On April 25th, 2023, General Motors (GM) announced that it was discontinuing production of the Chevy Bolt electric vehicle (EV).
The Chevy Bolt was introduced in 2016 as a compact, all-electric vehicle with an estimated range of 238 miles per charge. It was well-received by critics and consumers alike, with its affordable price point and impressive performance. However, in November 2020, General Motors announced a recall of over 68,000 Chevy Bolt electric vehicles (EVs) due to fire risks related to their battery packs. According to GM, the recall affects all 2017-2019 Bolt EVs and some 2020-2022 models. The recall was due to incidents where the Bolt’s high-voltage battery caught fire even when the vehicle was parked and not in use. GM identified manufacturing defects in some Bolt batteries as the root cause of the problem.
Following the recall, GM instructed Bolt owners to park their vehicles outdoors and away from structures until the company came up with a fix. The automaker also advised Bolt owners to avoid charging their vehicles overnight and to limit their battery charge levels until a permanent solution was implemented.
The recall affected not only the Bolt’s battery pack but also its charging capabilities. In addition, it created uncertainty among Bolt owners, who had to wait for a solution while their vehicles sat idle, potentially losing value. Some Bolt owners complained that GM’s recall and repair process was slow and insufficient, leading to further frustration.
In addition to the fire risks, some Bolt owners have reported other issues, such as faulty battery range estimates, malfunctioning charging ports, and other electrical problems. While these issues are not as serious as the fire risks, they can still be costly and inconvenient for Bolt owners.
Because of these issues, most people who purchased or leased Chevy Bolts in California qualify under California’s lemon law. Automakers have a responsibility to ensure that their products are safe and reliable for consumers, and to address any issues that arise in a timely and effective manner. Here, GM is failing and refusing to comply with its lemon law obligations with respect to these Bolt vehicles.
Joseph Kaufman & Associates, Inc. has handled thousands of lemon law cases and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for California consumers. If you have a Bolt and are looking for the best lemon law attorneys in California, contact us for a free case evaluation. Our firm never charges consumers as our fees and costs are paid for by the manufacturer.
Write a comment: