Just when you think GM is making strides to fix the Chevy Bolt EV recall and fire risks, more bad news emerges. While General Motors already halted the Chevy Bolt EV production back in August, today, the company announced further delays deep into Mid-October.
After the initial production halts GM recalled not some, but every single Chevy Bolt EV. The company has been working with LG to solve battery problems, and many expected the production to resume quickly. But, unfortunately, the company extended the delay to September 24th, and now October 15th.
GM confirmed the extension of the halt is mainly at the Orion Assembly plant in Michigan, but it also had to cut production at six other North American assembly plants. And that’s before we mention semiconductor chip shortages. So basically, it’s the perfect storm, plus we keep seeing Chevy Bolt EV’s in the news for catching on fire, which is only making matters worse.
Just this week, GM advised owners not to park a Chevy Bolt near other vehicles, near homes, or inside a garage to be safe. While that’s not very reassuring, it’s important to note that so far, GM has confirmed 12 fires out of nearly 150,000 vehicles, which is way less than 1% of all Bolts. That said, it’s still a big problem and something that shouldn’t be happening in the first place.
Furthermore, GM recently confirmed that it’s working with LG Chem to fix the battery problems and hopes to start sending out replacement battery cells by November. And in some cases, owners may receive a complete battery module. If these delays continue, though, one can assume replacement parts will get delayed as well.
If this is your first time hearing about the Chevy Bolt EV recall, here’s some information directly from GM.
- Don’t let your vehicle exceed a 90% charge. You can use the Target Charge Level mode to do so. Instructions are on the Chevy Bolt recall page.
- Charge your vehicle more frequently and avoid depleting the battery below the 70-mile (or 113 km) mark.
- Park your vehicle outside when it isn’t charging, and don’t charge it overnight.
If you aren’t comfortable following these steps, take your Chevy Bolt to the dealer. You can also contact the Chevrolet EV Concierge service (1-833-EVCHEVY) for more information on the recall. The line is open weekdays 8:00 am to 12:00 am ET and weekends from 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm ET.
via InsideEVs
