Wirtz Law Blog

In July and August 2021, General Motors announced a recall of all 2017 and 2018 Chevrolet Bolt vehicles and some model year 2019 vehicles due to the risk of a fire in the high-voltage battery pack.

If you possess a 2017-2019 Chevy Bolt EV or EUV and have encountered battery overheating issues, it’s imperative to be aware of a recent legal development. LG Chem Ltd. and General Motors Co. have reached a $150 million settlement to rectify these safety concerns. This substantial settlement endeavors to recompense affected vehicle owners for the considerable risks and financial detriments they have endured. To determine whether you should stay in the class action or opt-out, contact a lemon law attorney at Wirtz Law. For California consumers, opting out of class action settlements is a crucial consideration, as releasing your California Lemon Law rights may yield better individual outcomes. Our experienced team is dedicated to guiding you through the complexities of this settlement and ensuring you receive the justice you deserve. Don’t miss this opportunity to protect your rights and recover your losses.

Issues in the 2017-2019 Chevy Bolt Recalls

The batteries in the recalled vehicles pose a risk of smoking or catching fire internally. An ignited battery could spread to the rest of the vehicle and beyond, causing a fire if the vehicle was parked in or near a garage, house, or other structure. 

According to the recall information posted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the battery packs can catch fire even if the vehicle is turned off, placed in park, and is not connected to a charging unit. 

Recall Expanded to 2017-2022 Chevy Bolt Model Years

The original recall applied to nearly 51,000 Bolt vehicles. In August 2021, GM expanded the recall to include all Bolt vehicles in the 2017-2022 model years.

What to Do If You Have an Affected Chevy Bolt

If you have a Chevrolet Bolt that has been recalled, schedule an appointment with your dealership as soon as possible to have the recall repair completed. Until then, GM recommends that vehicle owners take the following steps:

• Park the vehicle outdoors and away from structures like houses or garages. 
• Do not charge the vehicle overnight.
• Set the vehicle to the 90 percent state of charge limitation using the Hilltop Reserve mode (2017 and 2018) or Target Charge Level mode (2019-2022). A local dealership can make the change for you if you need assistance. 
• Recharge the battery after each use. Do not wait until the battery is nearly run down before recharging it. 

Multiple recall expansions and software updates have occurred since the first Bolt recall was issued in November 2020 for the battery charging issues. In that time, over half of Bolt vehicles on the road have had their battery packs replaced. Newer vehicles have received software updates to address issues with battery overcharging and potential fires. 

A combination of a software update and battery pack replacement may be required to address the recall issues in Bolt vehicles. Once the repairs are completed, GM says that the vehicles can be parked near structures again as long as charging instructions are followed correctly. 

Other Issues Reported by Bolt Drivers

The battery fires are not the only issues Chevrolet Bolt owners have reported with their vehicles. In December 2022, GM issued a recall of more than 111,000 Bolt vehicles due to a risk of a fire in the seat belt assembly.  In some vehicles, the carpeting could catch fire after a crash due to issues in the seat belt components. 

The seat belt recall affected Bolt EVs in model years 2017 through 2023. This risk was unrelated to the problems with the battery, according to GM. GM began notifying Bolt owners of the seat belt issue via mail in January 2023. 

Seeking Compensation Under California Lemon Law

Under California lemon law, the owner of a defective vehicle can seek compensation from the automaker in some cases. Typically, lemon law applies when the vehicle is under warranty and has an issue the dealership can’t seem to fix. 

In a lemon law claim, a vehicle owner can seek three different types of compensation: a refund or replacement, incidental and consequential damages, and attorney’s fees.

Refund or replacement compensates the vehicle owner for the lemon vehicle. The owner may choose whether they want a refund of the purchase price or a substantially similar replacement vehicle. The refund, also known as a “buyback,” is calculated according to a formula included in California’s lemon law. 

Incidental and consequential damages compensate a vehicle owner for losses they had because their vehicle was a lemon. For example, if you’ve racked up thousands of dollars in towing costs or had to buy bus passes for your entire family because you cannot trust your vehicle, these costs may be included in your incidental and consequential damages. 

Attorney’s fees help vehicle owners work with experienced lemon law attorneys – without having to worry about the expense. When a vehicle owner wins in a lemon law case, the automaker pays the owner’s attorney’s fees. Talk to an experienced California lemon lawyer to learn more about how the attorney’s fees clause works. 

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.  

The goal of California’s lemon law is to protect vehicle owners when their vehicles have ongoing defects, especially problems that pose a risk to health or safety. If you have a Chevrolet Bolt that is subject to a recall, talk to an experienced California lemon law attorney today.