GM issues new recall, affecting 50,932 Chevrolet Bolt vehicles after vehicles catch fire

General Motors has issued another recall affecting 50,932 the Model Year 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt vehicles due to fire risk.

In a statement released Friday, the automaker said “experts from GM and LG have identified the simultaneous presence of two rare manufacturing defects in the same battery cell as the root cause of battery fires in certain Chevrolet Bolt EVs.” Vehicles involved in this second recall campaign will receive a new battery pack module. Just as before, Chevy Bolt EV models included in the recall campaign span the 2017-2019 model years.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it is aware of one fire with the interim remedy and two fires with the final remedy.

NHTSA issued a directive to owners of the vehicles involved in the initial recall campaign this week.

The recall applies to all vehicles covered under the original recall announced in November 2020 and revised in May 2021, even if the owner has had the previous recall repairs completed.

Due to the risk of fire, NHTSA advised vehicle owners should continue to park these vehicles outside, away from structures, and not charge them overnight.

Additionally, GM is instructing owners of these affected vehicles to take the following actions:

Set their vehicle to the 90% state of charge limitation either using Hilltop Reserve mode (2017 and 2018 model years) or Target Charge Level mode (2019 model year).
If owners are unable to set their vehicles to the 90% state of charge limitation mode, or if they feel uncomfortable making the change, GM is asking owners to visit their dealer immediately to have the change made.
Recharge the battery on their Bolts after each use and avoid running down the battery below an estimated remaining 70-mile range where possible.

GM is issuing a new recall that will replace the battery modules in these affected vehicles. Until this is completed, owners should follow the above steps, NHTSA suggested.

NHTSA opened an investigation (PE 20-016) in October 2020, and continues to evaluate the recall remedies and reported incidents, including fires.

The first recall of the Bolt EVs due to fires was announced in November by GM and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The automaker rolled out what it believed was a permanent fix for the problem earlier this year.

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