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Two Chevrolet Bolt EVs recently caught fire after being repaired in a recall last year that affected nearly 51,000 vehicles in the United States, federal safety officials said on Wednesday.
Now, owners of Chevrolet Bolts from the 2017 to 2019 model years have been urged to park their vehicles outside after charging and avoid leaving them while they charge overnight, officials and the automaker said on Wednesday. of the car.
The affected vehicles were originally recalled in November 2020 over concerns that some of them could contain high-voltage batteries “which may present a fire hazard when charged to full capacity, or very near full capacity, ”the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said. at the time.
As part of the 2020 recall, the car maker, General Motors, offered to reprogram the software inside vehicles so that the batteries can only be charged to 90% of their original capacity.
Then, two Chevrolet Bolt EVs that had been serviced as part of this recall caught fire. A fire occurred this month in Vermont. The other happened in New Jersey, a GM spokesperson told CNBC.
Vehicle owner in Vermont Timothy Briglin, a state legislator, said his 2019 Chevrolet Bolt caught fire early July 1 while plugged in and parked in its driveway. Although a Vermont State Police press release said the vehicle was “plugged in and charging when the fire was discovered,” Mr. Briglin said this was incorrect. He said the vehicle was plugged in at 8 p.m. with around 10% remaining in the battery.
“Bolt’s charging system indicated that it would reach 100% charge between 3:30 am and 4 am, when the charge would cease,” said Mr. Briglin. The vehicle caught fire at 6:30 a.m., he said.
Mr Briglin also said officials from General Motors and the Highway Safety Agency would be in Vermont on Friday to examine his vehicle.
General Motors, the vehicle maker, said in a statement Wednesday: “Safety is our top priority, and we are moving as quickly as possible to investigate this issue.”
A General Motors spokesperson on Thursday referred to the company’s online statement, which encouraged owners of affected vehicles to have them repaired while the company investigates the issue.
The road safety administration said it was “examining these latest fires.”
In March, nearly 380,000 Kia vehicles were recalled over fears that electronic components inside certain vehicles could short circuit and cause fires. Drivers of Kia vehicles have been urged to watch for warning lights, a “burning / melting smell” or smoke coming from the engine compartment, in a safety recall report from the Highway Safety Agency.
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