2019 CHEVROLET BOLT EV Steering Problems

As with other Chevy bolts, the rack and pinion steering completely broke no longer able to steer vehicle.

Steering will not return to center. After going around a turn, or even a curve like an exit ramp, the steering will remain locked in position and not re- center. It requires close attention and considerable force to return it to center and continue along a straight road.

Steering will not return to center. After going around a turn, or even a curve like an exit ramp, the steering will remain locked in position and not re- center. It requires close attention and considerable force to return it to center and continue along a straight road.

The steering wheel does not return to center. This appears to be a common issue on Chevy Bolts based on various forums, for example https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/steering-wont-return-to-center-bad-steering-gear-steering-sticking-in-one-direction.42988/. One has to be very aware of the steering issue as it requires the driver to actively force the steering wheel to return to center. This can be an even bigger issue when having to react to avoid debris or sudden breaking. There are no warning lights. The manufactuer claims that this is not a prevalent issue.

So I bought a used Bolt and the steering is sticking, at moderate speed (50mph) sweeping corners it lightly wants to pull harder into the corner and won't return to center if you let off the wheel, regardless of direction, you must always forcefully guide the steering wheel back to center. This is wrong, if your Bolt does this your steering rack is likely failing. This is a malfunction, in the GM service manual for the Bolt there is a diagnosis for "POOR RETURN OF STEERING WHEEL" which is described as "After completing a turn, extra steering input is required for the steering wheel to return to center."

Steering rack is binding, not returning to center after completing a turn. Only 50,000 miles on it.

Steering wheel does not return to center after making sharp turns. Steering wheel must be manually returned to center to avoid crashing.

Power steering fails go return to center intermittently causing unexpected handling characteristics while turning that could cause to over/undershoot a turn. Haven't taken it to the dealer to check and there are no warnings or lights.

I am filing this urgent safety complaint regarding a critical failure of the steering system in my 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV, which began experiencing problems at approximately 40,000 miles. This is not an isolated incident; numerous identical reports exist from other Bolt EV owners on public forums like Reddit ([XXX]) and [XXX], often occurring at similarly low mileage (typically 30,000-60,000 miles). The symptoms began with distinct clicking and knocking sounds when turning the steering wheel. This has progressed rapidly to increased steering effort (stiffness) and a failure of the steering wheel to return to center smoothly after a turn. This constitutes a severe and unacceptable degradation of a primary vehicle control system. When I had the vehicle inspected I was informed that the degradation would progress and risk my ability to safely steer the vehicle, and that the car should no longer be operated without performing a repair. A repair diagnosis indicated failure of the steering gear/rack assembly, with an initial repair quote of over $7000. This exorbitant cost is nearly prohibitive and approaches the residual value of the vehicle itself. It is deeply concerning and frankly unacceptable that a fundamental safety system like the steering is failing prematurely on these vehicles. Furthermore, the extremely high repair cost creates a dangerous secondary safety risk: owners may be forced to choose between a financially crippling repair or dangerously deferring maintenance, continuing to operate vehicles with compromised steering and risking catastrophic failure on the road. Steering integrity is paramount and should not be failing at such low mileage under any normal operating conditions. This pattern of premature steering failure reported by numerous owners indicates a potential design flaw, manufacturing defect, or component quality issue with the Chevrolet Bolt EV steering system that warrants immediate investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Low mileage vehicle purchased preowned with only 32,166 miles, and steering wheel (steering rack & pinion) is stiff and will not return wheel to center after turning more than a quarter turn.

Steering not returning to center when coming out of turns. Many have reported this issue with the steering rack. Concerned that steering will bind and cause an accident

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact stated that the steering wheel failed to return to center after turning to the left or the right. The contact used excessive force to manually return the steering wheel to center. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the rack and pinion assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 24,000.

Mileage: 24,000

The steering wheel is very stiff; if you turn left or right, when you complete the turn, if you were to release the wheel, it does not counter-turn back towards the center. Put differently - in an open parking lot, you could turn the wheel all the way to one side, release the wheel, press the accelerator --- and you'd go in circles. This has been happening for some time, but just recently had it pointed out that it is not normal. I feel its a meaningful safety risk. I researched the issue online and it seems that it is common for this model but GM has been unresponsive.

Steering wheel doesn't return to center after a turn, it must be turned back manually. If left unfixed this can cause the steering to lock up entirely when the steering gear fails.

Steering doesn't return to center when driving around 40mph on turns. You must manually move it back.

Around 46,000 miles this 5 yr old car began making popping sounds in the steering. Took into dealer and diagnosed steering rack failure and intermediate shaft. Cost to repair was close to $3,000. Looking into this, this is a common issue with Chevy Bolts due to poorly designed boots on the rack. This should be covered by a recall when failing so early. Happened to my previous 2018 Bolt too but the car was totaled in an accident prior to me undergoing the repair.

