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Your vehicleHome›Chevrolet›Bolt EV› 2020
Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.
Chevrolet · Compact Hatchback

2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Electric
Small Station Wagons
1 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
F
Safety Signal
39 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls4 critical 8
Complaints7 crash · 4 fire reported 175
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
EV rangebest configuration, EPA 259 mi
2023202220212020201920182017

The 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV is sold in the U.S. as an electric compact hatchback. Its longest-range version, the Bolt EV, is EPA-rated at 259 miles with 118 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this model year, 4 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 175 complaints, most often about the electrical system. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Chevrolet Bolt — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Chevrolet Bolt · Photo: Kevauto · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
Bolt EVElectricFWD150 kW ACPM127108118 MPGe259 mi28.710 h$650

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42191.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Bolt EV10 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 / California ZEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay Elite

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleHatchback/Liftback/Notchback
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Output

Horsepower200 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelElectric

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

DrivetrainFWD/Front-Wheel Drive
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds1

Driver assistance

Standard: Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Rear cross-traffic alert

Optional: Automatic emergency braking, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: LT, Premier). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Also on file Beside the 2020 Bolt EV
Other years The 2023 Bolt EV Recalls Chevrolet recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (8)

Source: NHTSA recall database
!critical

Electrical System

N242470160
Park outside 107 vehicles 81% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 Bolt EUV vehicles previously repaired under Recall 21V-650. 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. Risk A battery fire increases the risk of injury. Fix Owners are advised to take the following interim steps: Set the Target Charge Level feature in their vehicle to limit the charge level to 90%, charge their vehicle more frequently, avoid depleting the battery to 70 miles range remaining, park outside after charging, and do not charge the vehicle indoors overnight. Dealers will reinstall advanced diagnostic software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 3, 2024. Owners may contact the Bolt EV Concierge Team at 1-833-
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 24V812000 reported Oct 31, 2024 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Electrical System

N242443000
Park outside 72 vehicles 96% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV vehicles that were previously remedied under recall number 21V-650. The advanced diagnostic software may have been incorrectly installed and fail to detect defective battery modules, possibly resulting in a battery fire. Risk A battery fire increases the risk of injury. Fix Owners are advised to take the following interim steps: Set the Target Charge Level feature in their vehicle to limit the charge level to 90%, charge their vehicle more frequently, avoid depleting the battery to 70 miles range remaining, park outside after charging, and do not charge the vehicle indoors overnight. Dealers will reinstall the advanced diagnostic software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 1, 2024. Owners may contact the Bolt EV Concierge Team at
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 24V481000 reported Jun 27, 2024 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Structure

N232421970
6,771 vehicles 88% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. This recall includes certain vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under NHTSA recall number 22V-930. After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire. Risk A fire increases the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will inspect both front seat belt pretensioners and, if necessary, install metal foil at the carpet near the pretensioner exhaust. Certain vehicles will also need a pretensioner cover installed. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2024. These vehicles were previously recalled for this same issue under recall number 22V-930 and will need to have the new remedy performed. Owners may contact GM EV Concierge at 1-833-EVCHEVY (1-83
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V845000 reported Dec 14, 2023 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Structure

N222383790
111,242 vehicles 88% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire. Risk A vehicle fire can increase the risk of injury. Fix Dealers will install metal foil at the carpet near the pretensioner exhaust, and install a pretensioner cover as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between January 23, 2023 and April 25, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N222383790.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V930000 reported Dec 15, 2022 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Electrical System

N212345940
Park outside 52,414 vehicles 98% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV vehicles. The high voltage battery could catch fire when charged to full or nearly full capacity. Risk A battery fire increases the risk of injury. Fix Owners are advised to take the following interim steps: Set the Target Charge Level feature in their vehicle to limit the charge level to 90%, charge their vehicle more frequently, avoid depleting the battery to 70 miles range remaining, park outside after charging, and do not charge the vehicle indoors overnight. Defective battery modules will be replaced by GM, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 1, 2021 and June 23, 2023. Owners may contact the Bolt EV Concie
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V650000 reported Aug 20, 2021 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seat Belts

N202322230
470 vehicles 94% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. 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. Risk 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. Fix GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V811000 reported Dec 23, 2020 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

