Recall alert: GM recalls all Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles over fire risk

DETROIT — General Motors on Friday said it is recalling all of its Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles to fix a battery issue that could cause a fire.

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The automaker said it will provide customers with an eight-year, 100,000-mile limited warranty on new battery modules for the affected cars, according to the Detroit Free Press. The affected models include Bolts from 2020 through 2022, The New York Times reported. A recall of 68,600 vehicles last month covered models from 2017 through 2019, the newspaper reported.

The latest recall covers about 73,000 vehicles in the United States and Canada, CNBC reported. It includes a recently launched, larger version of the car, called the Bolt EUV.

GM acted after two Bolts caught fire without impact in recent months, according to the Free Press. GM confirmed that at least one of the fires was battery-related, and occurred despite the owner getting a fix after the automaker’s first recall in November 2020.

GM added that it expects the recall to cost an additional $1 billion and wants the vehicle’s battery supplier, LG Chemical Solution, to help in reimbursement costs, the Free Press reported.

LG Chemical Solution formed a joint venture with GM, which is building battery plants in Ohio and Tennessee, according to the newspaper.

“Our focus on safety and doing the right thing for our customers guides every decision we make at GM,” Doug Parks, an executive vice president for the automaker, said in a statement. “As leaders in the transition to an all-electric future, we know that building and maintaining trust is critical. GM customers can be confident in our commitment to taking the steps to ensure the safety of these vehicles.”

GM said it will notify customers when replacement parts are ready, according to CNBC.

GM also said that until consumers receive replacement models, they should:

• Set their car at a 90% state of charge limitation using target charge level mode or have their dealer do it.
• Charge their vehicle more frequently and avoid depleting their battery below 70 miles of remaining range.
• Park their vehicles outside immediately after charging and do not leave their vehicles charging indoors overnight.

GM’s stock, which closed at $48.80 Friday, was down 2% in after-hours trading, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Any Bolt owners with additional questions or concerns should go to www.chevy.com/boltevrecall. They can also call the Chevrolet EV Concierge at 833-EVCHEVY, which is available 8 a.m.-12 a.m. Monday-Friday; noon-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. All times are EDT.

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