Fire Hazard Recall: Chevy Pays Up for Faulty EV Batteries

Issues regarding safety continue to rise as a total of 139 electric vehicle fires have occurred over the past three years, of which 72 occurred in 2023 alone. Some residents have voiced their opposition to electric vehicle (EV) parking spaces and charging stations, causing distress among EV owners.

Despite the situation, manufacturers are also adding to the suffering of EV owners. In 2023, EV and battery companies caused disappointment among consumers with their irresponsibility as they pushed for a bill to shift compensation responsibility to charging companies. However, Chevrolet has taken on a more customer-friendly approach.

News of Compensation for Bolt EV Battery Pack Defects

It has been reported that owners of Chevrolet Bolt EVs with defective battery packs will receive compensation from the manufacturer. It was reported that up to $1,385 in compensation could be received through an agreement worth about $149.03 million proposed by General Motors and battery supplier LG Energy Solutions.

 

The two companies have submitted a settlement agreement to a federal court in Michigan, and Bolt EV owners are delighted as it is highly likely to be approved quickly. The recipients of this compensation award are 2017 to 2022 model Chevy Bolt owners. They can receive between $690 and $1,385 depending on whether they replaced the battery and installed diagnostic software to monitor the battery condition.

Differential Payment of Bolt EV Compensation

General Motors discovered two manufacturing defects in Bolt battery packs produced between 2017 and 2022. Therefore, more than 110,000 Bolt EV units were selected for recall. All batteries will be replaced, and new models will be taking the unusual step of installing software to diagnose problems and determine whether modules need to be replaced.

According to local media, compensation of $690 will be paid to around 80,000 Bolt owners to replace their vehicle’s battery pack. Over 20,000 owners who installed additional diagnostic software can receive a larger amount of about $1,385.

A Satisfactory Result

The plaintiff’s attorney expressed satisfaction with the result, saying, “This settlement is an excellent result for our clients and the groups. It goes hand in hand with the battery and software recalls already implemented by General Motors and LG.” According to documents currently submitted to the court, as of April 2, 2024, Chevrolet has replaced 68,565 batteries installed in the Bolt EV.