Chevrolet Recalls More Than 50,000 Bolt EVs Again for Battery Fire Risk
Following an investigation that led to the recall of some 51,000 Bolt EVs in November, Chevrolet parent automaker GM has issued a follow-up recall for a marginally smaller number of the affected population. The issue this time is the same: defective battery modules that could lead to a fire.
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Affected vehicles include model-year 2017-19 Bolt EV electric hatchbacks that had been recalled but fell victim to what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration describes as “the simultaneous presence of two rare manufacturing defects in the same battery cell in design.” In the original recall, GM said the affected Bolt EVs carry high-voltage battery packs produced at LG Chem’s Ochang, South Korea, plant. The packs, located underneath the backseat bottom cushion, have the potential to smoke and ignite internally when at or near full charge even if the car is parked, turned off and disconnected from a charging unit.
This time around, owners are advised to activate either the Hill Top Reserve (2017-18 models) or Target Charge Level (2019s) feature to limit the charge level to 90%, charge their vehicle after each use, avoid depleting the battery to 70 miles range remaining, park outside after charging and don’t charge the vehicle overnight.
Interim notification letters alerting owners to the safety risk will be mailed Sept. 6; a second letter will follow once Chevrolet has worked out a final remedy. Owners looking for more information can visit Chevy’s dedicated site, call 833-382-4389 or visit NHTSA’s website to check their vehicle identification number and learn more.
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