Chevrolet Bolt & Bolt EUV

[cwerdna]

As you could imagine, if you visit https://www.chevybolt.org/ then click on the New button, it seems like almost every new/active thread has some relationship to the recall (e.g. debate, argument, buyback, advice, clickbait/trolling, lemon law, alternative BEVs, etc.) Opinions, attitudes, friendliness (or lack of), levels of knowledge/expertise are all over the map. Some people are paranoid, act like the sky is falling, hate GM, etc. Some people do have legitimate problems w/the constraints GM is suggesting. One guy on an FB group only has indoor parking at where he lives. It's assigned. I think he said outdoor parking is a mile away.

The Bolt FB groups are too active for me to keep up now w/a day job.

The whole thing has created a huge mess since previously some folks got a good enough deal and turned around and bought a new '21 Bolt EV or '22 EV or EUV. Or, I think some people did vehicle swaps or whatever MSRP swap was. I didn't follow. But, since all Bolts are on stop sale, being swapped into or buying a new Bolt EV/EUV is a not possible. And, GM is selling no other BEVs in the US right now. I can't think of a new ICEV from GM of similar price I'd want to replace my Bolt...

Maybe I will investigate buyback since I'm in CA but I kinda want dust to settle a bit + see what CA folks are able to swing. I also won't know what to get to replace it... what would I lease or buy instead? It's certainly not a good time to buy any vehicle now. Would it be an interim vehicle so that I don't have a possible fire hazard? If I bought/leased another BEV w/LG Chem, could that mean I have another recalled fire hazard?

One guy was in a pilot program for dealers to replace all the modules (https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/new-pilot-program-for-quickly-replacing-all-battery-cells.39914/) but he's in a lurch now.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RCLRPT-21V650-2919.PDF popped up today on NHTSA. Page 3 is quite insightful. So, it seems the Aug 16, 2021 '20 Bolt fire probably didn't play a role when GM made their decision. That made it already, that day.

 

[rmay635703]

The Chevy Volt fbook has a 100% post approval policy for the foreseeable future because the place was threadcrapped with thousands of Bolt recall threads alongside false Volt battery recall mentions which are off topic and can get you banned

What surprises me is after every Bolt recall the price for the car goes up 20%

 

[SageBrush]

What surprises me is after every Bolt recall the price for the car goes up 20%

I would not ascribe to recall what can explained by the used car shortage.

 

[cwerdna]

A bunch of new associated docs popped up today at https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/CHEVROLET/BOLT%252520EV/5%252520HB/FWD#recalls for 21V560000. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RMISC-21V560-8766.pdf isn't really new info but summarizes some info that was split across 2 or more recall 573 docs.

 

[Nubo]

How long before GM can reasonably produce that many modules?

 

[DougWantsALeaf]

So are they just doing a module vs. whole pack as that reduces the draw on its battery supply?

 

[SageBrush]

How long before GM can reasonably produce that many modules?

Not GM -- LG
And before anyone talks of production, the manufacturing defects have to be resolved. There is no stated timeline for when that may happen.

 

[cwerdna]

How long before GM can reasonably produce that many modules?

Not GM -- LG
And before anyone talks of production, the manufacturing defects have to be resolved. There is no stated timeline for when that may happen.

Page 4 of https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RCLRPT-21V650-2919.PDF suggests it's been resolved now.

 

[cwerdna]

So are they just doing a module vs. whole pack as that reduces the draw on its battery supply?

We don't know. There's plenty of rampant speculation re: module replacement is that there wouldn't be the need for all the other parts (e.g. casing, wiring, other stuff inside the pack).

For the '20 to '22 Bolts, Chevrolet social media posted what they plan to do for those folks. Lemme see if I can find that later.

Here we go, see https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/chevy-expands-recall-to-include-through-2022-chevy-bolts-and-euv.40076/page-7#post-637633. GM is also sending out letters like https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RMISC-21V560-4200.pdf to '17 to '19 Bolt drivers. I believe some people might've received them already. I believe the older cells (design level N2.1?) that the originally recalled '17 to '19 Bolts used are no longer being made anyway.

The "final" (now not so final) remedy discussed at https://gm-techlink.com/?p=14834 said
"The new module calibrations also allow for the use of a mixture of N2.1 and N2.2 cell chemistry battery sections in 2017-2019 Bolt EVs. With this change, a new N2.2 battery section (row) may now be used to service these older vehicles. The EV range will not increase with the use of the newer chemistry. Range is limited by the lowest capacity cell in the pack."

However, now, if they replace all those old ones with newer ones w/more capacity, that does mean increased range for older Bolts.

 

[SageBrush]

How long before GM can reasonably produce that many modules?

Not GM -- LG
And before anyone talks of production, the manufacturing defects have to be resolved. There is no stated timeline for when that may happen.

Page 4 of https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RCLRPT-21V650-2919.PDF suggests it's been resolved now.

