remained unavailable from dealer. Manufacturer exceeded reasonable timeframe for repair completion.
When: No date specified
Symptoms owners cite: Parts unavailable for recall repair
Repairs/costs cited: Recall pending parts availability.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 23V567000 (Air Bags, Electrical System) issued but parts unavailable.
Airbag deployment failure in collision
Vehicle was rear-ended, lost control, and struck a tree but airbags did not deploy. OnStar collision-detection system also failed to activate, preventing emergency services notification that is advertised as included safety feature.
When: 11/17/23
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy after collision; OnStar did not detect collision or contact owner; Braking system did not prevent collision
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
This vehicle just stopped in the middle of traffic, not giving me time to pull over. The screen just said, "service mode", and would not go into neutral to enable the car to be pushed to a safe spot. Highway petrol had to stop traffic and have it towed off. This was endangering everyone involved. If this is a common problem with other Chevy bolts, it definitely needs addressing.
On 11-17-23 someone rear ended me making me lose control of the vehicle and getting off the road into the woods and eventually hitting a tree, the airbags did not deploy, the car is equipped with OnStar system from Chevrolet as a safety feature in which as soon as there is a collision I supposed to get a call from an advisor so they could call an ambulance and a towing service, it's included in…
I have purchased the Autel Energy EVSE for my vehicle and had it installed by certified electricians in my garage. The unit malfunctions frequently and requires it to be restarted. The unit is hard wired and and the only way to reset it is to turn the breaker off and back on, as instructed by the manufacturer. NEV specifically says that using the breaker as a switch is no recommended. The…
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V567000 (Air Bags, Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.…
Was sitting at a stop light when I accelerated on green I felt a lurch, it felt like someone had hit me from behind. Within 15 seconds of acceleration this light came on, a car with an exclamination point on it, and said to pull over ASAP. Car would not go any faster than 30mph and luckily I was not on an interstate or major highway. I was able to pull over in a parking lot and at that time…
See attached document for complaint
I own a 2023 Chevy Bolt EV. Around 9/27/24 at 5,144 miles, the vehicle began experiencing serious electrical and propulsion issues. It has been to the dealership six times, each requiring a tow due to total loss of function. Issues include blown fuses, charging failures, shifting problems, propulsion loss, and repeated warning messages. Repairs have involved fuse box replacements, a new wiring…
Had electrical trouble with your 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2023/Chevrolet/Bolt EV.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.