2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV · symptom sheet
Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks
- 39owner reports
- 40,000median miles
- $2,500median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 26, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
124 of the 348 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 39 of those describe sticky steering. Only dead battery is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 39 reports
Sticky steering on other Bolt EV years
No other Bolt EV model year has enough reports of sticky steering for a sheet of its own. See every Bolt EV year.
What this problem usually is
Sticky steering is a wheel that catches or hangs for a moment before it turns, then moves in a small jerk. It's different from a wheel that's simply heavy: owners here describe a notch, and many say it's worst when making small corrections at highway speed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the steering rack (29 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the steering system covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
What owners paid
10 of the 39 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $2,073 to $3,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 35,000 and 54,000 miles, from the 9 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“steering wheel bind when returning to center. This vehicle has less than 40,000 miles and just out of warranty. This could cause an accident if someone is taken by surprise when turning and the steering wheel is hard to turn back or stays in the turning position.”
Filed Nov 29, 2023 · 40,000 miles
“The steering does not return to center after turning left or right. The steering sticks and you have to apply force to bring it back to center. This is very dangerous.”
Filed Jan 30, 2023
“Steering wheel no longer returns to center. When I make a turn the steering wheel feels like it is binding and does not return to center without the drivers correction.”
Filed Dec 20, 2022
“The steering binds after making a turn. It will not return the wheel to center without deliberate effort on my part. I had the alignment checked and it is all within spec. It appears to be an issue with the steering rack itself. This is an ongoing issue.”
Filed Dec 12, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 39 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Battery dies or the car will not start 70 reports
- Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power 30 reports