General Motors is currently contending with a major product recall, replacing the battery packs on all Chevy Bolt EV and Chevy Bolt EUV all-electric vehicles. The recall also includes all unsold models.
GM is now beginning to replace battery packs in customer-owned Chevy Bolt EV and Chevy Bolt EUV models. However, as the manufacturing defect affects all models, including those not yet sold, GM will also be required to replace the battery packs of vehicles currently sitting on dealer lots prior to delivering those models to customers.
There is currently no timeframe for when this will be completed.
In August, the automaker expanded an existing recall to all Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV models, citing a defective battery module manufactured by GM’s supplier, LG Chem. The recall is actually down to two specific defects, including a torn anode tab and folded separator, which may be present in the same battery cell and could increase the risk of a fire. The recall is expected to cost billions of dollars, with LG committing to cover the costs.
In the wake of the recall, all Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV production was put on hold, and owners were notified of the potential risks. It is believed that the battery defect may be the cause of several fires, including one in Georgia.
Back in September, it was announced that Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV battery production was back on track.
As a reminder, the 2022 Chevy Bolt EV and 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV are based on the GM BEV2 platform and are powered by a 65-kWh lithium-ion battery driving a front-mounted Voltec electric motor. Output is rated at 200 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Production takes place at the GM Lake Orion Plant in Michigan, although it was recently announced that production will be down for three weeks between November 15th and December 3rd.
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Comments
Maybe the ENERGIZER BUNNY can help with the Bolt problems. The bunny keeps going and going.
I really doubt this will be the end of bolt fires. Even Tesla despite all their “fixes” still spontaneously combust fairly often.
When?!? Cite those sources! Every single Tesla that has ‘spontaneously caught fire’ has had either unauthorized modifications, in a high speed accident, or had bullet holes in the battery pack. And correct me if I’m wrong, an ICE vehicle would also catch fire in a high speed accident (Raiders Player: Henry Ruggs crashed a C8 Corvette into a Stationary Toyota RAV4. The Woman and dog in the RAV4 BuRNED ALIVE. Her RAV4 bursted into flames.
GET THAT MISINFORMATION YOU’RE SPEWING OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, DONE AWAY WITH.
Brother calm down it’s just a vehicle no need to yell.
WRONG… Tesla S and X per IIHS data have the highest incidence of non crash fire related claims of any vehicle in their class, ICE or EV. Model 3 and Y are still too new, not enough data yet but so far seems to have lower fire risk.
Donavan
Would this be a bad time to bring up the UFO song: Too Hot To Handle?
EV fires are newsworthy because EVs themselves are still a novelty, but ICE vehicles have a FAR higher incidence of fires.
What are the odds of a Bolt vs ICE spontaneously catching fire while parked? How long does it take for the Bolt repair? What would be the cost to a Bolt customer not under recall?
WRONG… EV fires happen more often than in most ICE cars of the same model year, and class .
Tesla S and X are worst in class per IIHS data. When the data gets updated next Kona EV, and Bolt are likely to join that list
Dear Donavan, Your statement about EVs have more fires based on the same model year and class is not true based on all the articles I have read. What is your source?
LIAR !
Well, automakers have been making gasoline vehicles for over 100 years and they can’t figure out how to keep them from catching fire either.
Please supply a number to “fairly often”. Prove they burn more than ICE cars by percentage on the road.
My questions (since I’m waiting on the resumption of production so my new EUV is built):
1) How fast can they produce batteries?
2) What’s the allocation split between recall repairs and new Bolt production? My understanding is that they’re completing a “trial” production run this week, taking a three-week hiatus, then resuming the week of Dec. 6th, but I’m not clear on how many new Bolts they’ll be able to build with the current supply.
That trial production of Bolts, is to loan to dealers so their customers have an EV loaner during battery swap service calls. There are about 2000 Bolts/ EUV’s already built sitting around the plant that need batteries replaced also, most (nearly all) battery production right now is going for Bolt recall replacements. I do not see Bolt production really getting cranked up again until early 2022.
I’ve stolen two of these honeys in the past they were ok I rode around in one of them for two days before I dumped it.
Lol some of the bolt owners are hating on you about what you said.
It’s ok I don’t care what any of them think. I have helped 49 different dealerships and counting in my state tighten security on there lots. I’ve shown them how easy is it to take a vehicle that they think is safe and I get paid for doing it. These guys just argue over vehicles they don’t own.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!! Fail!!! Time to Give Mary another raise!!!!
Mary doesn’t have anything to do with LG Chem.
But make idiotic comments of that makes you feel better. GM has never been in this good of shape before and it’s all due to her leadership.
