I Couldn’t Believe It: My 2017 Chevy Bolt Showed a Full Charge but Only Had 12 Miles of Range Here’s How I Fixed It

This evening, I was scrolling through the "Chevy Bolt EV and EUV Owners Group" on Facebook when I came across an unusual and frustrating post from Will Reed. Will, a longtime Chevy Bolt owner, shared a story that caught my attention immediately. His 2017 Chevy Bolt had let him down for the first time, showing a full battery but only 12 miles of range. Despite replacing the original 12V battery and trying every trick in the book, including clearing codes, the issue persisted. With 52,000 total miles on the car and 24,000 miles on the traction battery replaced under recall, this situation was puzzling.

Will described his predicament, saying, “Our 2017 Chevy Bolt has let me down for the first time, displaying a full battery but only 12 miles of range. I replaced the original 12V battery and attempted every known fix, including clearing codes, but nothing worked. The car has 52,000 total miles, with 24,000 miles on the traction battery replaced under the recall.”

The Mysterious Case of the Missing Range

For Chevy Bolt owners, seeing a full charge but only getting 12 miles of range is more than just concerning, it’s a potential dealbreaker. Most Bolt EVs, even older ones, can still deliver over 200 miles of range, depending on driving habits and conditions. So, what went wrong with Will’s Bolt?

Many Bolt owners in the Facebook group chimed in with suggestions, offering potential solutions and similar experiences.

Nancy commented, “Did you try disconnecting the negative battery cable? One time, I got into my 2017 Chevy Bolt, and nothing happened, no power at all. I unhooked the negative battery cable, reconnected it, and everything came back to life. I never leave home without the necessary tools to do it again.”

Merric added, “In my experience, the 12V battery is too weak, or the blower fails, preventing the main battery from cooling properly. The best solution is to let the car sit for a while to cool down. This often resolves the issue.”

Mark also shared an anecdote, “Our 12V battery died while we were away on vacation. A 2020 battery lasting until 2025 in the Florida heat feels like a win. It even outlasted the drive battery by eight months.”

What Causes This Issue?

Will’s situation isn’t as unique as it might seem. Many Chevy Bolt owners have faced unexpected issues related to battery behavior, especially concerning the 12V auxiliary battery. In electric vehicles, the 12V battery plays a crucial role in running essential systems, such as computers, cooling systems, and sensors. When this battery weakens or fails, it can cause the car’s main battery to act unpredictably.

Additionally, the Bolt’s battery management system (BMS) may miscalculate the available range if certain internal sensors aren’t functioning properly. A failing blower motor, for example, can cause the battery to overheat or misreport its state of charge, leading to artificially low range estimates.

The Fix: A Combination of Resets and Patience

After considering the suggestions, Will decided to take action. Here’s what finally worked for him:

1. Disconnecting the Negative Battery Cable – Following Nancy’s advice, Will disconnected the negative terminal of his 12V battery and let the car sit for a few minutes. This forced the vehicle’s systems to reset.
2. Checking the 12V Battery Voltage – A quick test revealed that the 12V battery, despite being replaced, wasn’t holding a proper charge. Will swapped in a different 12V battery as a test.
3. Allowing the Car to Cool Down – Per Merric’s advice, Will left the car off for several hours, allowing any potential cooling-related software issues to resolve themselves.
4. Manually Rebooting the Infotainment System – While not directly related, some owners have found that an infotainment reset can sometimes help clear hidden software glitches.

After these steps, Will restarted the car, and to his relief, the range estimate returned to normal! His Bolt was back to displaying a realistic mileage projection, and the full charge once again meant what it was supposed to.

My Opinion

As an automotive journalist and an EV enthusiast, I find stories like Will’s both concerning and fascinating. It highlights the growing pains of transitioning from traditional gas-powered vehicles to fully electric ones. While EVs are mechanically simpler in many ways, their dependency on sophisticated software and multiple battery systems makes them susceptible to issues that aren't immediately obvious. The fact that a simple 12V battery issue can lead to such an alarming range estimate shows how important it is for automakers to refine their vehicle diagnostics and warning systems.

From my perspective, Chevy Bolt owners, and all EV drivers, need to be more aware of the intricacies of their vehicles. Regular checks of the 12V battery and understanding how the car’s battery management system functions can prevent such surprises. Moreover, this situation reinforces the importance of community discussions, like those in Facebook groups and EV forums, where owners can troubleshoot problems together. Hopefully, as EV technology advances, we’ll see fewer of these inexplicable software glitches, making electric vehicle ownership an even more seamless experience.

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Lessons for All Chevy Bolt Owners

This incident highlights the importance of keeping an eye on the 12V battery, even in an EV. Many Bolt owners assume that the traction battery is the only one that matters, but the 12V system plays a critical role in vehicle performance. If you ever experience drastic range reduction, consider these steps before panicking:

• Check the health of your 12V battery, as a weak one can cause a range of unpredictable issues.
• Try a full reset by disconnecting and reconnecting the negative battery cable.
• If your range display seems incorrect, let the car sit for a while before driving again.
• Stay active in Bolt owner forums and groups, chances are, someone has experienced a similar issue before.

Engage with Us!

Have you ever encountered a drastic range drop in your Chevy Bolt or another EV? What steps did you take to resolve the issue? Share your experience in the comments below.

Do you think automakers should improve diagnostic tools to make it easier for EV owners to troubleshoot issues like this? Let us know your thoughts!

Narek Hareyan is a young automotive journalist with experience in a golf cart dealership and an interest in the automotive industry. Follow Narek on X for daily news coverage about cars.