Warren, MI – January 19, 2024 – General Motors (NYSE:GM), which owns the Chevrolet brand, is recalling 6,614 2017-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV cars that may catch fire after a crash. This defect greatly augments the risk of injury for everyone involved.
These cars were already recalled over the same issue in December 2022, but the repair was not performed correctly.
Recall summary
The seat belt pretensioner is a pyrotechnic device that “uses an explosive charge to lock the seat belt in place” following a crash.
In the affected vehicles, the pretensioner deployment may set fire to the cars’ upholstery.
Recall risks
A fire inside the vehicle occurring right after a crash greatly increases the risk of an injury.
Background of the recall
In December 2022, the manufacturer conducted a large-scale recall for these vehicles during which dealerships were supposed to add a piece of “metal foil at the carpet near the pretensioner exhaust.” However, on 66 of the affected cars the repair was done incorrectly, necessitating a re-do.
Other Chevrolet recalls
Last month, General Motors recalled Buicks and Chevrolets whose instrument clusters would switch off, as reported.
On a separate note, the U.S. government’s auto safety regulator is currently investigating 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt cars over complaints about sudden loss of motive power.
The repair
Dealers will install a protective metal foil and matching pretensioner covers free of charge.
Owners should receive letters with more information on January 29, 2024.
Is your vehicle a part of this recall?
This Chevrolet Bolt seat belt recall affects more than 6,500 electric cars. To do a Chevrolet recall check and see if yours is one of them, please use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.
