Short stories about 2017-2021 Bolt recalls, lawsuits, and other interesting bits. Signup to have these stories emailed to you for free from CarComplaints.com.
The EVs were recalled last November following reports of the batteries catching on fire while charging near 100%. As a temporary measure, owners were asked to limit their battery's charging capacity to 90% until a more permanent fix could be found.…
keep reading article "Chevy Says They Have A More Permanent Fix to Prevent Bolt Battery Fires"The automaker recalled the Chevy EVs last November after learning that the batteries can spark a flame as they are charging and nearing 100%. By temporarily capping them at 90%, GM can stop those fires while they search for a more permanent solution.
But a plaintiff in Michigan says Bolt owners need to contend with range anxiety and diminished resale value while they wait. Call me crazy, but a temporary restriction on range feels a lot more desirable than a permanently charred engine.…
keep reading article "Another Chevy Bolt Owner Sues GM Over Range Anxiety"according to a new class-action lawsuit. That has sparked some serious range anxiety for Canadian owners. Most EV owners are aware that cold weather is going to slow the battery down a bit, but that problem has been compounded by GM's decision to limit the Bolt's charging capacity to 90%.…
keep reading article "Canadian Bolt Owners Already Had Winter Range Anxiety, a Recent Software Update Only Made it Worse"Could the new bolts work? Maybe. But when it comes time to rely on the seat belts, it's better knowing the right parts were used to tether them to the frame.…
keep reading article "Some Newer Chevy Vehicles May Have the Wrong Seat Belt Bolts"The automaker believes the calipers weren't cast properly, allowing them to leak during hard stops. Losing brake fluid is never great, but the real concern is that the caliper could eventually fracture and no-one enjoys a sudden loss of braking power.…
keep reading article "460 Bolt EVs Recalled for Leaking Brake Calipers"The plaintiff says the software update is giving him "range anxiety" and that's only heightened by the impending cold weather months which can also limit range. Last I checked, winter was going to happen regardless of the recall and it could just be me but I'd be more anxious about the possibility of my car catching on fire than losing 14 miles of range.…
keep reading article "A Bolt EV Owner Cites Range Anxiety in His Lawsuit Against GM's Latest Recall"The automaker has confirmed five fires are the result of a defect inside the EV's high-voltage battery systems. The batteries contain cells from LG Chem and as they approach a 100% charged state there's an issue that can cause a short-circuit and spark a flame.
The issue has been under investigation by the safety regulators since last month.…
keep reading article "Why Bolt Owners Need to Park Outside Until They Get This Recall"All three reports seemed to have happened as the car was charging or parked with nearly a 100% charge.
The investigation will determine if the nearly 78,000 vehicles are too dangerous to drive or park in an enclosed structure.
keep reading article "Three Reports of Bolt EV Battery Fires Under Investigation"GM says it needs to bleed the brake systems of 230,000 cars because the vehicles have rear brake caliper pistons that have hydrogen gas trapped inside that could be released into the brake systems. ZF, the manufacturer of the brake pistons, didn't properly temper and chrome-coat the pistons, causing hydrogen gas to remain trapped in the bodies of the pistons.
This problem may cause your brake pedal to feel “spongy” but it’s unclear if it affects stopping distances.
keep reading article "There is Excess Gas Buildup in the Brake Caliper Pistons of 230,000 GM Vehicles"The best way to find out what's wrong with a vehicle is from the people who drive them. Not only do owner complaints help us rank vehicles by reliability, but they're often used to spark class-action lawsuits and warranty extensions. Plus, they're a great way to vent.