What 316 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt

THE SEATS ARE HORRIBLY SHAPED AND FAR TOO NARROW IN THE POSTERIOR/BUTTOCK/THICK AREA. THE RIBS ALONG THE SIDES OF THE SEATS PRESS INTO THE BACKS OF MY LEGS (I AM 5'8, 160LBS AND 35 YEARS OLD) TO THE POINT WHERE I GET BRUISES AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 5 MINUTES. THEY ARE JUST DESIGNED EXTREMELY POORLY. FURTHERMORE, EXITING THE VEHICLE REQUIRES ME TO PLACE MY ENTIRE BODY WEIGHT ON A THIN PIECE OF PLASTIC ALONG THE SIDE OF THE SEAT WHILE SLIDING OFF IF IT, FURTHER GIVING ME BRUISES. I HAVE ORDERED A THICKER SEAT CUSHION TO ASSIST WITH THE PROBLEM, BUT I FEAR THAT I WILL BE PUSHED UP HIGHER AND NOT SECURELY ANCHORED TO THE SEAT SINCE I WILL BE SITTING ABOVE THE SIDE BOLSTERING, POTENTIALLY CREATING A MAJOR SAFETY RISK. I'VE LEASED THE CAR SO I'M LOCKED IN, BUT I CANNOT CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT WITH THESE SEATS AS THERE IS TOO MUCH PAIN, EVEN FOR HOURS AFTER DRIVING HAS COMPLETED.

NHTSA ODI 11051339

BACKUP CAMERA AND SOUND SYSTEM WILL NOT TURN OFF (FREEZE).

NHTSA ODI 11040577

3 TIMES IN THE FIRST1500 MILES SMALL STONES HAVE BECOME LODGED IN THE BREAKING, IN BOTH FRONT WHEELS AND NEVER I THE BACK WHEELS. THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT ALLOWS STONES TO ENTER BETWEEN THE BACKING PLATE AND THE ROTOR. THE BECOME STUCK (LODGED) THERE AND, IN ADDITION TO CREATING A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE, COULD IMPAIR BRAKING AND STEERING, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. ALL THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS MOVING.

NHTSA ODI 11039949

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET BOLT. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, A LOUD HOWLING TYPE NOISE WAS PRESENT COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (BANKS CHEVROLET IN CONCORD, NH) WHO DISCOVERED THAT SMALL STONES HAD BECOME STUCK INTO THE BRAKING SYSTEM BETWEEN THE BACKING PLATE AND THE ROTOR. THE STONES WERE REMOVED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS ON BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BRAKES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. *BF UPDATED 8/2/18*JB

NHTSA ODI 11040190

FRONT SEATS HAVE INADEQUATE PADDING AND SHARP FRAME PERIMETERS CAUSING LOWER LEG DISCOMFORT AND DURING LONGER THAN 20 MINUTE DRIVES LEADING TO NUMBNESSS IN THE LEGS CREATING A UNSAFE OPERATING CONDITION.

NHTSA ODI 11033440

THE SEATS ARE UNCOMFORTABLE TO THE POINT WHERE IT HURTS MY REAR END AND LOWER BACK. ALBEIT MY PERSONAL OPINION, IT SEEMS THE PADDING IS INADEQUATE. FURTHERMORE, THE BACK OF THE SEAT APPEARS TO HAVE A GAP IN IT SO EVERYTIME YOU LEAN BACK, THE SEAT CLICKS. THIS ISN'T A DEFECT BUT RATHER A POORLY DESIGNED SEAT. THE SEAT ISSUE WILL PASS ANY TEST DRIVE BECAUSE THE TEST DRIVE IS SO SHORT. I'VE NEVER OWNED A CAR WITH SEATS LIKE THIS, USED OR NEW AND CHEVY SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE SEATS.

NHTSA ODI 11032123

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY (60-70MPH) WITH THE BATTERY AT OR SLIGHTLY ABOVE 50%, AN ALERT SOUNDED, AND THE BATTERY LEVEL IMMEDIATELY WENT DOWN TO NEARLY ZERO. IT ESTIMATED 10 MILES LEFT, BUT SPEED IMMEDIATELY DECREASED, AND THE ACCELERATOR STOPPED WORKING. AFTER RAPIDLY COASTING OVER TO THE SHOULDER, AND WITHIN SECONDS, THE CAR MADE A SERIES OF LOUD NOISES AND COMPLETELY STOPPED.

