general problems of the 2017 Chevrolet Bolt Ev - part 1

Sometimes, when driving in a turn, either direction, and hands are released from the steering wheel, the vehicle does not return to center. Force is required to cause the steering to begin returning to center. Once it begins returning to center, seems to always continue to center. This is a dangerous departure from decades of common vehicle operation. An unsuspecting driver can drive into an obstacle or people.

Steering rack broke, wheel won’t return to center. Dealer wants $3k dollars to fix. This should be recalled as the amount of cars it happens to is significantly high.

Steering doesn't return to center after turning. In sweeping turns, it is quite dangerous as the vehicle wants to push harder into the turn and requires operator to push the wheel back toward center to keep the vehicle on the road.

The steering does not self-center after making a turn. It feels stiff and remains in the turned position, requiring manual effort to bring it back to center.

The steering on the car does not return to center and sticks to the position turned and has to be manually pushed back to center. This is an issue with the steering rack.

The steering wheel in the Chevrolet bolt fails to return to center on its own. This is due to the steering rack grease hardening over time. This is a common issue with these cars but I am willing to offer my car for inspection on request. This is a safety and usability issue - my wife has carpal tunnel and struggles to properly return the vehicle to center when making a turn without pain. This does not show any specific warning lights. The component in this car has not been inspected, but the symptoms are always apparent, so it is always reproducible. This is very similar to if the power steering in a gas car were to fail. We have not had the issue fixed yet, but will likely need to do so in order to continue using the car safely.

Steering wheel sticks and doesn't return to center. Service center says the steering rack need to be replaced. The issue creates a significant safety hazard by impeding my ability to control the vehicle during turns, potentially leading to accidents.

Sticking steering wheel. Does not return to center, stiff steering. If steering wheel is not manually return to center, vehicle will continue to turn.

Steering wheel is not returning to center after a turn. It can be dangerous in certain situations where you would expect the steering to center after making a turn. Took it into a mechanic and they said its a common issue on the bolts. Power steering rack is faulty. This needs to be investigated. . . . Lots of complaints online!.

Steering will not return to center. Stiff and sluggish.

The steering wheel intermittently sticks and fails to return to center after turns or minor corrections, especially at low to moderate speeds. This requires constant manual correction to re-center the vehicle, which increases the risk of overcorrection or unintended lane departure. There are no warning lights or noise, and the issue does not appear to be related to alignment, tires, or pressure. Many other chevy bolt owners are reporting the same behavior, pointing to a potential defect in the steering gear or rack. This is a serious safety hazard that could result in loss of vehicle control. Gm has not issued a recall or service bulletin, and repairs are expensive. See community reports here: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

When corning the steering wheel intermittently sticks and fails to return to center after turns, at any speed but especially at low to moderate speeds. This requires me manually turn the wheel to re-center the vehicle, which increases the risk of overcorrection or unintended lane departure. There are no warning lights or noise, and the issue us not appear to be related to alignment, tires, or tire pressure. Many other chevy bolt owners are reporting the same behavior. This leads me to believe that this is a potential defect in the steering gear or rack. This is a safety hazard that could result in loss of vehicle control. Gm has not issued a recall or service bulletin, and repairs are expensive.

Steering wheel is stiff and doesn’t return to the center point smoothly especially when going 25 mph and faster. Possible safety issue.

The steering wheel does not return to center when turning either direction. Steering alternates between feeling loose and tight. After doing some research online, this is definitely a common problem with this vehicle among other drivers. Often it doesn't feel safe.

My 2017 chevy Bolt Ev, (as well as others as found on the chevy Bolt Ev owners forum) has a problem with the steering wheel sticking during turns and not returning to center. The dealers want $2200 - $2500 to replace the steering rack. Since this is a frequently reported problem and can represent a hazard, should this be subject to a recall? I am puting in todays date, however this existed since purchasing the car.

Car is not returning to center on turns without significant effort by driver. This has almost caused multiple accidents. This is a common problem and should be a recall.

The rack and pinion for this bolt is getting problematic and requires repair and should be recalled.

While driving, especially at lower speeds or during small steering inputs (such as switching lanes), the steering wheel does not return to center as expected. Instead, it sticks in the turned position, requiring extra effort to manually re-center the wheel. This issue is intermittent but persistent, and worsens over time. It appears to originate from the steering gear/rack, as there is no abnormal noise or warning lights. The car does not exhibit issues with alignment or tire wear, and tire pressure is within recommended specs. This behavior creates a safety hazard, as the driver must constantly correct the wheel back to center, especially after turns or curves. This introduces risk of overcorrection, lane departure, or delayed reaction in emergencies. Multiple other bolt owners are reporting similar symptoms in this owner forum thread, suggesting a potential defect in the steering gear or electric steering system. Gm has not issued a recall or service bulletin on this yet, and repair costs are substantial out-of-pocket. This issue could result in loss of control if it worsens. Please investigate.

