G.M. is expanding its recall of the Chevrolet Bolt over fire concerns.

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: New York Times



A 2018 Chevrolet Bolt on a General Motors assembly line in Lake Orion, Mich.Credit...Rebecca Cook/Reuters


General Motors said on Friday that it was expanding its recall of Chevrolet Bolt electric cars that have been found to be at risk of catching fire as a result of rare manufacturing defects. The company said it was recalling Bolts from the 2020 through 2022 model years. An earlier recall covered 2017-2019 models.

G.M. said the move would cost the company $1 billion on top of what it had spent on previous Bolt recalls. It also said it would seek reimbursement from its battery supplier, LG Chem. “G.M. customers can be confident in our commitment to taking the steps to ensure the safety of these vehicles,” said Doug Parks, an executive vice president at G.M.

The recalled Bolts use battery packs made in South Korea by LG Chem, which formed a joint venture with G.M. that is building battery plants in Ohio and Tennessee and expects to build others as the automaker rolls out new electric models.

G.M. and LG Chem have linked the fires to two manufacturing defects that occur on rare occasions. Under the recall, G.M. plans to replace the defective battery modules.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/20/business/gm-chevrolet-bolt-battery-recall.html

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This was breaking and a short article.

[tecelote]

1. Modern day Pinto?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

4. Nah, there's no rear-end collision necessary.

[LanternWaste]

6. Mercedes-Benz C-Class, GMC Sierra, BMW 3/4 Series, Dodge Durango

Mercedes-Benz C-Class, GMC Sierra, BMW 3/4 Series, Dodge Durango and the Nissan Pathfinder are the most recalled vehicles.



I'd love to have had a Pinto... beats the Gremlin I drove in high school.

[tinrobot]

9. Ford ignored that problem. GM is admitting it and being very proactive.

[abqtommy]

2. The FAA Is Freaked Out About Lithium-Ion Batteries on Planes (bursting into flames).

This is from 2015. What goes around comes around! Technology giveth and technology taketh away!

https://www.popularmechanics.com/flight/a17824/faa-lithium-ion-batteries/

And here are the search results to a whole bunch of reports of lithium battery hazards:

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=lithium+batteries+on+aircraft+burst+into+flame&ia=web

[BumRushDaShow]

5. Well we had a recent case just outside of Philly

with a Tesla that torched itself back in July while the driver was driving it.

And then just a couple days ago, a house fire in CA was reported to possibly be caused by a Tesla charging in the garage - https://abc7news.com/tesla-elon-musk-7-on-your-side-fire/10957497/

[abqtommy]

7. Wow! So we've covered planes and automobiles. Here's what I just found out about trains:

Lithium-ion batteries cause fire and explosion aboard UP train and this is from 2017. Now I'm
getting afraid. Very afraid.

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/28-lithium-ion-batteries-cause-fire-and-explosion-aboard-up-train/

Of course Planes, Trains and Automobiles is also an entertaining movie and has not burst into
flame yet.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planes,_Trains_and_Automobiles

[BumRushDaShow]

10. I know when they are shipped

(including the standard consumer rechargeable types) there are special stickers that must be on the outside of the shipping box.

[abqtommy]

11. Yup. I know the Post Office is very strict about that, and for good reason.

[twodogsbarking]

14. Even smaller batteries. You are correct.

[Auggie]

3. Give GM credit for (hopefully full) transparency.

Surprise happens when you build stuff that's never been built before. As long as they tested and retested everything and intentionally didn't cut corners it's hard to fault.

[paleotn]

8. Where'd they get the batts from? Samsung?

[SunSeeker]

12. LG Chem in Korea. Same plant Hyundai used for their recalled Kona EV batteries. nt

[SunSeeker]

13. Sad day for EVs, but necessary. All Bolts will get new batteries with 100k mi warranties.

But that will take months, maybe years. They can't even transport the batteries on airplanes.

Owners also have the option to just sell back their Bolt to GM, which is the option I chose. I don't want the Bolt-B-Q in my garage anymore.

This battery defect is truly unfortunate, because the Bolt was a very practical subcompact SUV-style EV that cost no more than your average car, thanks to all the applied incentives by Chevy and state & local government.