NHTSA ODI 11031387

AFTER DRIVING THE BOLT FOR ONE HOUR I DISCOVERED THAT HARD PLASTIC PIECES OF THE SEAT COULD BE FELT THROUGH THE BOTTOM CUSHION CAUSING SEVERE LEG PAIN AND NUMBNESS. THE PAIN TOOK 3 DAYS TO GO AWAY. THE SHORT DURATION OF THE TEST DRIVE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO FEEL THIS PAIN. AFTER TALKING TO HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN VARIOUS ONLINE FORUMS I'VE DISCOVERED THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH THE BOLT. APPARENTLY IN A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF BOLTS (~%25) THERE IS INSUFFICIENT PADDING APPLIED TO THE SEAT. I HAVE SEEN PICTURES THAT SHOW A BOLT WITH PROPER PADDING AND ONE WITHOUT AND THERE IS A DIFFERENCE OF UP TO 2X IN HEIGHT. I HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF THE FOAM INSIDE THE SEAT AND IT VARIES SIGNIFICANTLY BETWEEN BOLTS. I AM REQUESTING THAT CHEVROLET RECALLS THE SEATS THAT ARE DEFECTIVE AND ADDS PROPER PADDING TO THEM. I CURRENTLY HAVE TO ADD A LARGE SEAT CUSHION TO THE SEAT WHICH COMPROMISES MY ABILITY TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT PUTS ME AT A HEIGHT WHERE THE REARVIEW MIRROR NO LONGER WORKS AND I ROLL AROUND IN THE SEAT WHEN I GO AROUND CORNERS. THIS IS A HEALTH ISSUE AND A SAFETY ISSUE. I'VE ATTACHED A PICTURE OF EXAMPLES OF CONVERSATIONS WHERE MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11030133

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH THE MESSAGE PROPULSION POWER REDUCED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE AND READ WHAT THE WARNING LIGHT MEANT AND DECIDED TO HEAD HOME. I STOPPED ON THE WAY HOME AT THE GROCERY STORE AND WHEN I CAME BACK OUT AND STARTED THE CAR THE WARNINGS WERE STILL THERE AND THEN IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR. I KEPT GETTING A MESSAGE THAT CONDITIONS WERE NOT RIGHT TO SHIFT AND PLEASE PUT THE CAR IN PARK. (IT WOULD GO INTO NEUTRAL) WHEN I TRIED TO SHUT THE CAR OFF IT WOULDN'T SHUT OFF. I FINALLY GOT IT TO SHUT OFF BY OPENING THE DOOR WHEN I WAS SHUTTING IT OFF. ON STAR TOLD ME I WAS HAVING A "CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND THE CAR WOULD NEED TO BE TOWED. THE TWO TRUCK DRIVER CALLED ME 15 MINUTES LATER AND ASKED ME TO MAKE SURE I COULD GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL. I STARTED THAT CAR AGAIN, ALL THE WARMINGS CAME BACK ON EXCEPT IT DID ALLOW ME TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. I DROVE IT HOME AND BACKED INTO MY DRIVE. THE TWO TRUCK ARRIVED AND WHEN WE STARTED THE CAR AGAIN THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ALL ON BUT AGAIN IT DID SHIFT INTO GEAR. HE TOWED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA ODI 11023667

THE HID LIGHTS ARE UNSAFE. THE GLARE IS HARSH IN EYES OF ONCOMING VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS. THE HID HEADLIGHTS CAST A DEFINED BOX OF LIGHT BEYOND WHICH ALL IS DARK; THEREFORE, ANIMALS, PEOPLE, DIPS AND CURVES IN THE ROAD, AND OTHER VEHICLES OUTSIDE THE BOX OF LIGHT ARE INVISIBLE. THESE SHOULD BE OUTLAWED.

NHTSA ODI 11021191

1) SUNLIGHT REFLECTS OFF OF THE WHITE DASH ONTO THE WINDSHIELD AND BACK INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES. VISIBILITY IS IMPAIRED. THE EFFECT EXTENDS AS FAR AS THE SIDE MIRRORS AND THIS IN PARTICULAR NEARLY CAUSED ME TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER CAR WHICH I DID NOT SEE DUE TO THE TEMPORARY OPACITY OF THE GLASS. I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT DATE OF THIS INCIDENT. I'M ONLY CLICKING ON THE CALENDAR BECAUSE THAT ACTION IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. I'M USING THE DATE THE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN. THE INCIDENT LIKELY HAPPENED THE DAY BEFORE. 2 )THERE IS ALSO AN ISSUE WITH SUNLIGHT REFLECTING OFF OF A SHINY CHROME BAR JUST ABOVE THE VIDEO SCREEN DIRECTLY INTO THE DRIVER'S EYES.

