Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 Bolt EV.
The 2018 Chevrolet Bolt EV represents the second model year of this electric passenger car, establishing itself as an early iteration of GM's dedicated EV architecture with an all-electric powertrain. With 73 owner complaints on record and five recalls issued, this generation set a baseline for the model's reliability profile that would fluctuate over the following years—complaint data from 2019 through 2027 shows a range from a low of 57 complaints in 2023 to a peak of 175 in 2019, with steering emerging as the top complaint category across the model line. As the earliest model year in this tracked trajectory, the 2018 Bolt EV sits at the starting point of a reliability evolution that saw significant variation, suggesting that some initial issues were progressively addressed while others persisted or emerged in subsequent iterations.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.
From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 140R · 520 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.
| Battery | 88866037 |
| Front wiper blades | 42566593 alt 42566594 |
| Cabin air filter | 13508023 |
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 164.2 in |
| Overall width | 69.7 in |
| Overall height | 62.6 in |
| Wheelbase | 102.4 in |
| Curb weight | 3583 lb |
| Track (front / rear) | 59.1 / 59.1 in |
| Weight distribution (front / rear) | 56/44 |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
No 2018 road test on record; the results below are same-engine tests from nearby model years, each shown under its own year.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Premier Hatchback Elec 60-kWh | 6.30 sec | 14.90 sec | 200 hp | FWD |
| 2017 | Premier Hatchback Elec 60-kWh | 6.30 sec | 14.90 sec | 200 hp | FWD |
| 2017 | Premier Hatchback Elec 60-kWh | 6.50 sec | 15.00 sec | 200 hp | FWD |
| 2019 | Premier Hatchback Elec 60-kWh | 6.50 sec | 15.10 sec | 200 hp | FWD |
| 2020 | Premier Hatchback Elec 65-kWh | 6.30 sec | 14.90 sec | 200 hp | FWD |
| 2020 | Premier Hatchback Elec 65-kWh | 6.70 sec | 15.20 sec | 200 hp | FWD |
| 2022 | 2LT Hatchback Elec 65-kWh | 6.40 sec | 15.00 sec | 200 hp | FWD |
| 2023 | 2LT Hatchback Elec 65-kWh | 6.60 sec | 15.10 sec | 200 hp | FWD |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs.
| Lug Nuts | 100 ft-lbs |
| Refrigerant | R1234yf |
| Refrigerant Capacity | 1.60 lbs |
| Oil Capacity | 4.10 oz |
| Standard BCI Group Number | 140R |
| Standard BCI Cranking Performance | 520 cca |
| Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque | Front: 30; Rear: 26 |
| Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt Torque | Front: 118 Use; Rear: 74 Use |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for Replacement | Front: .906; Rear: .335 |
| Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after Refinish | Front: .945; Rear: .346 |
| Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation | .0008 |
| Maximum Rotor Runout | .001 |
| 1 | 111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 45.0 degrees, Step 3: 185.0 | 111 ft. lbs |
Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.
| Every 7,500 mi | Accelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake System (inspect) · Hybrid Inverter (inspect coolant level) · Seat Belt System (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) |
| Every 22,500 mi | Cabin Air Filter (replace) |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The federal record provided does not include a 2018 entry, so direct year-over-year comparison for the target year is not possible from this dataset; the earliest comparable year is 2019 with 175 complaints, 6 recalls, 2 investigations, and 627 TSBs. From 2019 through 2023, complaints decline sharply from 175 to 57, recalls fluctuate between 3 and 8, investigations drop from 2 to 0, and TSBs fall from 627 to 359, indicating a clear improvement trajectory across the generation. For 2018 specifically, the data shows 22 steering complaints, 15 electrical system complaints, 4 fuel/propulsion system complaints, and 3 service brake complaints, along with 2 crash complaints and 1 fire complaint, though root causes are not specified in the record. Without 2018 aggregate complaint, recall, investigation, or TSB totals, it is impossible to determine whether 2018 aligns with the high-volume 2019–2020 period or the lower-volume later years. The downward trend after 2019 suggests later model years benefited from remedial actions, but the absence of 2018 federal summary metrics prevents a reliable risk assessment for that specific year. Based solely on the available data, a concrete buy/no-buy determination for the 2018 Bolt EV cannot be made.
All 73 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 5 of 613 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| N252494770-01 | 2025-06-20 | Unknown Or Other | Amendments to the Song-Beverly Act (SBA) California warranty law provides vehicle owners… |
| N252494770 | 2025-06-17 | Unknown Or Other | Amendments to the Song-Beverly Act (SBA) California warranty law provides vehicle owners… |
| PIT6180A | 2025-06-10 | Unknown Or Other | This Preliminary information communicates assistance in locating the Rear seat belt… |
| PIP4902S | 2025-06-09 | Unknown Or Other | This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into… |
| PI0281L | 2025-04-17 | Steering | This preliminary informational (PI) bulletin provides information to dealership personnel… |
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NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.