Vehicle steering does not return to center when exiting a gradual turn. This occurs intermittently. On line research indicates that this problem is likely the result of a faulty steering rack and that many other owners have experienced this behavior; as this could result in a dangerous situation I am reporting. The vehicle has about 43,000 miles on it. I have not had it repaired as yet.

This is concerning a 2019 Chevy Bolt purchased new on [XXX] from Stewart Chevrolet in Colma, CA. Around January 2024, we realized the vehicle's steering wheel was not returning to center on its own, and it took more force than usual to turn the wheel -- it would stick as you turned it. The vehicle had about 26,861 miles when we noticed this steering issue. When performing a turn (at low speeds and on the highway) the steering wheel would remain in the turned configuration until you manually moved it back to center. The dealer advised us that the steering gear would need to be replaced. We replaced the steering gear on [XXX] at Stewart Chevrolet in Colma, CA. However, though the steering was improved the problem was not totally fixed; the steering would still stick and the wheel took more force than expected to turn. We had the car re-evaluated and on [XXX] the Stewart Chevrolet again replaced the steering gear; this did not fix the issue. Finally, Stewart Chevrolet has recommended that we replace the steering column. We haven't done this yet because we are still trying to get GM to cover the cost of repairs. A vehicle with such low mileage should not need these repairs, and if you search online you will find many other Chevy Bolt owners across all models years having these issues. Please investigate and determine whether a recall is advised. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The steering rack failed. It is currently at the dealership waiting for parts to come in so it can be replaced. The car started making noises when making sweeping turns. The noise got worse and the steering was not coming back to center coming out of turns. We had it inspected at our local mechanic and they told us it needed a new steering rack but they were not able to complete the repair because it was complicated to get into the part that needed to be replaced. We took it to the Chevrolet dealership and they confirmed it needs a new steering rack as well as other related parts. There were no warning lights or messages. The car first started making faint noises about a month ago when doing low speed turns in a parking lot. Noise has been getting louder and we started to notice the steering not responding correctly. Only have one invoice for diagnosis, have not yet received invoice for repair.

The steering rack on my 2019 Chevy Bolt failed and had to be replaced. It was unsafe to drive the vehicle because the steering wheel would not return to center by itself. When making a turn, the driver had to force the steering wheel back to center. The dealer tried to fix this faulty condition last August by replacing the intermediate steering shaft. It marginally improved the condition but it was still not returning the steering wheel to center by itself. I reluctantly accepted this condition as normal because I thought the dealer tech thought it was normal. However, the steering got progressively more dangerous and required more and more effort to return the steering wheel to center. I took my vehicle into the dealer on March 3, 2024 and the dealer determined the steering rack was defective and needed to be replaced. I got my Bolt back today and now the steering works properly. I no longer fear that the steering will lock up and cause me to lose control of the vehicle. I see on the Chevy Bolt Forum that others have experienced my Bolt steering problem. I just wanted to report my problem so the NTSHA can add my problem to the list of complaints.

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact stated while veering to the left or right, the steering wheel failed to return to center as expected and the vehicle was difficult to steer. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact researched the failure and linked the failure to the steering rack. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 29,000.

Mileage: 29,000

Our 2019 Chevy Bolt experienced some of kind of steering issue where the car made a "clicking" type of noise when making slight or big turns to the left or the right. We brought the car to our Chevy dealer who diagnosed the issue as a faulty steering gear and tie rod with both parts needing to be replaced. The dealer told us that the Chevy Bolts are known to be "fragile" when it comes to this issue and that hitting a pot hole could cause this level of damage. We could have driven over a pot hole under normal driving conditions but did not have a specific incident in mind that could have caused this. There were no warning lamps or other messaging other than the sound we could hear during turns. While the parts are not that expensive, the labor is - the cost of the repair with the parts is $3,400

Steering wheel does not return to center when turning right. Driver must manually turn wheel back to center.

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Bolt. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and turning, the steering wheel failed to return to the center. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.

Mileage: 41,000

When making turns, the steering does not return to center. I must move the steering wheel to straighten the wheels to continue forward. I researched the issue and have found that this is a common complaint with the Bolt. From what I have read, this is due to a faulty steering gear. I called the dealer, and although there is a service advisory, this not a warranty or recall situation. I was quoted $3500 to repair this issue.

Steering does not return to center. Must manually turn wheel back to center after turning.

