General Motors is recalling 131,000 Chevrolet Bolt EVs in North America over concerns the vehicle may catch fire after a crash. Unlike the $2 billion recall last year that also involved a fire risk, this time it has nothing to do with a potentially faulty battery.
In this case GM warns that when the front seat belt pretensioner deploys in a crash, the resulting exhaust gases from the device may come in contact with fibers in the carpeting near the b-pillar, potentially resulting in a fire.
The issue impacts 2017 to 2023 model year Chevy Bolt EVs, which includes 19,898 vehicles in Canada according to Transport Canada and another 111,242 in the US according to the NHTSA.
The recall document posted to the NHTSA website says GM discovered the issue after a report of a fire in a Chevy Bolt EV in Korea in which it appeared to have originated near the b-pillar. Following an investigation GM found three other incidents on May 26, 2021, August 29, 2022, and October 17, 2022 in which exhaust gases from a pretensioner ignited carpet fibers.
Impacted owners will have to visit a dealership to have metal foil added between the carpet and pretensioner, along with a pretensioner thermal cover to prevent ignition. GM says they have already added these fixes into production as of October 25, 2022.
You can read the full recall notice below.
RCLRPT-22V930-3401