N202321400
464 vehicles 100% reported repaired
Problem General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. These vehicles may have an improperly cast front left brake caliper that can fracture during a high-pressure braking event. Risk If a brake caliper fractures and brake fluid is lost, the vehicle may experience reduced brake performance, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the casting lot number on the front left brake caliper and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202321400.
NHTSA campaign 20V808000 reported Dec 22, 2020 General Motors, LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Latches/Locks/Linkages

A202298320
897 vehicles 99% reported repaired
Problem General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. 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. Risk 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. Fix GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear inside door-handle cables, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A202298320.
NHTSA campaign 20V184000 reported Mar 26, 2020 General Motors LLC the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery — Electric Vehicle Battery Fires closed

In October 2020, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) on 2017-2020 Model Year (MY) Chevrolet Bolt vehicles based on complaints received alleging that the vehicles caught fire under the seating area while parked and unattended. At the time, ODI had received 2 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) and several field reports. All complaints alleged vehicles caught fire during or after electrical charging. ODI's review found vehicle thermal events occurred during and/or at the end of the battery module charging cycle. The information learned from NHTSA and General Motors joint vehicle inspections prompted General Motors to file Recall 20V-701 on April 29, 2

Opened Oct 9, 2020 · closed Feb 7, 2022 · action PE20016 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Bolt EV

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Chevrolet publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Chevrolet’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Bolt EV →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
175complaints filed

7 involved a crash · 4 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

62 per 10,000 built · Chevrolet reported 28,245 Bolt EV built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2020: 2 · 2021: 35 · 2022: 33 · 2023: 41 · 2024: 29 · 2025: 18 · 2026: 17

Most-cited components

Electrical System → 95
Fuel/Propulsion System 30
Steering 23
Unspecified 21
Power Train 11
Vehicle Speed Control 9

In depth: electrical problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

2020 Chevrolet Bolt. Consumer writes in regards to fire risk safety recall. The consumer stated the manufacturer was contacted, but had not offered any assistance
Engine Sep 29, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11434824
Battery has a high risk of fire. GM refuses to initiate buyback according to CA lemon law
Electrical System Sep 25, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11434376
This is a comment on an existing open recall (nhtsa chat said to use this form). Related to the Chevy Bolt recall 21V650. The diagnostic software will be designed to detect specific abnormalities that might indicate a damaged battery in Bolt EVs and EUVs by monitoring the battery performance; alerting customers of any anomalies; and…
Fuel/Propulsion System Sep 24, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11434182
National recall for potential battery fire that GM has known about for a while in their older Chevy Bolt electric cars and now the problem has spread to their newer models.
Power Train Sep 20, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11433688
This is third occurrence. When doing hard acceleration (to merge onto road or pass vehicle) the vehicle would not stop acceleration. Hard braking did not disengage acceleration. Placed car in neutral and applied brakes. When placed back in drive continued hard acceleration. Placed vehicle in neutral and came to stop.
Vehicle Speed Control Aug 30, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11431130
I have had people following me, and almost hit me when stopped at a stop sign, or waiting to turn left, because the brake lights go off while the car is still being held to some degree by electric motor braking. When driving the car in L mode, one pedal driving, the brake lights come on when decelerating, but when stopped they turn off.
Service Brakes Jun 29, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11422802

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Chevrolet itself: 16 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 16 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 57 per 100,000 built. Every Bolt EV model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 10k

miles, typically

Half the 20 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 2,000 and 35,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

Too few readings for a curve — the 20 on file: 10 under 10k, 1 10k–20k, 3 20k–30k, 4 30k–40k, 1 40k–50k, 1 50k–60k.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
5 HB FWD★★★★★★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★★10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Driver-assist crash reports (6)

Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01
6reports filed

5 no injury reported · 1 severity unknown

Jul 2021 to Nov 2021 · 0 with an air bag deployment · 1 towed

What was engaged, and what was hit

System named: not named in the filings

Crash partner: Passenger Car 3 · Non-Motorist: Cyclist 1 · Pickup Truck 1 · SUV 1

Filed by: Cruise LLC, General Motors, LLC

IncidentSystemStruckInjury allegedStateSpeedReport
Nov 2021ADSPassenger Carno injury reportedCA—30412-1870
Nov 2021ADSPassenger Carno injury reportedCA11 mph30412-1674
Oct 2021ADSSUVno injury reportedCA—30412-1389
Aug 2021ADSPickup Truckno injury reportedCA22 mph540-1517
Aug 2021ADSNon-Motorist: CyclistunknownCA8 mph30412-1138
Jul 2021ADSPassenger Carno injury reportedCA—30412-1089

