General Motors is extending its battery module replacement recall to the Chevrolet Bolt EUV and new Bolt EV.
Over 133,000 battery packs in the United States and Canada combined are affected.
In the meantime, Bolt EV and Bolt EUV owners are advised to limit their vehicles maximum charge level and keep them parked outside.
As if General Motors didn’t already have its hands full recalling some 70,000 units of the Chevrolet Bolt EV, it has now announced that it will extend the recall to all model years, including the all-new 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV and Bolt EV.
The automaker will replace the battery modules not only in the 2017 to early 2019 models, but now, it will perform the same fix for the mid-2019 to 2021 model years—which had a different battery composition—as well to the new 2022 Bolt EV and Bolt EUV. GM said it decided to extend this recall “out of an abundance of caution” which, in total, will cost about $1 million USD.
Provided by LG, the first battery packs were manufactured in Ochang, Korea, but now, it has been discovered that cells produced beyond the Korean facility also had defects. GM is currently investigating the manufacturing process, and pursuing LG for reimbursement for the defective batteries that have caused several car fires so far.
Indeed, in very rare cases, the battery packs have two manufacturing defects present in the same cell, including a torn anode tab and folded separator, increasing the risk of lighting on fire.
A total of 60,126 units of the 2017 to early 2019 Bolt EVs (50,413 in the U.S. and 9,713 in Canada) were earmarked in the July 23rd recall. Now, 9,335 mid-2019 Bolt EVs (6,989 in the U.S., 1,212 in Canada), along with 63,683 units (52,403 in the U.S., 9,019 in Canada) of the 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV and 2020 to 2022 Bolt EV are affected by the new and extended recall. Summed up, that amounts to 133,144 battery pack modules to be replaced in the two countries alone. The Bolt EV was sold in other countries as well, and in certain parts of Europe as the Opel Ampera-e.
General Motors points out that the new battery modules will be covered by an eight-year/100,000-mile (whichever comes first) warranty in the United States, and an eight-year/160,000-kilometre warranty in Canada.
Current Chevrolet Bolt EUV and Bolt EV owners are asked to set their vehicle at a 90 percent state of charge limited through the Target Charge Level mode, and to charge their vehicle more frequently and avoid depleting the battery below about 70 miles (113 km) whenever possible. Owners should also leave their vehicle outdoors, or park them outside immediately after charging.
- Chevrolet Bolt EV recall page in the United States: http://www.chevy.com/boltevrecall
- Chevrolet Bolt EV recall page in Canada (English): http://www.chevrolet.ca/boltevrecall
- Chevrolet Bolt EV recall page in Canada (French): https://www.chevrolet.ca/rappelboltev
General Motors is gearing to launch an onslaught of fully electric vehicles in the coming years, including the GMC Hummer EV pickup and Hummer EV SUV, the Cadillac Lyriq crossover and Cadillac Celestiq flagship sedan, as well as a fully electric Chevrolet Silverado and yet-unnamed GMC pickup. The automaker will also launch more electric utility vehicles in Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac brands, in addition to the Cruise Origin fully autonomous, ride-sharing vehicle. All of these will use Ultium Cells batteries and Ultium Drive powertrains, which don’t equip the Chevy Bolt EUV and Bolt EV crossovers.