Thank you, so many people are clueless to what a CEO does and what their job is. GM is a data driven company, and makes most decisions based on data…
People aren’t clueless to anything your average citizen just think it’s ridiculous how much CEO’s in general make. Your comment tells me how out of touch with the general public you are.
It’s taking awhile. Hopefully by spring I can get a Bolt EUV. This is one of the best electric cars and what makes it even better is it’s lower price.
My friend has a 2020 Bolt and she loves it. The range is amazing. Last summer I got over 300 miles one a single charge driving in the city.
It’s just a recall. People saying this car is a failure don’t understand that tons of vehicles go through these types of recalls, and often times in much bigger numbers, and they are not failures. It’s more like these people are anti-electric car in the first place. Good luck with that…….the future is electric whether you like it or not.
Bolt is a good overall car, and many customers really like them. Hopefully the battery fix lowers the fire incidence, but in general EV’s have more fire risk than ICE cars of the same year and class per the IIHS… Now Tesla likes to compare agains fleet numbers, but the fleet is old, and therefore the numbers do not make sense. When you compare EV’s against ICE competitors in the same class and age, EV’s seem to have more fires
The bottom line is this: electricity is mostly generated from fossil fuel. Whats the end game here? BTW its heavy overcast and not windy where I am.
The future should not be electric cars it should be fuel cell hydrogen-powered cars. Why should I wait for hours to have an electric car charge up when you just refuel a hydrogen car like a gas car and be on your way. Why is California the only state with hydrogen fueling stations when they should be available nationally? There is only so much lithium to make only so many batteries. What about people who live in apartments and don’t have home chargers how are we going to get to work.
Anyone know what manufacturer produced the battery in the 08-12 run of Hybrids that gm made for the trucks and SUVs? Thanks
Don’t waste your time replying to those on here and on other comment boards who are obvious EV fan-boys or paid trolls for the Lithium-mining and EV Lobbyists. They will just ignore clear facts and keep coming back endlessly with more and more of their lies and fabrications. You’ll soon recognize them and know not to engage with them.
Spoken from the oil industry shill? I like EV’s and Ice vehicles, for most people EV’s work great, and provide so many benefits to an ICE vehicle. Other people need ICE, like an HD diesel pickup, going to be a long time before an EV can directly replace those capabilities.
We have 2 EV’s and a diesel pickup, always prefer to drive the EV’s (more fun, quicker, quieter, and much more powerful), but sometimes need the diesel pickup capabilities so I drive that.
Spoken like a true wannabe gm employee/ ev shill. Do you always do what they tell you to?
Do you even know what a shill is? Or is it just a word you have heard and think it’s cool to use? If you do know what it means so you are claiming that gas companies are paying people to come on a website that typically has the same 10 people comment on each article and they are trying to get people to say ice powered cars are better? Take the tinfoil hat off I can guarantee you no gas company is paying anyone to come on here to “shill” for them.
True. I have a Bolt EV, and a Suburban. The Bolt is perfect for running errands around the city. It saves a ton in fuel for those days I don’t need to carry a lot.
Electric cars are quiet, efficient and fun to drive.
I love my Suburban, but I know electric is the future. People will have to adjust, just like those that had to adjust to cars from the horse and buggy.
Honestly Donavan I can’t tell if you’re a gossip or have some accurate info. PLEASE cite your sources!
What facts? I actually own a Bolt, almost two years now and 20+k miles. Gas is now $1+ more a gallon than last year and to drive my Bolt hasn’t changed one bit. No oil changes, no brake job, no filters, etc just a tire rotation and it was free. It’s fast, comfortable, quiet and rides great! I’m not a GM fan at all, but this car put the hills in me the first time I drove it. If I want noise and shifting, I have my GSXR to ride. I’ll never own an ICE car again and that is a fact.
Cool thanks for letting us know that.
What we have here are two opposing sides. One based upon apparent ignorance, the other passion for the Bolt (or any EV). I own a 2020 Bolt, 23K miles so far. I cannot tell you how many cars I have owned through the years, 60’s/70’s Mustangs, a Duster 340 were my toys of the day. I traded a Veloster for my Bolt. In the interim, to learn about EV’s I first bought a BMW i3. I learned alot from that experience and was hooked on the EV.
Clearly there is a bias against the Bolt and presumably EV’s in general by a great many people. May I suggest than anyone who does not like the Bolt based upon irrational bias, drive one first before commenting. It actually does not have to be a Bolt, any BEV would suffice. The difference between an EV and ICE is night an day. I had the misfortune to being forced to drive an ICE when on vacation recently. The vehicle was a Buick Encore. The first thing I had to do was remember how to use the brakes, since the Bolt features one pedal driving. The next was the appointments, which were a disappointment. The Bolt interior was far superior and of course SILENT. The engine noise and transmission shifting were a reminder of the vast differences between the two. With the Bolt acceleration is immediate, quick and fast. 0-60 times are equal to Steve McQueen’s “Eleanor” with a Ford 390 engine. Bolt handling is superior on all fronts, especially the twisties.
