Is the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV a bad year?
177 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Bolt EV years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV are in line with other Bolt EV years. Electrical system stands out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2020 Bolt EV owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 17,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 96 (54%) | 5k–30k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Fuel system | 32 (18%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 23 (13%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 11 (6%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Engine | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 8 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 5 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 17,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 177 complaints: 7 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 6 say the car was towed.
20 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV: 8
The installation of advanced diagnostic software may have failed. As such, the high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity. A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
The advanced diagnostic software may have been incorrectly installed and fail to detect defective battery modules, possibly resulting in a battery fire. A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire. A fire increases the risk of injury.
After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire. A vehicle fire can increase the risk of injury.
The high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity. A battery fire increases the risk of injury.
Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle. If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
These vehicles may have an improperly cast front left brake caliper that can fracture during a high-pressure braking event. If a brake caliper fractures and brake fluid is lost, the vehicle may experience reduced brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
The door-handle cable inside the rear doors may be too long, allowing contact with the window when it is opened, possibly damaging the cable. A damaged cable may cause the rear door to open unintentionally when the rear window is opened. Additionally, it may cause the rear inside door handle to not work. If the rear door opens while driving, or the door handle fails to open the rear door, there is an increased risk of injury to the rear passengers.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 227
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or rearward while in Park at start up after cold soak
Driveline Clunk Noise and what is acceptable and what is considered normal operation
Service Update - Certain vehicles may have a condition in which a false diagnostic trouble code (DTC), U3636 symptom 09, is triggered
Will need to be provided to TAC to aid in diagnosing if a vehicle comes in with misfire and DTC Codes P0300 - P0308 and/or P050D
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Pedestrian alert sounds
Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
Neighbouring years
2019 Bolt EV: 179 complaints, keep it · 2021 Bolt EV: 66 complaints, keep it.
Every Chevrolet Bolt EV year
2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · All Bolt EV years side by side
Other Chevrolet models: Chevrolet Astro · Chevrolet Avalanche · Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 · Chevrolet Aveo · Chevrolet Blazer · Chevrolet Camaro · Chevrolet Captiva · Chevrolet Cavalier · Chevrolet Cobalt · Chevrolet Cobalt SS · Chevrolet Colorado · Chevrolet Corvette · Chevrolet Cruze · Chevrolet Equinox · Chevrolet Equinox EV · Chevrolet Express · Chevrolet HHR · Chevrolet Impala · Chevrolet Malibu · Chevrolet Malibu Classic · Chevrolet Malibu Maxx · Chevrolet Monte Carlo · Chevrolet S10 · Chevrolet Silverado · Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · Chevrolet Silverado 1500 HD · Chevrolet Silverado 2500 · Chevrolet Silverado 3500 · Chevrolet Sonic · Chevrolet Spark · Chevrolet Suburban · Chevrolet Suburban 1500 · Chevrolet Tahoe · Chevrolet Tracker · Chevrolet Trailblazer · Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT · Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT 370 · Chevrolet Traverse · Chevrolet Trax · Chevrolet Uplander · Chevrolet Venture · Chevrolet Volt. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV a bad year?
177 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Bolt EV years. At 17,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (96), fuel system (32), steering (23), transmission and drivetrain (11), engine (8).
How many recalls does the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Electrical system (NHTSA 24V-812), Electrical system (NHTSA 24V-481), Body structure (NHTSA 23V-845), Body structure (NHTSA 22V-930) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.