General Motors (GM) announced on Friday it is expanding the recall of its Bolt EV due to continued concerns over the potential fire risk.
According to GM, about 73,000 Bolt EVs from the 2019-2020 model years are being added to the recall. Some of those include the brand new Bolt EUV which launched earlier this year.
- 9,335 (6,989 in the U.S. and 1,212 in Canada) – 2019 model year Bolt EVs that were not included in the previous recall
- 63,683 (52,403 in the U.S. and 9,019 in Canada) – 2020–2022 model year Chevrolet Bolt EVs and EUVs
That brings the total number of vehicles affected by the recall to every single Bolt ever made by GM – more than 142,000 around the world.
The expansion of the recall will cost the automaker another $1 billion, adding to the $800 million already planned to be spent replacing the batteries.
GM is hoping to recoup some of that money from their battery supplier LG Energy Solutions. The two companies are “working aggressively” to fix the issue and increase production of the new batteries, noted GM in a press release.
The first recall was announced in November 2020. Since then thousands of Bolt EVs have visited a dealership for new batteries, but that did not solve the problem. Last month the automaker announced that two cars that had received the new batteries caught fire.
Until the cars are fixed, GM is advising owners not to park their cars inside or leave them charging unattended. They are also asking customers to not charge their cars to more than 90%, and not deplete them lower than 70 miles (113km) of remaining range.
Customers can visit www.chevy.com/boltevrecall or contact the Chevrolet EV Concierge 1-833-EVCHEVY (available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.–midnight ET; Saturday and Sunday from noon–9 p.m. ET) or contact their preferred Chevrolet EV dealer.
Canadian customers can visit the Chevrolet Owner’s Centre or contact their preferred dealer.
