Just a few days ago we told you that General Motors will replace the complete batteries of units possibly affected by the Bolt by a manufacturing defect of LG Chem battery modules. The 2017 and 2018 models had been called for a review, and some 2019. But the giant American has decided to bet on insurance, reviewing all Chevrolet Bolts that have been marketed.
Therefore, the 9,335 Bolts of the 2019 model that had not been recalled before, and the 63,683 of 2020, 2021, and 2022 models, are included in the recall. All of the units mentioned have been marketed in the United States and Canada. And since the Opel Ampera-e is a highlight of the Bolt, Stellantis will have to recall some 5,000 cars sold in Europe between 2017 and 2019.
General Motors has been investigating and the manufacturing errors go beyond the Ochang plant (South Korea), so in a defensive and voluntary move, all cars will be checked. GM’s press release specifies that defective modules will be replaced with new ones, at a cost of about $ 1 billion.
The manufacturer acknowledges that there may be two manufacturing defects, the first being a broken anode tab, the other a bent spacer. These problems can lead to the fire of the batteries and therefore the total loss of the vehicle. The batteries will leave the shop with another eight years of warranty, and 100,000 miles for Americans or 160,000 km for Canadians. Whatever happens before.
Meanwhile, GM wants LG Chem to pay the recall bill, and gives some tips for Bolt users (which apply to anyone with an Ampera-e) in the meantime:
- Limit recharging to 90% capacity, as explained on the Chevrolet website. Customers who do not know or do not want to do so can go to an official service for it.
- Try not to lose 70 miles or 113 kilometers of the remaining range, charging more often
- After loading, park on the street, and better than the loading process is supervised. In other words, leaving the car charging overnight without supervision, bad
In other words, the manufacturer aims to prevent users from filling their cells too much or leaving them at a low level, a conservative policy regarding their useful life. The rest of the tips are intended to limit possible damage, that if a Bolt’s guts burn, it does not affect other properties or people.
Bolt customers will be notified when replacement modules are available to perform the “battery change operation.”
In recent years General Motors has changed its recall policies a lot. For years the criterion reigned “it is cheaper to litigate with those affected than to review many cars” (and GM was by no means the only one to think this way, see Ford or Toyota), but after several quality problems the policy has changed if any. then to call millions of vehicles for review, it is done.
The number of Chevrolet Bolts that have burned is almost negligible about the number of units sold, but the company’s intention is different: “Our commitment to safety and doing the right thing for our customers guide all decisions that we take on General Motors, ” said Doug Parks, GM executive vice president and head of Global Product and Supply Chain Development.
