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2018 Chevrolet Bolt
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
73 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 22, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Electrical system problems dominate (40% of complaints).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#144 of 493Among the 2018 models with a matured record, the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt ranks #144, scoring higher than 68% of them. See the 2018 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2018 Chevrolet Bolt 5 HB FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 10%
2 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2018 Chevrolet Bolt, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (29) · Transmission & drivetrain (12) · Fuel system (10) · Brakes (6)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Electrical system
40%29 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“HMI module failed. Distraction from road because the display pops on and off. Im not taking in my car because there are forums and forums discussing this issue. Not in…”
Steering
33%24 complaints · typically near 37k mi · 10 in the last 2 years
“Sometimes, the steering wheel of the car will not return back to center after turning. The steering also feels a lot heavier. This usually happens after driving straig…”
Transmission & drivetrain
16%12 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“Driving 65mph in middle lane the vehicle suddenly dropped in speed to 45mph and on the dash a warning came up that said “Propulsion power is reduced” this almost cause…”
Fuel system
14%10 complaints
“Have inquired repeatedly since recall no. 21V560 issued. Told each time by authorized GM dealer that replacement lithium-ion batter pack is not available yet. Coming u…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 1 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 73 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 3 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Chevrolet before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report steering problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 37k miles). Has this car shown any steering symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2018 Chevrolet BOLT beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2018? See how every Bolt model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2018 Chevrolet Bolt against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.