1 of 6 verified cards · See all · Pick yours
Bolt EV (2017-2021)
Wait
minute
after 12V cut before HV contact
Do not touch HV components until wait time has passed
FRONT
MID
HV pack
REAR
- 1 — Yellow-tape low-voltage cable cut above 12V battery — left (driver) side of forward compartment
Schematic zones only — front/mid/rear are approximate. Verify exact locations against the OEM Emergency Response Guide.
First 10 minutes — pre-flight
Before you touch the vehicle. Run this once for every inbound EV or hybrid.
Park downwind, on level ground
If the pack is in thermal runaway it will vent flammable + toxic gas. Stay upwind. Block wheels.
PPE on: HV-rated gloves, safety glasses, no jewelry
Class 0 (1000V) rubber insulating gloves with leather over-protectors are the floor for any HV work.
Walk-around: damage scan + signs of pack compromise
Coolant pooling, white smoke/vapor, hissing, bulging panels, exposed orange cables, or chemical smell = stop. Treat as live and call OEM hotline.
Confirm the vehicle is this card (year, make, model)
Pack location and disable procedure differ between generations. Use the distinguishing visual to be sure.
Locate your fire suppression and first-aid kit before starting
Water is the only effective agent on Li-ion. Dry chemical, foam, and CO₂ will not stop a runaway. Have ≥250 gallons accessible.
HV Disable
Primary
Turn ignition OFF, remove keys, then DOUBLE-CUT all low-voltage cables marked with yellow tape above the 12V batteryUnder hood, left (driver) side of forward compartment, directly above the 12V battery — yellow-tape-marked low-voltage cables
Note
DO NOT cut any orange-jacketed high-voltage cables. The yellow-tape low-voltage
cables sever the HV contactor coil circuit, opening the contactors and isolating
the pack. Cutting orange cables is hazardous and not the disable method.
No separate backup method is documented in the GM 2017-2021 rescue sheet — the
yellow-tape cut IS the disable procedure. A 2022+ MSD lever exists under the rear
seat cushion on later vehicles; the lever assembly may be physically present on
earlier packs but the procedure was not published by GM for this year range.
12V battery & SRS
12V location: Under hood, left (driver) side of forward compartment — the yellow-tape low-voltage cables are routed directly above this battery
Disconnecting / cutting the marked low-voltage cables above the 12V battery is the OFFICIAL GM disable procedure. This both isolates the HV pack and removes 12V power. After cut, wait at least 10 seconds before SRS-area work.
discharge: wait 10s after airbag deployment before touching SRS components.
Pack & no-cut zones
Pack location: Floor-mounted underbody (full footprint beneath passenger cabin; "T"-shape extends under rear seat)
Pack chemistry: Lithium-ion (LG Chem nickel-rich pouch cells — defect family affecting this entire year range, see recall warning)
cable color:Orange
Do not cut:
- Orange-jacketed HV cables (entire routing — under-floor and engine bay)
- HV battery pack footprint (entire passenger-compartment floor pan; "T"-extension under rear seat)
- SRS components (steering column, B-pillars, roof rails, seat-mounted side airbags)
- Stored-gas inflators (airbag canisters)
- Gas struts / preloaded springs (liftgate, hood)
- Seat-belt pretensioners (B-pillar lower)
Reinforcement (UHSS):
- A-pillars
- B-pillars
- Roof rails
- Rocker panels (battery pack perimeter)
Pack piercing risk: Pack tray is the lowest structural element. Any underbody tool, fork-truck tine, or jack stand that contacts the pack from below risks piercing the case and triggering thermal runaway. EVERY 2017-2021 Bolt EV is in the NHTSA 21V-650 recall population — LG Chem cell defects can cause SPONTANEOUS internal short and fire even without external damage.
Isolate damaged vehicle 50 ft from exposures.
Open NHTSA recalls (11)
Live from NHTSA. Cross-check the VIN against nhtsa.gov/recalls before work.
⚠ Critical advisories (5) — NHTSA Park-It or Park-Outside
- PARK OUTSIDE
24V812000 · MY 2020 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
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.
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.
Filed
Responder-relevant (3)
23V845000 · MY 2017 · STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. This recall includes certain vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under NHTSA recall number 22V-930. After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect both front seat belt pretensioners and, if necessary, install metal foil at the carpet near the pretensioner exhaust. Certain vehicles will also need a pretensioner cover installed. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 24, 2024. These vehicles were previously recalled for this same issue under recall number 22V-930 and will need to have the new remedy performed. Owners may contact GM EV Concierge at 1-833-EVCHEVY (1-833-382-4389) (TTY 711 / 1-800-833-2438) or Customer Service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232421970.
Filed
22V930000 · MY 2017 · STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. After a crash with seat belt pretensioner deployment, the pretensioner exhaust may ignite carpet fibers near the B-pillar, causing a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will install metal foil at the carpet near the pretensioner exhaust, and install a pretensioner cover as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed between January 23, 2023 and April 25, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N222383790.
Filed
20V811000 · MY 2020 · SEAT BELTS
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.
Filed
Show 3 other recalls
- 20V808000 · MY 2020 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. These vehicles may have an improperly cast front left brake caliper that can fracture during a high-pressure braking eve…
- 20V184000 · MY 2019 · LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. The door-handle cable inside the rear doors may be too long, allowing contact with the window when it is opened, pos…
- 18V576000 · MY 2018 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Profes…
Lift / jack points
Use OEM-designated rocker lift points only. The battery pack occupies the entire underbody — do NOT lift on the pack case or pierce the pack tray.
Fluid hazards
Coolant: Glycol-based liquid coolant
Electrolyte color: Clear to pale yellow (vents as vapor when cells overheat)
If burning, toxic vapors:
- Hydrogen fluoride (HF)
- Carbon monoxide
- Volatile organic compounds (electrolyte solvents)
- Nickel / cobalt / manganese / lithium / copper / aluminum oxides
Firefighting
Show firefighting details — Water (copious / large volume) — per GM QRG, ~10,000 gal
Agent: Water (copious / large volume) — per GM QRG
Estimated volume: 10,000 gal
Reignition risk: 24 hours post-fire
Thermal imaging: required during monitoring
Source
Chevrolet Bolt EV Emergency Response Guide (PDF) →
Last verified · mirror
Confirm this is your vehicle
Show distinguishing visual
Tall 5-door subcompact hatchback; thin LED running lights flanking blacked-out grille; pronounced beltline kink at rear quarter window; "BOLT EV" badging on liftgate
Was this card useful?