Electric cars · model years 2019 to 2020
Chevrolet Bolt EV vs Nissan Leaf: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Leaf looks better on 3 and the Bolt EV on 0, with 4 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2019 to 2020 | Bolt EV | Leaf |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 2.6% | 1.2% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 4.0% | 0.5% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 19,000 | 31,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 5.5 | 3.5 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 2 | 1 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Bolt EV owners complain about most is electrical, and it is the same for the Leaf. Complaints citing steering make up 19% of all Bolt EV complaints, against 0.0% on the Leaf. The Leaf leans the other way on electrical: 70% of its complaints, against 51% for the Bolt EV.
Chevrolet Bolt EVNissan Leaf
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Bolt EV is dead battery (24% of its complaints), and the Leaf shares it (24%).
| Problem | Bolt EV | Leaf |
|---|---|---|
| Battery dies or the car will not start | 24% 83most in 2019 · 18k mi | 24% 101most in 2019 · 65k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 9.4% 3330k mi | 13% 57most in 2019 · 40k mi |
| Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power | 9.4% 3310k mi | 9.9% 4243k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 4.8% 17 | 2.4% 10 |
| Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks | 4.5% 16 | 0 |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 1.4% 5 | 2.4% 10 |
| Vehicle fire | 2.6% 9 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light or recall | 1.7% 6 | 0 |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Bolt EV owners report problems earlier. Half the Bolt EV complaints that give a mileage come before 19,000 miles; for the Leaf the halfway point is 31,000. 90% of Bolt EV reports and 63% of Leaf reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Chevrolet Bolt EVNissan Leaf
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 79 for the Bolt EV and 52 for the Leaf.
Worst and best years
The 2017 Bolt EV draws 2.3 times the complaints of a typical Bolt EV year for its age. The 2019 Leaf draws 3.9 times the complaints of a typical Leaf year for its age.
Chevrolet Bolt EVNissan Leaf
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Bolt EV draws more recalls: 5.5 campaigns per model year against 3.5 for the Leaf. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Chevrolet Bolt EV
11 recall campaigns and 2 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (5), service brakes, hydraulic (2) and structure (2).
- 20V-184 (latches/locks/linkages) covers 2 model years
- 22V-930 (structure) covers 2 model years
Investigations
- DP22005: Pedestrian alert sounds (closed, led to a recall)
- PE20016: Electric vehicle battery fires (closed, led to a recall)
Nissan Leaf
7 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: backup camera (3), equipment (1) and speed control (1).
- 23V-048 (equipment) covers 2 model years
- 23V-494 (speed control) covers 2 model years
Investigations
- DP22005: Pedestrian alert sounds (closed, led to a recall)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Bolt EV complaints report a crash: 2.6%, against 1.2% for the Leaf. Fire reports: 14 for the Bolt EV and 2 for the Leaf.
Chevrolet Bolt EVNissan Leaf
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Chevrolet Bolt EV or the Nissan Leaf more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Leaf looks better on 3 and the Bolt EV on 0, with 4 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Bolt EV has 352 complaints and the Leaf 424 for model years 2019 to 2020, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Bolt EV or the Leaf?
The Bolt EV has 11 recall campaigns and the Leaf 7 across model years 2019 to 2020. The Bolt EV draws more recalls: 5.5 campaigns per model year against 3.5 for the Leaf.
What are the most common problems on the Bolt EV and the Leaf?
The most reported problem on the Bolt EV is dead battery (24% of its complaints), and the Leaf shares it (24%).