I don't see anything written to make me think that is the case. Mostly it reads as indictment of LG

 

[cwerdna]

Page 4 of https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RCLRPT-21V650-2919.PDF says:
"The remedy will be the replacement of defective battery modules in the recall population.
...
How Remedy Component Differs from Recalled Component:
Replacement components were produced after manufacturing process corrections implemented by LG."

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RCMN-21V560-6025.pdf also suggests that some proper replacement batteries/modules should be available the week of Aug 30th.

 

[SageBrush]

^^
Fair enough -- I missed that sentence.
But LG notified GM of the problems in August ... and they already have defect free components ?

Either that was a forward looking statement, or ... something.

 

[cwerdna]

^^
Fair enough -- I missed that sentence.
But LG notified GM of the problems in August ... and they already have defect free components ?

Either that was a forward looking statement, or ... something.

I'm unclear if it is a forward looking statement.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RMISC-21V560-8766.pdf is a timeline/compilation of what's been split across multiple recall 573 docs.

Someone else at https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/fire-recalls-timeline.39544/ has been helping add to/maintain the 1st post there. I've been getting edits made to the 3rd post.

 

[cwerdna]

As Chevy Bolt recall expands, some dealers 'in a world of pain'
https://omaha.com/business/consumer/as-chevy-bolt-recall-expands-some-dealers-in-a-world-of-pain/article_c5d3c754-d570-5780-86d1-710d20510f8d.html

 

[webeleafowners]

As Chevy Bolt recall expands, some dealers 'in a world of pain'
https://omaha.com/business/consumer/as-chevy-bolt-recall-expands-some-dealers-in-a-world-of-pain/article_c5d3c754-d570-5780-86d1-710d20510f8d.html

Wow. Not good. Well, Leaf won’t be taking up the slack in Canada. There are only 11 New Leafs on autotrader in Canada now. There are usually hundreds. Have they stopped producing Leafs for some reason?

 

[cwerdna]

Have they stopped producing Leafs for some reason?

Yes, probably. There was https://mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=32451.

https://www.autoblog.com/2021/08/11/nissan-smyrna-tennessee-car-factory-shutdown-chip-shortage/ mentions a shutdown of Smyrna, TN until Aug 30th.

https://www.autonews.com/manufacturing/nissan-extends-smyrna-shutdown is more recent and which I hit a paywall on says it'll be idled thru Sept 12.

 

[rmay635703]

As Chevy Bolt recall expands, some dealers 'in a world of pain'
https://omaha.com/business/consumer/as-chevy-bolt-recall-expands-some-dealers-in-a-world-of-pain/article_c5d3c754-d570-5780-86d1-710d20510f8d.html

I wish that pain would translate into the lower prices seen mid pandemic

A 60,000 Mile Bolt could be had for $9999, now it easily costs 50% + to get the same

I would have one in my yard if prices would retreat recall or not.

Even better I might win the battery lottery

 

[cwerdna]

I wish that pain would translate into the lower prices seen mid pandemic

A 60,000 Mile Bolt could be had for $9999, now it easily costs 50% + to get the same

I would have one in my yard if prices would retreat recall or not.

Even better I might win the battery lottery

Yeah. The used car price surge is silly.

As for battery lottery, GM has already said they will replace all the battery modules on '17 to '19 Bolts. See Q13 of https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RMISC-21V560-8422.pdf and https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RMISC-21V560-4200.pdf. A bunch of people have received the letter (I haven't yet). These docs are part of https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/CHEVROLET/BOLT/4%20DR/FWD#recalls. There have also been posts by Chevrolet social media to this effect.

Potential probs are timeframe and trust issues. How long will it take for everyone to receive repairs? It's impossible to know which ones out there will catch fire and when. If it really is 1% of vehicles affected (GM still maintains this at https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RCLRPT-21V560-5475.PDF) and most/all of those 1% are fire prone, then we have lots more fires to go.

And, can we trust that the replacements will be much more or totally fire-prone defect free?

 

[cwerdna]

^^
Fair enough -- I missed that sentence.
But LG notified GM of the problems in August ... and they already have defect free components ?

Either that was a forward looking statement, or ... something.

I'm unclear if it is a forward looking statement.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2021/RMISC-21V560-8766.pdf is a timeline/compilation of what's been split across multiple recall 573 docs.

Someone else at https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/fire-recalls-timeline.39544/ has been helping add to/maintain the 1st post there. I've been getting edits made to the 3rd post.

If https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/general-motors/2021/08/30/gm-lg-chem-bolt-batteries/5652862001/ (dated 8/30/21) is accurate , it would appear the document did have a forward looking statement...

 

[cwerdna]

TIL of a guy at

https://www.facebook.com/groups/chevyboltevowners/posts/2941156639529276?comment_id=2941604739484466

(you'll need to be a member of the group) w/273K miles on his Bolt. In his reply, he has a pic of his odometer.

Too bad https://www.voltstats.net/boltev/ is dead. The highest person I see there has 235K miles and I wonder if it's the same person...