Wirtz Law Blog

The most recent round of recalls for the Chevrolet Bolt focuses on a number of issues, including battery problems, structural questions, and issues with the airbags and electrical systems.

If you own a 2020-2022 Chevy Bolt EV or EUV and have experienced battery overheating issues, it’s crucial to know that LG Chem Ltd. and General Motors Co. have agreed to a $150 million settlement to address these safety concerns. This settlement aims to compensate affected vehicle owners for the significant risks and financial losses they have faced. To determine whether you should stay in the class action or opt-out, contact a lemon law attorney at Wirtz Law. Opting out of class action settlements should be considered for California consumers who will be releasing their California Lemon Law rights, which might provide a better result for you on an individual basis. Our experienced team is dedicated to helping consumers navigate the complexities of this settlement and secure the justice they are entitled to. Don’t miss this opportunity to protect your rights and recover your losses.

Issues in the 2020-2022 Chevy Bolt and Bolt EUV Cause Recalls

The 2020-2022 model year Chevrolet Bolt, including the Bolt EUV, was included in GM’s recall of Bolt vehicles due to issues with the vehicles’ battery packs. The battery recall combined the replacement of the battery cell(s) with a software update to address an issue in which batteries could catch fire. 

GM recommended that Bolt drivers take their vehicles to a dealership to be serviced as soon as possible. Other recommendations from GM included:

• Parking recalled vehicles at least 50 feet away from structures or other vehicles
• Charging the battery after each use, but not leaving the vehicle on the charger overnight
• Keeping the battery above 70 miles of remaining range
• Setting the vehicle to the 90 percent state of charge limitation using the Target Charge Level Mode. 

Once repairs are made, GM has reported that drivers can once again park their vehicles in garages or near structures and do not have to use the 90 percent limitation, as long as vehicle owners follow GM’s instructions for charging the vehicles. 

Select 2020-2022 model year Bolt EVs and EUVs are also eligible for a new Advanced Diagnostic Software installation. The new software monitors the high-voltage battery and automatically manages the state of charge limits, according to GM. 

Problems Reported by Bolt Drivers

The 2020-2022 Bolt EV and EUV have also been the subject of other recalls recorded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Problems reported in these recalls include:

• Seat belt-related fires. Two recalls, one issued in 2022 and the other in 2023, focus on an issue in which the seat belt pre-tensioner may start a carpet fire during a crash. The 2022 recall sought to fix the fire issue. The 2023 recall seeks to fix vehicles that were repaired incorrectly under the 2022 recall. 
• Airbags. In August 2023, GM issued a recall of certain 2022 and 2023 Bolt EVs because the instrument panel was missing the perforation on the underside of the panel cover that allowed the passenger-side airbag to deploy properly during an accident. A separate recall, issued in July 2021, sought to fix a fastener on the driver’s side front airbag, which was missing or improperly tightened in some 2022 model year Bolt EVs and EUVs. 

Other issues can also arise with Chevrolet Bolt EVs and EUVs. If you’re facing ongoing issues with your vehicle, talk to an experienced California lemon law attorney today. 

California Lemon Law and Vehicle Recalls

Lemon lawsuit statistics in California don’t tell the entire story about defective vehicles on state roads. A CALPIRG study found that approximately 34,000 lemon lawsuits were filed in state courts between 2018 and 2021 – but that as many as 6.5 million vehicles on the state’s roads during that time had at least one major unrepaired, recalled defect. 

Lemon law seeks to compensate owners whose warrantied vehicles have a problem that the automaker cannot seem to fix – even when given several chances to do so. Compensation for lemon vehicles includes:

• Refund or replacement. When a vehicle is a lemon, lemon law requires the automaker to provide a refund or “buyback” of the purchase price or a “substantially similar” replacement vehicle. The vehicle owner can choose which they prefer. 
• Incidental and consequential damages. When you don’t have access to a working vehicle, the problems can come with added costs. Paying a tow truck to take your car to the dealership, paying for bus passes or rideshares, or covering rental car fees can all add up. These costs are often covered under “incidental and consequential damages,” as you wouldn’t have had to pay them if your vehicle hadn’t been a lemon. 
• Attorney’s fees. When a vehicle owner wins their lemon law claim in California, the automaker must pay the owner’s attorney’s fees. This requirement makes it possible for many vehicle owners to work with an experienced lemon lawyer to fight the auto companies and their attorneys. 
• Civil Penalties. In some instances, where the automaker has willfully failed to repurchase or replace a vehicle that qualifies as a lemon, the consumer may also be entitled to civil penalties or what is additional damages, in an amount up to two times the amount of actual damages.  

Not all vehicles qualify for protection under the lemon law 一 but many newer vehicles do, especially if they were purchased at retail and are still under warranty. To learn how lemon law may apply in your situation, talk to a California lemon law attorney today. The team at Wirtz Law APC can help.