2020-2022 Chevy Bolt homeowners, beginning yesterday night, started receiving messages that their excessive voltage battery/module replacements would not be taking place. As an alternative, a software program diagnostics device can be used to confirm if the batteries had issues earlier than a substitute can be carried out. As you may think, affected Bolt homeowners are up in arms.
GM initiated a recall in 2021 after a small variety of Bolts excessive voltage batteries caught fireplace. The battery replacements have been to happen on all pre-existing Bolts with the affected LG battery packs. Principally, each 2017-2022 Chevy Bolt. See our Bolt Recall Information for all the main points right here.
However issues modified yesterday.
A Bolt Fb group member stated:
I received a name at present from the Chevrolet Concierge letting me know that GM has give you a software program repair as a substitute of changing the principle battery on 2020-2022 Bolts. They are going to set up software program that places the car again to permitting 100% charging and it displays the automotive to see if there are any defects within the battery pack. As soon as it passes these checks they may take away the protection recall in your car.
I made an appointment with my vendor to get this software program put in subsequent week. They advised me that GM examined the eliminated batteries on 2020-2020 Bolts and located that almost all weren’t discovered to be faulty so they didn’t have to be changed.
As soon as the protection recall is eliminated I ought to have the ability to purchase my automotive on the finish of the 36 month lease in August or earlier.
Or maybe they began altering in Might when GM up to date its recall documentation. A commenter, Dave Salman, came upon that GM sneakily up to date its recall documentation to the NHTSA:
One other doc GM submits to NHTSA is a 573 report. There are 3 of those reviews on the NHTSA web site for the battery recall for 2020-2022 Bolts. (Hyperlinks to comply with) The primary two are from 2021 and say the treatment is battery substitute. The most recent is from Might 2023 and says the treatment is “In sure automobiles that GM has decided could include faulty battery modules, the treatment is the substitute of the car’s high-voltage battery pack. In all different automobiles, the treatment is the set up of superior diagnostic software program that may monitor battery efficiency and establish faulty battery modules that require substitute.” In typical GM weasel phrase (or lack thereof) model the Might 2023 doc doesn’t spotlight the change or clarify what made the change potential. The brand new doc is right here https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RCLRPT-21V650-3740.PDF The older paperwork are right here https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RCLRPT-21V650-4541.PDF and right here https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RCLRPT-21V650-2919.PDF
Listed here are display grabs from the outdated (left) – and new as of Might 2023 – paperwork:
![](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/image-45.png)
![](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/06/image-44.png)
Offered with the above, a GM spokesperson advised us:
GM will present homeowners of sure 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and EUVs lined below a beforehand introduced recall a brand new superior diagnostics software program. The software program will regularly monitor the battery to detect any potential anomalies and, if none are detected after roughly 6,200 miles (10,000 km) of use, the battery will routinely return to 100% state of cost with no return journey to the vendor.
If an anomaly is detected, the software program will alert the proprietor through a message on the motive force data middle and the proprietor ought to then contact their vendor to schedule a battery or module substitute.
The software program is free and can have to be put in by their vendor through a quick service appointment.
House owners of sure 2020-2022 mannequin yr Bolt EV and EUVs, can begin to schedule set up at their Chevy EV vendor June 13, 2023.
Normal motors
GM additionally clarified that ’20-22 Bolt homeowners have been by no means promised new batteries. As an alternative they have been promised mounted faulty modules. Till yesterday, that was taking the type of changed batteries nevertheless.
You will need to observe right here that this solely applies to 2020-2022 Bolt homeowners. 2017-2019 Bolt homeowners ought to nonetheless obtain a substitute battery. Jaguar, who use related LG cells in its Magna-produced i-pace issued an identical treatment final week.
Electrek’s Take
So the plain downside right here is that GM was initially providing new batteries to all 2020-2022 Bolt homeowners, after which slow-rolled the substitute. Some ’20-22 Bolts have been resold with the promise of a brand new battery with new guarantee en route; others received the battery in the event that they have been fortunate.
’20-22 Bolt homeowners who didn’t get the brand new battery are pissed, though this new software program will enable Bolt homeowners which were solely charging to 80% for over a yr to cost to 100% once more. The software program, should you consider GM at this level, will detect if there’s a downside and if that’s the case, the battery substitute will once more occur. If not, the 2020-2022 batteries will function usually. These batteries have the elevated 259 mile vary on 65kWh over the 2017-2019 batteries which had 234 miles of vary on 60kWh.
I’ve to conclude that is one more comms ‘personal purpose’ from GM right here. Getting forward of this may have been advisable in my view quite than filling a Fb and Reddit teams up with disoriented and indignant Bolt homeowners.
Off the highest of my head, GM may have:
Advised ’20-22 homeowners in regards to the change so that they don’t have to listen to about it on Fb (or Electrek!)
Defined the rationale for the change: One thing like, “Only one% of battery modules might be faulty and our software program will root these out”.
Provided to make the battery guarantee the identical time length as getting a brand new battery with a “GM Verified” on battery so it doesn’t harm the resale worth.
Give these with diagnostics free Onstar and lifelong premium app options for his or her bother. Perhaps some extra EVGO miles, tire rotations, $500 off Equinox, and many others too?
Thank them for his or her persistence and inform/present them that they’re valued.
However right here we’re. One Reddit consumer:
So I purchased my 2021 bolt 3 months in the past, contingent that it didn’t have the battery changed but as a result of I needed the brand new battery and guarantee. Purchased at 9.7k miles and presently have 12.2k miles. Purchased it at a BMW vendor.
I’m at a loss atm, actually the one purpose I purchased a used bolt was principally getting a model new car after the substitute. I had choices to purchase a brand new one (weirdly varied sellers had new ones round Central florida so I had loads to select from on the time). I received an honest deal on the automotive however now my ideas are the automotive might be devalued in comparison with changed battery’s, I don’t have a brand new guarantee, I don’t understand how the earlier proprietor took care of the battery’s, I “settled” on an lt as a substitute of getting one thing extra loaded or new mannequin. And I’ve been working at 80% since I purchased the automotive so it’s been barely an inconvenience on vary.
Principally what’s my plan of action for this? In the event that they add the software program with a brand new guarantee I suppose that’d be comparable, however because it stands I don’t need this car, I really feel like I received conned and gm is taking the east manner out and never paying the thousands and thousands it could value to switch the remainder of the batterys.
Clearly seek the advice of a lawyer is #1 however what sort of lawyer? What do I ask for? Any assistance is appreciated thanks on your time
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