A class-action lawsuit filed by a Chevy Bolt owner in California says that General Motors issued a battery recall over fire hazards too late and does too little. According to a report on Car Complaints, the Bolt battery recall only offers an interim repair that will cause cars to lose 10% of their mileage range. The lawsuit also alleges that GM held off on a formal recall even though the batteries are unsafe and unable to be fully charged without catching fire.
Lower Mileage Than Promised
The 2017-2019 Chevy Bolt electric vehicles were also allegedly sold with specific mileage claims that don’t match real-world driving. The lawsuit states that the Chevy Bolt battery recall will limit the battery’s range to about 214 miles on a single battery charge, at least 10% below what was advertised.
A plaintiff in California said she purchased a new 2017 Chevy Bolt with a window sticker that said the car could travel 238 miles on a single battery charge. But, the Bolt lawsuit says the car would only show a projected range of 170 miles when the battery was at full charge. The plaintiff said she took the vehicle to a dealership where technicians told him there was nothing wrong with the battery, but that they updated the computer system.
Battery Fire Damages House
The plaintiff brought the vehicle again to the dealership because the Bolt continued showing a range of 170 miles. But, at this point, the dealership told her there was nothing to be done. The plaintiff says she was told the decrease in range was likely because of the degradation of the battery’s ability to hold a charge combined with weather conditions at the time. According to the lawsuit, one night, the Bolt battery caught fire. She and her family were able to get out of the house.
The lawsuit says everything in the garage was destroyed, including the car. The house was almost a total loss because of smoke, fire and water damage. Fire officials traced the fire back to the floorboard of the Bolt where the battery pack is located, the lawsuit said, adding that the woman suffered smoke inhalation and both she and her daughter have severe post-traumatic stress disorder from the incident. GM has yet to respond to her complaint filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In November, GM recalled about 50,000 model year 2017-2019 Bolt EV cars after reports of battery fires in cars that were parked and unattended.
Auto Product Liability Issues
Automakers have a duty to manufacture vehicles that are safe for consumers. Suppose you or a loved one has been injured due to a vehicle defect. In that case, you may be able to seek compensation for the injuries, damages, and losses caused including medical expenses, lost income, hospitalization, property damage, and pain and suffering. An experienced auto defect lawyer will be able to advise injured victims and their families regarding their legal rights and options.
Source: https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2020/chevy-bolt-battery-recall-lawsuit.shtml