As for the battery issue. Okay, there have been relatively few fires, but they did happen. GM could have gone turtle as they have done in the past, but they stepped up to the plate and came up with a solution. Seriously, no one should expect perfection in all things right out of the gate. This was NOT an engineering issue, a design issue. This was a manufacturing defect from a supplier, no different from the Takata airbag problems, though not nearly as common.
As I suggested earlier, drive one before you judge it. Chances are you too will be hooked. EV’s are a whole lot of fun, especially when you have a “ricer” sitting next to you at a light and he’s feeling frisky and you gladly take him on. His mistake. Don’t mess with a 5 door Chevy Bolt Wagon.
Will be interesting what kind of premiums insurance company’s will place on Bolts an other EV.
So if you look at the % of Bolts that caught fire, its about 14/140,000 so ~0.01`%. If you look at the odd of getting into an accident per 1000 miles (eSurance), it’s about 0.39%. Thus, the odds are the insurance premiums will remain low.
Another benefit of the Bot’s battery design vs. say a Tesla is that often after a wreck the Tesla’s pack has to be replaced. With the Bolt using far fewer cells the pack can often continue on.
I am on my 2nd Bolt. It’s a great vehicle, perfect people mover.
Just say your cool with burning to death and move on.
Well then you should as well. ICE vehicles also catch fire. We have just grown to accept that as Ok. A quick google search shows these as the most common to catch fire. Some obviously aren’t made anymore but none are pure EV’s. The only PHEV is the Fisker Karma which if you ever saw one up close is hardly representative of OEM quality integration.
These Cars Are Notorious For Catching Fire
8 Pontiac Fiero.
7 Hyundai Tucson.
6 Kia Stinger.
5 Lamborghini Aventador.
4 Hyundai Kona.
3 Ferrari 458 Italia.
2 Fisker Karma.
1 Ford Pinto.
I pay $832 yearly for my Bolt. My 20 y.o. Suburban is $702 yearly.
My insurance went down when I traded my Veloster.
Gm will fix the battery issue. Electric cars are good so are gas or diesel vehicles. Buy what youvwant. It’s your hard earned money. I drive what I want.
Good points. I have 60 and 80 series land cruiser and a 4WD suburban in my fleet. The Bolt massively reduces wear the other vehicles so I can save it for the trail and saves loads of money in the process. It’s about the right tool for the job and making it a lots easier to drive what I want and what fits the use.
Lot of strong comments and with many opinions. Purchasing a vehicle is a personal decision based on your needs and also feelings about the environment. I got a 2021 Bolt because of the huge discount ($25,000 OTD) and savings of about $1,200 a year based on the now $3.25 per gallon cost.
I always charge at night or on weekends when I get a discount from my utility company and this electricity at night is usually waisted by the utility as they don’t need it at night, hence they are willing to sell at a good discount. Most people don’t understand this nighttime electric issue and just claim it is all from oil, gas, or coal. It may be but it is used more effectively and not just waisted.
All utilities are changing over from fossil fuels to renewable energy like solar, wind, and battery storage from these systems. The USA is the second in the world for air pollution and much of it is from vehicles. The utilities need 20 more years to make the full change and may still need backup fossil fuel plants. If we get to 50 or 75% from renewables our air will be cleaner and our environment safer for our grandkids. EVs are all part of this plan and if you cannot see this as a good plan you never will.
The Chevy Bolt is the least expensive EV in production, while most other EVs are at least $45,000 plus tax for a 260 mile range.
Nothing is perfect but with the battery replacement, there will still be 140,000 on the road burning electrons not gas and most will be on the road for 10 to 15 years. The Bolt is not a failure as long as it is on the road, even with the recall.
I have a 2012 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. You want fast this behemoth will push you back in your seat. Love it. This is my second one. My 08 Tahoe rusted away but the engine and hybrid system was still strong at 300k
Dated article.
Now, GM will *NOT* replace battery on my 2021 manufactured ‘2022’ bolt euv
..
I knew it they waited too long that GM would change their minds.
Humpf. They got the $Billions from LG to pay for the program and now said basically screw you we are keeping the money ..
Dated article.
Now, GM will *NOT* replace battery on my 2021 manufactured ‘2022’ bolt euv
..
I knew if they waited too long that GM would change their minds.
Humpf. They got the $Billions from LG to pay for the program and now said basically screw you we are keeping the money ..