2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV: sudden loss of power

Filed Dec 22, 2025 · Acceleration, Fuel system · MD

Vehicle started to surge while driving (both small acceleration forward and large deceleration) without any change in brake or accelerator position. Eventually a "Propulsion Power Reduced" message was presented on the console followed immediately by no forward propulsion (accelerator completely unresponsive) and forced to coast to a stop on the side of the highway. Car refused to shift out of park or neutral following breakdown. Car taken to dealer to troubleshoot and was told that a P0A3F code was present and that the engine harness needed to be replaced in accordance with the federal safety agency bulletin 19-NA-220. This bulletin calls out that the harness was likely damaged during initial install at factory and the dealer representative confirmed that the pins were damaged as described. Car was given back to drive home after harness was checked (owner decided to explore options before scheduling repair), but broke down due to surging and complete loss of power within 2 miles of dealer. Troubleshooting to confirm harness damage is suspected to have worsen the condition and made un-commanded accel/deceleration followed by complete loss of power likely. Uncertain why this condition would be exempt from recall if OEM is aware of installation issues at factory. Driving with this condition was as bad or worse than other type model loss of power conditions that have been recalled. Recommend at least clarifying that cars confirmed to fall under this bulletin and associated inspection should not be deemed roadworthy until a repair is made.

Filed Jul 22, 2021 · Steering · OR

The car has displayed a minor loss of steering power from when I received it as well as some tapping/banging from the underneath. I only recently reported it to the dealer since I thought that the loss of power was just electrical load issues under certain conditions. The dealer investigated and reported a broken steering gear. They found NO evidence that there was external damage causing this and told me to not drive the car until it is repaired.

Filed Jul 9, 2021 · Electrical · WA

Touch screen unresponsive, freezes with rear camera streaming — incredible distraction, system restarts at random. Loss of functionality to HVAC controls in winter caused window to fog and created dangerous driving scenario. Pop sound in speakers then loss of power to infotainment system periodically. I have had dealership replace sway bar and steering due to defective parts. GM not as cooperative as they could be and process lengthy. Now GM tech says chip and screen need replacement. Battery recall has compounded my concerns over safety of Bolt EV.

Filed Mar 6, 2021 · Electrical, Steering · 36,600 miles · WA

Rear backup camera display freezes after placing vehicle in drive which may become distraction and create unsafe situation for driver while maneuvering in parking lot or on roadway while operating at higher speeds ' can be remedied by manually restarting infortainment system/powering off/restarting vehicle. I have seen system unfreeze for restart automatically while vehicle in motion which may cause distraction to driver and inability to adjust certain features of climate controls. Temporary loss of power to heating unit or inability to register change in fan speed (occurance once). Steering feels loose when initially moving steering wheel and component(s) making noise when turning steering wheel (resistant issue). Suspension makes loud creaking noise(s) when operating on uneven road surfaces or steep incline/decline. Steering/suspension have been ongoing issue since purchased in october 2020 ' will have dealership diagnose at possible owners expense. Date of steering issue will be utilized for section below.

Filed Aug 6, 2018 · Engine, Fuel system · 18,000 miles · MA

Car suddenly lost power on the highway. I had to coast to a stop. The high-voltage battery which had been 3/4 full went down to zero. After the incident, the car could no longer be drive. I'd already had gm's recall installed n172127150

Filed Jul 27, 2018 · Electrical, Fuel system · 22,200 miles · NJ

On 2018-07-26 at approximately 2325h, vehicle was being driven at ~70mph northbound on I-95, the maine turnpike. Location was approximately 1/2 mile north of exit-32 (biddeford, me). Road conditions were good, temperatures in the mid-70f, humid. The owner's wife was driving, with her husband in the passenger seat. At the time listed, the vehicle sounded a warning chime, and rapidly lost power from highway speeds (70 mi/hr). Vehicle, with the exception of speed, was in control with brakes and steering, emergency flashers, and lights operating. Vehicle driver information panel gave erratic and unreliable readings. Alternately, the display showed: * warning icon on right hand side * message "shift into park" * range dropped from ~75 miles to zero * battery gauge would indicate 5% battery with a range of 70+ miles * regenerative battery icon showed a regen braking limit of <30kw (indicating battery full??) (page 116 chevrolet bolt user manual) after stopping vehicle was unresponsive to most controls. * intermittent inability to shift out of park * warnings to go into low-power mode * warning the "battery saver active" * warning for "high voltage charging system"

Filed Feb 9, 2018 · Fuel system · 14,139 miles · CA

This vehicle has abruptly gone to zero range and entered a reduced power mode even though the battery showed sufficent range seconds earlier. After stopping, getting out and keying up again, the car stayed at zero range and displayed a charge now message. The first incident happened on january 11, 2018. In that case the range meter showed about 30 miles remaining. As I understand it, there are two preliniary warnings before the third more insistent one. The car was driven by another colleague who hadn't driven it before, and he wasn't sure if he missed the first two warnings or not. He was traveling at 70 MPH on the freeway at the time the vehicle "stalled" for lack of a better word. The range went to nothing, the vehicle dropped in speed significantly (not a pure stall) and he had to move through lanes to the side of the road amid faster traffic. Because of the uncertainty about warnings he may have missed (I don't think they're subtle enough to miss, so it is my view they never happened) we talked ourselves out of a dealer visit. We towed it to a nearby level 3 fast charger instead, after which it performed normally. Subsequent onstar e-mail health reports have described the battery as in good condition. The most recent of these was february 7th, which is interesting because ... Then, on february 8, 2018, it happened again. This time the vehicle went from 60 miles to nothing. Same issue: drastically reduced power with no advanced warning, maneuvering through faster traffic to a freeway exit ramp. The car came to a halt on the long exit ramp. It was towed to a dealer, where it now sits. I have never received a serivice bulletin or recall notice for anything, and as far as I know the car is up to date in this regard. There may be two problems: 1) the battery has a defect and 2) on star health battery checks reports are meaningless.