2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV steering problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Sep 17, 2026HISteering

   Steering has resistance and will not to return to center/neutral position without driver manipulation. I've never experienced this probelm with another car and See many other Chevrolet Bolt owners have experienced the same problem. IT definitely seems to be a design and /or assembly flaw. Local GM dealer service department insists it's an isolated issue. Very costly repair required.

   NHTSA complaint #11765054 · source
2. Filed Aug 5, 2026MDSteering

   Power steering assist cut out while driving and traction controllight came on. There is now no steering assist. The car is with the dealer shop and their diagnostics indicate the the steering column needs to be replaced. Dealer shop now says the steering column is on EXTREME backorder with no time estimate of availability. The car is almost impossible to steer at low speeds.The power steering rack and pinnion assembly was replaced back in August of 2023 due to the rack…

   NHTSA complaint #11755068 · source
3. Filed May 29, 2026CASteering

   When driving at parking lot speeds, I hear a clunk sound and I feel some vibration in the steering column. This is not observed at higher speeds. Also, the steering intermittently becomes stiff and at other times is loose.

   NHTSA complaint #11740952 · source
4. Filed May 23, 2026CASteering

   Steering randomly will fail to return to center in turns, causing the driver to have to manually turn wheel back to center. Happens in both sharp and sweeping turns in both the left and right direction while accelerating, decelerating, and maintaining speed. Issue occurs several times a week. I nearly hit an oncoming car head-on in a very gentle sweeping left hand turn on May 10th when my Bolt continued turning left rather than re-center when I stopped giving it left…

   NHTSA complaint #11739669 · source
5. Filed Apr 19, 2026NHSteering

   Steering clunks during low speed maneuvers, shimmy started while rounding a curve at highway speed on uneven pavement. Local garage has identified it as a broken steering gear. Car has only 36000 miles.

   NHTSA complaint #11732251 · source
6. Filed Apr 10, 2026WASteering

   The steering wheel gets stuck, is difficult to turn, and doesn't return to center. Issues with this make the car much more difficult to drive and makes it impossible to sense the state of the road with the steering wheel. This can lead to loss of control. No warning lamps or messages informed me of this issue.

   NHTSA complaint #11730418 · source
7. Filed Apr 4, 2026INSteering

   Steering doesn't return to center when moving. When moving at low speeds steering is heavy. Possible steering gear issue. Always present while driving vehicle and turning.

   NHTSA complaint #11729176 · source
8. Filed Mar 21, 2026CASteering

   Steering stiff. Steering wheel does not return to center on sweeping turns. Getting progressively more pronounced with time.

   NHTSA complaint #11726021 · source
9. Filed Mar 8, 2026INSteering

   Steering wheel does not return to center and stays in a stuck position after turning it. VERY COMMON ISSUE THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED

   NHTSA complaint #11722860 · source
10. Filed Oct 16, 2025TXSteering

    The steering fails to return to center after a turn, especially at low speed. It requires me to manually center the wheel, and can make steering difficult in low speed city driving. No warning lights or codes are displayed. Front end alignment seems to be good with very little drifting in either direction. Highway driving provides some centering of the wheel, though less than any of the vehicles I have driven. When test driving the vehicle on 9/15/25, I asked the dealership…

    NHTSA complaint #11693856 · source
11. Filed Oct 10, 2025ILSteering

    Steering wheel makes noise and is hard to steer. The car creaks and clunks when driving over any type of speed bump, pothole, etc. Looking online, this seems to be a chronic safety problem with this make and model.

    NHTSA complaint #11692545 · source
12. Filed Aug 21, 2025KSSteering

    The steering wheel will not return to center after turning. The steering feels stiff, and the steering wheel will not return to center on its own.

    NHTSA complaint #11682061 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology