General Motors announced the voluntary recall of all 2019 and newer Chevrolet Bolts, extending its recall of the electric vehicle back to its first model year, 2017.
Friday’s recall covers 73,018 Bolts from 2019 to 2022 and extends an earlier recall covering 2017-2019 cars. The battery-related recall covers approximately 142,018 Bolts built by the automaker since the model’s introduction.
GM said battery defects could result in fires in the subcompact vehicles and prompted drivers to limit their charging, avoid overnight charging and park them outside.
Customers should not leave their cars charging indoors overnight, GM said.
The automaker blamed supplier LG for two problems it described as “a torn anode tab and folded separator.” It said it would seek reimbursement from LG as it changes defective modules.
“After further investigation into the manufacturing processes at LG and disassembling battery packs, GM discovered manufacturing defects in certain battery cells produced at LG manufacturing facilities beyond the Ochang, Korea, plant. GM and LG are working to rectify the cause of these defects,” the automaker said.
The recall comes as the automaker is gearing up, including a $2 billion commitment for one electric vehicle plant alone, to go all-electric by 2035.
“General Motors is joining governments and companies around the world working to establish a safer, greener and better world,” CEO Mary Barra said in a statement early this year.
The automaker plans to release a stretched version of the Bolt and also its much-expected all-electric GMC Hummer later this year.
This new recall will cost the company about $1 billion, and the total cost of the Bolt battery recalls would be $1.8 billion.
