2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV Air Bag Fastener Recall (21V517)
General Motors, LLC · 28 vehicles · Reported July 8, 2021
General Motors, LLC is recalling 28 2022 Chevrolet Bolt Euv; 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles. One of the two fasteners that secure the driver's frontal air bag to the steering wheel may be missing or improperly tightened. An improperly installed air bag may not deploy properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V517 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V517000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | N212340860 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 8, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | General Motors, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2022 Chevrolet Bolt Euv; 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV |
| Units affected | 28 |
| Component | Air Bags > Critical Fasteners |
| Safety risk | An improperly installed air bag may not deploy properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV in recall 21V517?
One of the two fasteners that secure the driver's frontal air bag to the steering wheel may be missing or improperly tightened.
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV vehicles. One of the two fasteners that secure the driver's frontal air bag to the steering wheel may be missing or improperly tightened.
Is it safe to drive a 2022 Bolt EV with recall 21V517?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An improperly installed air bag may not deploy properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An improperly installed air bag may not deploy properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Bolt EV shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the critical fasteners, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V517?
Recall 21V517 covers 28 vehicles: 2022 Chevrolet Bolt Euv; 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV.
NHTSA lists 28 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Chevrolet | Bolt Euv |
| 2022 | Chevrolet | Bolt EV |
What is the fix for the Bolt EV air bag fastener recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the driver-side air bag fasteners.
Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the driver-side air bag fasteners. If the fasteners cannot be tightened properly, the air bag assembly will be replaced. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 29, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212340860.
When was recall 21V517 announced?
General Motors, LLC reported recall 21V517 to NHTSA on July 8, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 8, 2021 | General Motors, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V517000. |
| July 29, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 63 months ago. If your Bolt EV was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Bolt EV is part of recall 21V517?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V517 is open on your Bolt EV, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V517000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Bolt EV owners do about recall 21V517?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V517000 applies to your Bolt EV.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Chevrolet dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the critical fasteners happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Bolt EV owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 85 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 5 of them about the air bags.
Since recall 21V517 was reported on July 8, 2021, owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the air bags and were received on or after July 8, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related air bags issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 85 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 5 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV: 59 complaints in total, 3 about the air bags
- 2022 Chevrolet Bolt Euv: 26 complaints in total, 2 about the air bags
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
I was was traveling at 68 mph, then rear ended and pushed into the center divide. The entire front drivers tire + assembly was destroyed. The airbags didn't deploy. The cab did fill with a white 'smoke'.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11687130, filed September 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the air bag SRS warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that an air bag electrical wire was loosened.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11500805, filed January 9, 2023
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V567000 (Air Bags, Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV owner, SC, NHTSA complaint 11545631, filed September 20, 2023
Can recall 21V517 make my Bolt EV a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Air bag defects are hidden until the moment they matter most. A recall repair may replace an inflator or sensor, but if warning lights return or the system faults again, that is a repeat repair for a safety defect.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Bolt EV went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Bolt EV been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Chevrolet Bolt EV recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V517
Did the recall 21V517 fix work?
Since recall 21V517 was reported on July 8, 2021, owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 21V517000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Bolt EV is part of recall 21V517000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
What if my air bag light stays on after the recall repair?
Go back to the dealer. A warning light that returns means the system may not deploy correctly, and the visit is another repair attempt for a safety defect.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V517000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Chevrolet. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.