The steering feels like it takes more input to control the steering than is reasonable. When coming out of a curve at speed, the steering doesn't return to center and continues to turn requiring additional steering input to come out of the turn.

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Bolt Ev. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and attempting to complete a left or right turn, the steering wheel failed to return to center and was sticking. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed; however, the contact was informed that further diagnostic tests were required to determine the cause for the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.

My bolt has 87k miles and the steering sticks in various rotation spots. Accelerating doesn't affect the auto-straightening, as power steering should. I've been told to pull the boots back on the steering rack and regreasing the rack. My mechanic won't do this due to a safety. There are 100s of folks on reddit experiencing the same issue. Some of these folks have less than 50k miles on their cars. Dealerships around the country are quoting $3-4k to replace the steering rack. This should be recalled, imo. Thanks! [xxx] [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The car's steering wheel does not return to center on turns anymore. Over the past month, the I need to force the steering wheel back to center to straighten out the car. I've had the wheels and alignment inspected. I've been told that the steering rack is not functioning properly and should be replaced.

The steering gear, (gear rack & pinion), started to fail. Steering became difficult and the car would not return to center on turns. This lead to the car crossing into oncoming traffic or heading off road on turns unless the driver applied significant force to overcome issue.

Steering system does not return to center after turns. This is a 'known' issue on the forums, and is due to the lubricant drying out. If left untended, the steering system will eventually bind and possibly seize up. Gm response is to replace the steering rack and pinion for a cost of $3000-4000.

The rack and pinion steering is malfunctioning. The wheel is becoming harder to steer and the wheel does not return to center after a turn and is start to possibly bind, requiring excessive force to turn.

The steering rack in my vehicle became faulty. Symptoms of the fault included tightness felt in the steering, and a lack of tendency of the steering wheel to return to center when driving at certain speeds. I diagnosed and repaired the issue myself after becoming concerned that the impaired steering of the vehicle could lead to a crash. I have the removed, faulty steering rack available. I have not involved a dealer or the manufacturer. There were no in-vehicle warnings about the failure and it would be easy for a driver without technical knowledge to be unaware of the worsening defect.

This steering issue waa forst noticed fall of 2024. Wheel will not come back to center on its own. For ex if you turn to the right it keeps going right, you have to consciously bring it back to center. Steering feels heavy/like no power steering. Safety issue ! I brought it in Nov 2023 at 37k mikes. They thought it was that I needed new tires and alignment, but that didnt help. I brought it back March 2025 at 40k, now they finally found it was steering gear assembly. It cost over $3,500. 00. If you look on line everyone with bolts is having this same issue at around 40k, with mine it was around 35k. It is a dangerous issue and should be a recall ! I am hoping that this will be resolved so people will not get hurt /killed, and I am also filing for reembursement this this is obviously a factory defect.

Rack and pinion steering gear failure at 70k miles.

Steering is binding, doesn't completely return to center when letting go of the steering wheel after a turn. It needs to be manually turned back in the other direction.

Rack and pinion steering gear failed. Vehicle is difficult to turn at lower speed.

The cars steering is very stiff and won’t return to center without assistance. The vehicles steering is not working as intended. Unfortunately I am unable to see a dealership as the cost to repair is over $4000. The car only has 62k miles and should not be failing so early. This a danger to myself and other drivers.

While at a remote location, I unlocked and entered the vehicle normally. When I tried to start the vehicle, numerous unrelated error messages appeared on-screen. The instrument panel was energized, but the vehicle could only shift into neutral and park. Power steering was lost, as was window functionality. The vehicle could not be fully started, nor could not it be fully shut off either. It was stuck in a peculiar, unsafe, and unresolvable state of energized limbo. Aaa towed the car to watson Chevrolet who determined that the 12v system (vs propulsion) battery malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. There is no information in the owner’s manual about this issue. The tow truck mechanic had no clue what was wrong. Fortunately, we were in a safe location. But under different circumstances, such as being roadside, this could have been a very unsafe situation. This is the original battery. The car was recently serviced and there was no indication the battery was failing. This problem was only an annoyance for us, but it could have been much much worse under less favorable circumstances.

The steering wheel does not return to center. Instead, the steering wheel and wheels get stuck at the turning angle and sometimes pull to the left or right. You have to manually return the steering wheel to center.

Steering wheel gets stuck and won't return to center.

The steering gear (rack and pinion) assembly exhibits clunking when turning the steering wheel at low speeds, and does not return to center at higher speed (stays in turned position when let go). This is available for inspection upon request. Our safety is put at risk because the steering feels strange and does not behave as with other cars, requiring force to return the wheel to center in a turn at speed. This problem has been confirmed by a qualified service center and they attempted to fix it by replacing the intermediate steering column, but it did not resolve the issue. There were no warning messages.