A report under the General Order is a notice the manufacturer or operator must file within days of hearing of a crash in which a Level 2 driver-assist or automated-driving system was engaged within 30 seconds of impact. It is filed before anything is verified, and entities with telematics hear of far more crashes than entities that rely on complaints, so counts say as much about the reporting as about the car and are not comparable across makes. Nothing is normalised by fleet size. Every report on file, by make and year → · NHTSA’s page and files

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every GM warranty extension (33) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 601
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-26
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 587 service bulletins, 12 service campaigns, 1 warranty extension

Most often about: Equipment, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Engine, Power Train.

  • PIT5698F Service bulletin
    2026-09-26 · Unknown Or Other
  • This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
  • PIP4902W Service bulletin
    2026-09-04 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
  • N252530430-01 Service campaign
    2026-08-19 · Unknown Or Other
  • Certain vehicles may have a condition where a false diagnostic trouble code (DTC) is set. Dealers are to reprogram the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2.
  • PIT5099J Service bulletin
    2026-07-21 · Unknown Or Other
  • PI to help diagnose A/C concern
  • PIT3271Q Service bulletin
    2026-04-01 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
  • PIP6104 Service bulletin
    2026-03-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.
  • PIP4902V Service bulletin
    2026-03-09 · Unknown Or Other
  • This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
  • N252541510 Service campaign
    2026-03-03 · Unknown Or Other
  • Certain vehicles may have been sold with a GM NACS Level 2 EV charging adapter (NACS to J1772) in which a quality issue was identified. Dealers are to provide the customer with the latest design charging adapter.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0BBD
P0BBD on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →9 bulletins
B3055
B3055 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
B3060
B3060 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
B3935
B3935 on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
P0300
P0300 on Chevrolet →		Misfire detected, but not isolated to one cylinder.Engine · Ignition coils →4 bulletins
P0308
P0308 on Chevrolet →		Cylinder 8 is misfiring.Engine · Ignition coils →4 bulletins
P050D
P050D on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine4 bulletins
U3636Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Electrical System · Battery →4 bulletins
B094CManufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Visibility/Wiper · Wiper blades →2 bulletins
B101D
B101D on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment2 bulletins
B101EManufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment2 bulletins
B395A
B395A on Chevrolet →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV failed the safety inspection on 2.9% of first inspections — higher than the 1.6% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected.

New York inspections 2.9%

failed the safety inspection

750 initial inspections of 737 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2020 Bolt EVEvery 2020 vehicleBehind it
Failed the safety inspection2.9%1.6%750
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.13%0.19%750
Miles driven a year7,8319,980odometer at inspection
Average odometer49,21962,630odometer at inspection

Electric vehicles get no emissions test in New York, so the safety inspection is the record here. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2020 vehicle” is every 2020 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Bolt EV by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2023 C 3 61 259 mi2022 F 7 59 Park outside2021 F 5 67 Park outside2020 this page F 8 175 Park outside2019 F 6 178 Park outside2018 F 5 89 Park outside2017 F 4 349 Park outside

Common questions about the 2020 Bolt EV

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 8 recall campaigns for the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 4 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 24V812000, covering Electrical System. There is an active park outside advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV?

NHTSA gave the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 5-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it F (39/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV?

For the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV, the longest EPA range is 259 miles on a charge. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What do owners complain about on the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV?

Owners have filed 175 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV, most often about electrical system, fuel/propulsion system, steering. Of those, 7 involved a crash, 4 a fire. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV?

The EPA smog rating for the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV is 10 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California ZEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV?

The manufacturer has filed 601 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV, most often covering equipment, electrical system, unknown or other. The most recent is dated 2026-09-26. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV failed the safety inspection on 2.9% of first inspections — higher than the 1.6% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected. The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations1 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates1 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls8NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints175NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings1 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins601NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations2NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports6NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01Crashes the manufacturer or operator reported with a Level 2 or automated-driving system engaged. Notices, filed before verification; not comparable across makes.
Specifications filed with NHTSA10 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

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Other years The 2023 Bolt EV The Bolt EV model year with the cleanest record on file — grade C, 3 recalls.Recalls Every Chevrolet recall on file All campaigns filed against Chevrolet vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Bolt EV by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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