NHTSA ODI 11016404

I HAVE A LIGHT GRAY INTERIOR TRIM PACKAGE AND THE GLARE FROM THE DASHBOARD IS EXTREME. THERE ARE TIMES, LIKE PULLING INTO MY OWN OR PUBLIC GARAGES, WHEN MY VISIBILITY IS REDUCED ALMOST COMPLETELY. ON THE OPEN ROAD THE PROBLEM IS ALSO SIGNIFICANT. TO MAINTAIN GOOD VISIBILITY I HAVE RESORTED TO WEARING POLARIZED SUNGLASSES AT ALL TIMES DURING DAYLIGHT DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11016338

THIE IS A NEW LEASED VEHICLE. ISSUE RELATES TO SEVERE FORWARD VISIBILITY IMPAIRMENT IN DAYLIGHT DUE TO DASHBOARD REFLECTION. MY CAR INTERIORS ARE LIGHT ASH GRAY-CERAMIC WHICH INCLUDE A LIGHT-GRAY COLORED DASHBOARD AND TRIMMING. I HAVE RELAYED THIS ISSUE TO THE DEALERSHIP (WESELOH CHEVROLET - SAN DIEGO CA) - BUT THEIR RECOMMENDATION WAS TO PURCHASE A DARK-COLORED 3RD PARTY DASH-COVER. I AM CONCERNED 3RD PARTY DASH MAT COULD COMPROMISE OR OTHERWISE ADVERSELY AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE / DEPLOYMENT OF DASHBOARD AIR-BAGS DURING A COLLISION - THUS COMPROMISING THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS. THE VISIBILITY IMPAIRMENT IS QUITE SEVERE DURING DAYLIGHT (SEE PHOTOS). THIS PRESENTES THE FOLLOWING POTENTIAL RISKS: - DANGER TO PEDESTRIANS - INCREASED RISK OF COLLISION & CAR/PROPERTY DAMAGE - FATIGUE IF DRIVING FOR PROLONGED TIMES - (IF USING 3RD PARTY DASH COVER) RISK OF MALFUNTIONING DASHBOARD SRS

NHTSA ODI 11010083

REDUCED VISIBILITY THROUGH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. THE COMBINATION OF LOW WINDSHIELD ANGLE AND A LIGHT COLORED DASH REDUCES VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WIND SHIELD. THIS IS ESPECIALLY A PROBLEM WHEN GOING FROM LIGHT TO DARKER AREAS- INTO GARAGES, ALONG A STREET WITH TREES AND ALONG A CITY STREET AS BUILDING BLOCK SUNLIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11003704

DUE TO THE ANGLE OF THE WINDSHIELD, REFLECTION FROM THE LIGHT ASH GREY COLOR, CREATES A VERY VERY BRIGHT COLORED GLARE, WHICH REDUCES VISIBILITY IMMENSELY ON SUNNY DAYS. WITHOUT THE PROPER SUNGLASSES, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE PEDESTRIANS, OTHER CARS AND SIGNS. NOTE THE "SHADED" AND OR THE VENTS OF THE DASH AND HOW MUCH DARKER AND LESS REFLECTIVE THEY ARE IN THE ATTACHED PHOTO. ( IE, ABOVE THE TRANSPONDER WHERE IT IS SHADED) I UNDERSTAND THAT THE DARK COLOR DASH DOES NOT CREATE THIS DANGEROUS REFLECTION AND SOME OWNERS HAVE REPLACED THE DASH AT THEIR OWN COST. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND THE LIGHT COLOR DASH, TRIM, ETC, SHOULD BE REPLACED AT COMPANY EXPENSE. THIS IS A NEW MODEL AND IT WOULD BE BETTER NOW THAN LATER, BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT, OR WORSE, KILLED!

NHTSA ODI 10991439

THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT IS TOO EASY TO PUT THE CAR IN "PARK" BY ACCIDENT. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I WAS TRYING TO GO FROM THE "L" POSITION TO THE "R" POSITION. TO DO SO REQUIRES YOU TO PRESS THE SIDE BUTTON AND MANEUVER THE SHIFTER TO THE R POSITION. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DOING SO, I INADVERTENTLY PUSHED THE "P" BUTTON ON TOP OF THE SHIFTER RESULTING IN THE CAR ENDING IN PARK WHEN I WANTED TO REVERSE. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I GRABBED THE SHIFTER AND PRESS ON THE "P" BUTTON WITH MY PALM WHILE TRYING TO PRESS THE SIDE BUTTON. MOST OF THE TIMES IT WAS NOT A BIG DEAL, I JUST TRIED AGAIN AND THEN PROCEEDED. HOWEVER, ON ONE OCCASION TODAY, I WAS ABOUT TO MOVE INTO AN INTERSECTION WHEN A FAST MOVING CAR APPEARED FROM A BLIND SPOT AND I TRIED TO QUICKLY BACK-UP AND ENDED UP IN PARK INSTEAD. IT TOOK ME A FEW SECONDS TO REALIZE WHAT WAS GOING ON AND FINALLY GOT IT IN REVERSE BUT IT WAS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AS I WAS IN PARK IN THE INTERSECTION WHEN I NEEDED TO MOVE QUICKLY OUT OF THE WAY.

NHTSA ODI 10967100