Chevy Bolt Owners to get Lucky

You’re in luck if you own a Chevy Bolt that is subject to a battery recall owing to a risk of fire. In September, General Motors began mass-producing replacement battery cells to address a manufacturing flaw that resulted in approximately a dozen fires. In 2017, 2018, and 2019 cars, GM claims it will replace the entire battery pack, but in 2020 and newer cars, it will replace some of the battery modules. “GM and LG have identified the presence of two uncommon simultaneous flaws, found in the same battery cell, created during the module production process,” GM said in a statement in September.

As we previously reported, the culprit is a damaged anode tab and folded separator within the battery modules, according to the business. However, if you’re shopping for a new Chevy Bolt or EUV, you’re out of luck. Starting the week of August 23, production at the Orion factory, where the automobiles are made, was halted. GM stated at the time that getting the newly manufactured modules and battery packs to dealers by October 1 would be a top priority, allowing the work of replacing the problematic batteries to begin.

On November 1, production resumed, only to be halted again on November 15. According to the Detroit News, the automobiles constructed over those two weeks were built as replacements for some of the Bolts now in the hands of current owners. “GM has alerted employees at Orion Assembly that the facility will take downtime for the duration of the 2021 calendar year,” GM spokesperson Dan Flores said last week.

We will be able to continue prioritizing recall repairs as a result of this decision. As we continue to focus on battery module replacements, we will keep staff informed of any future manufacturing schedule revisions in early 2022 at the right time.”