NHTSA Investigates Reports of Chevy Bolt Fires

U.S. regulators are investigating reports of Chevy Bolt fires, a vehicle safety defect which reportedly begins in the electric car’s battery compartment.

On Oct. 9, 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation looking into nearly 78,000 Chevy Bolts from model years 2017 to 2020. These vehicles may have a defect which causes unexpected fires.

The NHTSA has reportedly received three reports of fires and one report of injury. The fires reportedly appeared to start in the electronic battery section of the vehicles – found under the rear seats. Luckily, the Chevy Bolt fires reported did not occur while the vehicle was on the road. Instead, the reported fires started while the vehicles were parked and unattended.

According to the NHTSA, the source of the Chevy Bolt fires is unknown – prompting them to investigate the issue.

In one report, someone was injured by smoke inhalation due to the fire. The March 2019 incident reportedly occurred in Massachusetts when a family’s Chevy Bolt caught fire in their driveway while charging. The fire burned for three hours and lead to headaches in the family due to smoke inhalation.

Smoke inhalation is harmful because the harmful particles and gases from smoke inflame the airways in the lungs. If people quickly get away from the smoke, they will usually only suffer from a cough, shortness of breath, or other mild symptoms.

However, severe smoke inhalation can lead to life threatening consequences such as acute respiratory distress syndrome and respiratory failure. In fact, the Burn Institute reports that over half of all fire-related deaths are not due to severe burns but instead can be attributed to smoke inhalation.

Another complaint from July 2020 reportedly involved a 2019 Bolt which caught fire after it was driven to a townhome parking lot. A neighbor reportedly informed the owner that the vehicle caught fire, prompting the fire department to arrive and douse the car with water for an hour. Unfortunately, less than an hour after the firefighters left, the fire allegedly restarted. Once the firefighters returned and put out the fire, the car was reportedly towed to the dealership where it again caught fire.

According to the owner of this vehicle, GM refuses to investigate the Chevy Bolt fires because the insurance company was called before the dealership.

General Motors, Chevrolet’s parent company, reportedly stands by the safety of their vehicles.

“The safety of our products is the highest priority for the entire GM team,” a GM spokesperson told The Detroit Free Press. The company is reportedly cooperating with the government probe and is also looking into the issue on their own.

NHTSA Recall Process

If the NHTSA investigation uncovers a defect behind the Chevy Bolt fires, they may implement a recall of the vehicles.

A NHTSA recall process involves several steps. First, consumers can report complaints about a vehicle to the NHTSA via the agency’s website, over the phone, or through the mail. These complaints will be posted on the NHTSA website and reviewed by the regulator. In some cases, the complaint may involve further follow up.

After complaints are made, the NHTSA analyzes the safety risk, the severity of the issue, the likelihood that vehicles will be affected, and which vehicles are at risk. After this information is gathered, the NHTSA will make the decision to monitor the issue and reassess as necessary or to open a formal investigation and monitor recalls from manufacturers.

File a Chevy Bolt Fires Vehicle Safety Defect Lawsuit

Vehicle owners or lessees who experienced Chevy Bolt fires or another vehicle safety defect may be eligible to take legal action. Vehicle safety defects can be dangerous and may lead to serious accidents, injuries, or even deaths. Taking action in a lawsuit against auto manufacturers can help compensate vehicle owners for the defect.

This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.