General Motors has begun a new customer satisfaction program to address an issue with the transmission range control module in certain 2021 model-year Chevy Bolt EV vehicles.
The problem: in affected Chevy Bolt EV vehicles, the transmission range control module, or TRCM, may be prone to fracturing or breaking.
The hazards: if the transmission range control module fractures, the vehicle may be stuck in park and unable to be put in the forward or reverse drive modes. This does not pose any direct safety hazards to the driver or vehicle occupants, but it can prevent the vehicle from being able to be driven in any way.
The fix: Chevy dealers will be instructed to replace the entire transmission range control module in affected vehicles. These repairs, which will be performed at no cost to the vehicle owner, will remedy the issue and prevent the vehicle from being stuck in park. Only EV certified Chevy dealerships are able to perform this repair. The customer satisfaction program will remain in effect until June 30th, 2023.
Affected components: transmission range control module.
Affected vehicles:
Number of affected vehicles: GM has not said how many vehicles may be involved in this customer satisfaction program.
Owners should: General Motors will notify all owners of affected vehicles and instruct them to make an appointment with their dealer. Owners with questions or concerns can also reach out to Chevy or GM directly using the contact information included just below. These owners may also reach out to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration with any safety-related questions they may have, though it should be noted this is a customer satisfaction campaign only and not a recall.
Contacts:
- General Motors Customer Satisfaction Program number: N212334960
- Chevrolet customer service: 1-800-222-1020
- NHTA Toll-Free: 888-327-4236
- NHTSA Hearing Impaired (TTY): 800-424-9153
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Comments
Ah yet another benefit of driving 2000s vehicles.
No range control module BS to fail.
The TRCM is an electric motor which moves the range lever allowing moving out of park position. From reading the service advisory, it appears the aluminum bracket is what may crack. The Bolt transaxle is mechanically much simpler than any current transmission, either manual or automatic. Even in the 1990s, it was not uncommon for automatic transmissions to have valve bodies with multiple computer controlled solenoids. If you want a totally non-electric transmission, it is more like having to go back to the 1970s.
The Bolt ‘s entire final drive which incorporates the 200 HP electric motor, oil pump and TRCM weighs 170 pounds. That is obviously a lot less mass than a 200 HP gasoline engine, transaxle and auxiliary parts. The trade-off is the high voltage battery is massive, but the battery mass is positioned center low in the car. There is somewhat of a give-take because the mass increases inertia, however the weight balance fire/aft is better and center of gravity is lowered.
Despite the heavy weight of the Bolt relative to its size and its simplistic rear suspension, the Bolt actually handles pretty well. The single speed final drive makes modulating throttle response virtually instant without ever having transmission shift lag. The chief thing holding the Bolt back is the use of high efficiency tires. Car & Driver swapped in higher performance tires to improve handling. Bolt’s range economy declined with performance tires – just as fuel economy decreases in a liquid fueled car with performance tires.
Edit: rewrite sentence to improve grammar and clarity.
2000’s Models also had TCM’s that controls transmission range and performance. How quick people are to commit on things they have no clue about.
GM has been building gas engine cars for 100 years and still can’t get it right. You’d have to be nuts to buy an all electric from them
According to the GM Heritage Center, GM produced 682 electric trucks powered by lead-acid or Edison nickel-iron batteries in 1912. More recently, GM started making small numbers of electric cars beginning with the Electrovair 1964.
If you search for “General Motors 1912 electric truck” you’ll find pictures. Some of the 1912 trucks are still around.
So there you have it: GM has been involved with electric vehicles, sometimes very sporadically, for 109 years.
Still happening on new 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV. Bought one one June 11, enjoyed for two days been in the shop ever since. Now July 10. Chevy reportedly showing nothing on when TRCM can be expected. Come on Chevy, this is ridiculous.
Gear shift control module failed at 2500 miles on my 2023 Bolt EV. Not sure they really fixed the issue.
Brand new 2023 bolt EV. Drove the car a week and noticed a beeping noise after car was off and we opened the door. It would go off anytime we opened the door. Dealership says it’s the transmission control module. When car is parked (no parking brake engaged) you can rock the car back and forth. Definitely do the rock test before you buy a new or used bolt!
It doesn’t seem reasonable that my 2019 Bolt, purchased new, and currently at under 45,000 km, should need a $2,200+ replacement of the transmission range control module. I think GM should cover this.