General Motors has said it will recall all Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles sold worldwide to fix a battery problem that could cause fires. An Associated Press news article highlights concerns about lithium-ion batteries, prevalent in almost all electric vehicle brands. Automakers such as Ford, BMW, and Hyundai have recently issued vehicle recalls for faulty batteries, and the Bolt batteries have been linked with blaze dangers.
Manufacturing Defects Reported
General Motors announced a recall on Aug. 20, which includes about 73,000 Bolts from the 2019 through 2022 model years, in addition to a previous recall of 69,000 older Bolt vehicles. GM said that the batteries have two manufacturing defects that could cause fires in rare cases. GM has said it will replace battery modules in all vehicles. In older versions, all five modules will be replaced.
AP reports that this latest recall will cost GM about $1 billion, bringing the Bolt battery recalls to about $1.8 billion. GM has said vehicle owners should limit charging to 90% of battery capacity. The Bolt vehicles, including a new SUV, should be parked outdoors until the modules are replaced. The original recall blamed a manufacturing defect at a South Korean factory run by LG Chem, GM’s battery supplier.
But the company’s investigation showed that other sites’ batteries can have the defects. Most newer Bolt batteries are made at an LG plant in Michigan. GM issued the first Bolt recall in November after getting reports of five f them catching fire. Two people suffered smoke inhalation, and one house caught fire.
While the company initially acknowledged that it did not know what was causing the fires, it later determined that the batteries that caught fire were near full charge. It traced the fires to a manufacturing defect in battery modules, which could cause a short in a cell that could spark a fire. So far, ten fires involving Bolts have been reported. The company has said it will not produce or sell more Bolts until it is convinced that the problem has been resolved.
Auto Product Liability Issues
Automakers have a duty to manufacture vehicles that are safe for consumers. Should a vehicle defect cause injuries to you or a loved one, you have the right to pursue compensation for the resulting injuries, damages, and losses, which may include medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, property damage, and pain and suffering.
An experienced auto defect lawyer can advise injured victims and their families regarding their legal rights and options.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/technology-joe-biden-business-health-environment-and-nature-bbe51b0c8e644c4448d634fc3c0f3461
