2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV vs 2017 Hyundai Elantra
Reliability comparison based on NHTSA recall and complaint records.
2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV
2017 Hyundai Elantra
Stories from the shop
Buyers cross-shop the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV and the 2017 Hyundai Elantra but they're solving slightly different problems. The reliability data tells you what breaks on each one. The right pick depends on which set of trade-offs fits your actual driving more than which score is higher.
Going with the 2017 Hyundai Elantra? Watch the engine and body. The 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV has fewer reports in those categories, so you'd be trading one set of weak spots for another.
On the dollars-and-cents side, total repair exposure across the top problem areas runs 20.8x higher on the 2017 Hyundai Elantra. That's the number to keep in mind when you're pricing the deal — a $2,000 difference in purchase price disappears the first time you're staring at a transmission rebuild.
Bottom line: pick based on use case more than the spec sheet. If you tow heavy and don't want to think about it, that's one calculation. If you're a daily driver and want the cheapest path forward, that's another. Both of these will get you down the road. We're just telling you where each one is most likely to break.
Side-by-side by problem area
Common questions
Which is more reliable, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV or the 2017 Hyundai Elantra?
Based on the NHTSA data we track, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV comes out ahead with a reliability score of 4.2 versus 3.0. The margin is clear, so the verdict could shift if you weight specific categories differently or factor in your own use case.
What goes wrong more often on the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV?
On the categories we tracked, the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV doesn't show meaningfully more complaints than the 2017 Hyundai Elantra. Both have similar issue patterns.
What goes wrong more often on the 2017 Hyundai Elantra?
Compared to the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV, the 2017 Hyundai Elantra has more complaints in engine and body. Whether that's a deal-breaker depends on the cost and severity — see the comparison table above for repair cost ranges.
Which has more recalls?
Both vehicles have 4 active recalls. Total recall count alone isn't a great signal — what matters is severity. See the recall counts by severity in the comparison table.
Is an extended warranty worth it on either of these?
Both vehicles are out of factory bumper-to-bumper coverage at this point. Combined repair exposure across the top problem categories runs around $14,550 on the higher-risk vehicle. A quality service contract typically costs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years, so a single major failure usually pays for the contract. The math favors warranty coverage on whichever vehicle you choose, especially if you plan to keep it past 100,000 miles.