GM Recalls 140,000 Chevrolet Bolt EVs Due To Fire Risk

GM pull 140,000 Chevrolet Bolt EVs (photo: GM)

JAKARTA - General Motors (GM) announced the recall of 140,000 Chevrolet Bolt EVs in North America on Tuesday, December 21 due to a fire risk.

Based on the report received by Reuters, this recall was carried out because the Bolt EVs carpet has a risk of fire if there is an accident where the front seat belt Pretensioners open.

GM said that this fire could have started when the seat belt Pretensioner exhaust gas came into contact with the fibers of the car's floor carpet.

The US automaker also said the recall covers a range of Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles from the 2017 model year through 2023.

While GM hasn't shared how many incidents of Bolt floor carpet catching fire, the company has only stated there have been "rare examples" of such occurrences.

Of the total 140,000 Bolt EVs recalled, approximately 120,000 vehicles in the US and another 20,000 vehicles in Canada are affected by the recall.

The Chevrolet Bolt debuted in 2016 as GM's only EV offering. After that, other new models such as the Bolt EUV, and several other models such as the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyriq joined.

While the Bolt has continued to grow in sales as one of the most affordable EVs on the market today, it hasn't come without its fair share of controversy, especially in the recall department.

To fix this, GM will be installing metal foil along the edge of the carpet closest to the exhaust Pretensioners. Select models will install a Pretensioner cover.