My 2021 Chevy Bolt keeps showing a battery or power-Propulsion warning light related to the high-voltage system. The warning keeps coming back even after multiple repairs. The first repair was on April 28, 2025, the second was on December 17, 2025, and it is scheduled again for another repair on March 3, 2026. The light is the same every time and affects the car’s performance and reliability. I’m concerned this could be a safety issue involving the battery or propulsion system. The dealer repairs it temporarily, but the warning keeps returning, and the problem has never been fully resolved.
2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV electrical problems
33 complaints (49% of all complaints for this car). 1 crash reported.
- owner complaints
- 33
- of this car's complaints
- 49%
- crashes
- 1
- recalls
- 3
Which part fails
- 12v/24v/48v battery2
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Chevrolet Bolt EV electrical problems in other years
Related recalls
Electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery thermal: management: software
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 1‑833‑382‑4389. GM's number for this recall is N242470160.
Recall number 24V812000 · Recall details
Electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 1‑833‑382‑4389. GM's numbers for this recall are N242443000 and N242443002.
Recall number 24V481000 · Recall details
Electrical system: propulsion system: traction battery
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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 Concierge Team at 1‑833‑382‑4389. This recall is an expansion of the federal safety agency recall 21V‑560. GM's number for this recall is N212345940.
Recall number 21V650000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
the federal safety agency 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 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, the federal safety agency opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified the federal safety agency he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.
DP22005
What 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Video available and was given to USAA insurance company. This 2021 GM Chevrolet Bolt EV Premier trim vehicle experienced a sudden uncommanded extreme acceleration when I selected "D" (drive) mode on the transmission selector after using "R" (reverse) to back out of a parking lot parking space. The vehicle, despite my stomping and holding the brake pedal down and repeatedly selecting a different mode on the transmission selector, could not be stopped and still wanted to accelerate. The vehicle traveled an estimated 250 feet through a parking lot, crossing a street, hitting the curbs at high speed and through a field. The vehicle stopped against some concrete debris in the field pushing in the bumper slightly but with no airbag deployment. The mishap incident was video recorded and thankfully, there were no passengers or public / private property damages / injuries.
12v battery warning light and ion Lucian battery light came on manufacture does not want to buy back and apple car play keeps breaking.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact stated that while driving at 15 MPH, the vehicle failed to stop as needed, and struck a pole. The contact stated that the Forward Collison Avoidance feature failed to stop the vehicle. The contact was unaware of a warning light being illuminated. The vehicle was not towed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the Forward Collision Avoidance was inoperable. The vehicle was repaired; however, the contact was advised to take the vehicle to a dealer to get the Forward Collision Avoidance system repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, the contact received no assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact stated while driving approximately 40 MPH, the "Reduced Propulsion Power" warning light illuminated, and a warning chime sounded. The contact was able to drive back to the residence. The contact called a local dealer who advised her not to drive the vehicle and to have the vehicle towed to the dealer. The contact stated that the dealer was unsure if the battery could be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V650000 (Electrical System) and stated that the system was to monitor the condition of the battery and related the failure to the safety campaign. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.
I believe the recall remedy gm n21345944 is not sufficient because it dies not monitor the system during the 80-100 % charge. It only allows ip to 80 which is not when it fails. Also it just gives an alert and does not shut down the battery which can allow the fure to happen. According to gm recall 212345940 a new battery was promised. I do not feel safe driving a car which has only been tested up to 80% range when that id not the failure mode. I want a new fixed battery.
In nearly exactly the same fashion as Tesla, Chevrolet has reduced my battery range by 15-20% and they don't have any idea when or if they will restore what I've paid for.
Our car (2021 Chevy Bolt) has been under recall N212345940 since September 2021 for a battery that could catch fire if charged to full capacity. The GM recall stated "when parts are available, your Chevrolet dealer will replace the defective lithium ion battery modules in your vehicle with new lithium ion battery modules." For almost 2 years we've been worried, unable to park our car in a garage or charge to 100%. In the interim, when I spoke to a Chevy salesperson who tried to sell me a newer model year Bolt, they informed me that all the used cars on the lot had already had their batteries replaced. On June 14th I got an email stating: Recall Status: "Remedy Available Recall Number: N212345944 High Voltage Battery May Melt or Burn". I was extremely excited and took the car in last week. As I left I realized that they had NOT replaced the battery, instead they programmed in a diagnostic tool to try and identify defective battery cells over the next 6000 miles. The recall on my vehicle is now marked complete, even though nothing has changed! The car now won't allow full charging and there's still a danger of fire on a deeply discharged battery. I feel deeply betrayed by the bate and switch and that they've been allowed to call this recall completed.
I purchased a 2021 Bolt EV in mid-2021. I am disappointed in how GM handled the battery recall on my 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV. In Sept 2021 I received notice of safety recall N212345940 stating that the "Parts to repair your vehicle are not currently available" and I should "Set your vehicle to a 90 percent state of charge limitation". I did so and I patiently waited for the parts to arrive. Parts availability for this recall was unacceptably slow. I waited for 22 months for these parts - all the while my vehicle State of Charge (SOC) is diminished to 90%. Then in June 2023 GM changed their policy on this recall. The previous recall was marked as “completed”, even though I never received an indication that the parts to repair my vehicle became available. Instead recall N212345944 was issued. This recall installs “advanced diagnostic software that will monitor battery performance and identify defective battery modules”. Effectively it limits the SOC to 80% for 6200 miles. If there is an issue detected then the battery modules will, supposedly, be replaced. I have my doubts that this software will ever report such an occurrence. This is an extremely disappointing resolution for the customer. Now my vehicle's capacity is further reduced to 80% SOC for, potentially, another 6200 miles. GM sold me a car, and I paid for a car, that has 100% SOC. Thus far I have not had full use of my car and I have been driving it for 2+ years. Where is my compensation for being stuck with this diminished usage? I want to claw back 20% of my purchase price. Very badly done. I am an unhappy customer.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact stated that he was made aware that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V650000 (Electrical System) upon research; however, the dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not yet available for recall repair. The contact was informed that parts were available at another location. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue by the dealer and the contact was informed that there was no response. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Questions about the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV electrical
Does the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV have electrical problems?
Owners have filed 33 complaints about the electrical of the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 49% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV electrical problems start?
Not enough complaints include the mileage to tell.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV electrical?
Yes, 3 recalls: 24V812000, 24V481000, 21V650000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Chevrolet Bolt EV have the most electrical problems?
The Chevrolet Bolt EV model years with the most electrical complaints are 2017 (114 complaints), 2020 (96 complaints) and 2019 (85 complaints).
Other 2021 Chevrolet Bolt EV problems
Fuel system 15Transmission 10Steering 9Engine 4Acceleration 3Brakes 3Airbags 2Suspension 2Body 1Driver assistance 1Seat belts 1Tires 1
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