Steering gear (rack and pinion) has failed leading to steering wheel not returning to center after turns at mid speed or faster. Also noticed audible clicking sounds at low speeds when turning steering wheel.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Steering rack and pinion; the pinion gear and housing broke free from the rack housing. I have the component available for inspection. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle was barely controllable. Turned steering wheel up to 180 degrees back and forth to maintain straight travel. After making it into a parking lot the parts became separated and all steering control was lost. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? After towing in, rack and pinion assembly was replaced and old part returned to me. Also had to replace the airbag clockspring that was damaged as I tried to control the vehicle. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Component was only inspected by the repairing dealer. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? these was no warning lamp until after the break occurred. No previous indications of any problem.

Steering won't return to center in a turn, steering rack/gear must be replaced, $3k repair https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/how-to-replace-a-faulty-steering-rack-in-your-bolt-how-to-fix-steering-wont-return-to-center.43056/

The steering when turning is sticky and making a clicking noise. If you turn it left it really sticks, you have to work to straighten it out. I took the car to the Chevy dealership and they told me this: "Performed diagnostic on the vehicle. Was able to verify customers concern.Found the steering problem is coming from a noise in the steering rack, found that the steering gear needs replacement. Gear #(42353783). Estimate w / labor is $1958.15." Dealer told us it was safe to drive, but this IS a safety issue: we do not feel confident driving this car, the steering is not responsive! Even though the wheels may not fall off, it still remains a steering control issue. Car is out of warranty, but we feel this should be taken care of by Chevy for no charge; it only has 42097 miles on it! Looking on message boards reveals this is not an uncommon issue.

The car's steering system does not return the wheels to straight ahead after going through a turn unless there is significant operator input to the steering wheel. On several occasions, i was caught by surprise and had to quickly straighten the wheels to avoid staying in a turn and running off the road, or hitting another car.

My 2019 Bolt has about 38K miles on it. In the past few weeks, the steering has become difficult to use. The steering does not return to center as it should after a turn, creating a potentially dangerous situation. There is also a clicking noise in the steering column. I had it inspected and evaluated at the dealership and was told it needed a new steering rack and a steering shaft coupler, no longer under warranty. Cost estimate about $3,000. A quick online search shows there are many other Bolt owners experiencing similar issues. Yes it is available for inspection. No warning lamps or other symptoms.

The steering will not return to center after completing a turn while vehicle is moving. I have two other Bolt EVs (2017 and 2021) and a Chevrolet Suburban 2018 and they all return almost perfectly to center while moving after a turn. Dealership is refusing to fix under warranty and the warranty is just about expired. I believe the problem is related to poor quality grease used in the "Steering gear" (otherwise know as the "rack" part of a Rack and Pinion).

The steering started clunking when turning. You could hear a noise and feel a jerk when turning. The dealer said the steering gear had failed.

On 4/13/2022, my wife was driving her 2019 Chevy Bolt EV when a dash light came on. When she told me about the light, I checked GM's mobile app and the Diagnostic Information stated, "Immediate Attention, Lithium-Ion Battery: Issue found with On-Board Charging System. Please schedule a service appointment." This was odd since I knew that the vehicle had a full battery replacement due to the safety recalls for this particular vehicle. The replacement occurred at Reeder Chevrolet in Knoxville, TN in November of 2021. I also noticed a considerable range drop while driving the vehicle prior to this warning. I notified Reeder Chevrolet and they were unable to service the vehicle in a timely manner so I reached out to Beaty Chevrolet in Knoxville, TN. The next day we decided to drop off the vehicle, knowing it could take a while. As we were heading to the dealership, my wife stated she nearly wrecked her car because the steering became very difficult to turn, and could not turn in traffic properly. She said she had to force the steering wheel with all her strength just to get it to turn. When we got to the dealership, I reported the incident to them and they said they would look into it. I got a callback today, 4/15/2022, that the battery is fine and that Reeder Chevrolet did not perform the battery replacement correctly. They did not perform the proper vacuum replacement of the coolant and the computer sent a code. They stated they performed the proper coolant fix and that my range should go back to normal. As for the steering, the steering has been confirmed by their technicians at Beaty Chevrolet that there is in fact a major problem with the steering assembly. A new replacement is needed and should take 12 hours to complete with the cost of $2100.00. I believe this is not the only incident due to other Bolt owners stating they have the same issues (chevybolt.org). This needs to be recalled for the safety of the driver and others.

ODO, 500 MILES, BRAND NEW VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE MAKES A CLICKING NOISE AT SPEEDS OF 0 - 25 MPH, OR, WHEN THE VEHICLE COMING TO A STOP, OR, WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES. OTHER OWNERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE DISCUSSED HERE HTTPS://WWW.CHEVYBOLT.ORG/FORUM/178-2017-CHEVY-BOLT-EV-ISSUES-PROBLEMS/25985-CLICKING-NOISE-VERY-SLOW-SPEED.HTML

Mileage: 500