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Chevy Bolt EV Fire Class Action Lawsuit Overview:
- Who: A man who leases a General Motors Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicle is suing the automaker.
- Why: The man says a persistent battery problem in the electrical vehicles could lead to fires, and GM hasn’t remedied the issue.
- Where: The case was filed in California federal court.
General Motors has been hit with another class action lawsuit over its electric vehicles that can spontaneously catch on fire just a month after the vehicles were recalled worldwide.
Plaintiff David Kennedy, who leased a 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV, filed the class action lawsuit against General Motors Company (GM) Dec. 23 in a California federal court, alleging fraud, breach of warranty, failure to recall and violations of California general business laws.
“Defendant is putting consumers’ safety at risk,” Kennedy says.
He alleges that GM falsely represents the 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV vehicles to be safe and functional for normal use.
“In fact, the Class Vehicles are not safe and functional for normal use as the batteries may ignite when the Class Vehicles are either fully charged or fall below seventy miles remaining mileage,” the lawsuit states.
The issue impacts consumers even when they are not driving the vehicles, he says, as consumers cannot park their vehicles indoors overnight due to the risk of fire.
“So far, Defendant has done nothing to remedy this issue,” Kennedy alleges. “Simply put, Defendant is prioritizing profits over the health and safety of consumers.”
Chevrolet EVS ‘Categorically Unsafe’ Due to Lithium-Ion Battery Modules, Lawsuit Says
The lawsuit states that the Chevrolet EVs have helped position GM as second among auto manufacturers in the emerging EV market. However, the vehicles are categorically unsafe due to their lithium-ion battery modules, the lawsuit says.
In August, General Motors expanded its Chevy Bolt recall to include all models from 2019 through 2022 that have been sold worldwide due to a battery problem that increases the risk of vehicle fires.
The recall stemmed from LG-manufactured lithium ion batteries that are used in the Chevy Bolt electrical vehicles. In Nov. 2020, Chevy Bolt owners filed a class action lawsuit against General Motors for this same battery defect that had allegedly caused serious injuries.
In February, 2021, the company was hit with another pair of class action lawsuits claiming the fix put in place to prevent Chevy Bolt EV battery fires comes with its own set of problems.
Kennedy is looking to represent “tens of thousands” of drivers who purchased the affected vehicles in the United States in the last four years.
The plaintiffs are seeking an injunction, fees, costs, restitution and a jury trial.
Do you own a Chevy Bolt EV that was affected by the recall? Tell us about your experience in the comment section below.
The plaintiff is represented by Yana Hart and Ryan Clarkson of Clarkson Law Firm, P.C.
The General Motors Company EV Fire Class Action Lawsuit is David Kennedy v. General Motors Company et al., Case No. 4:21-cv-09984, in the U.S. District Court Northern District of California.
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10 thoughts onChevy Bolt Electric Vehicle Battery Fire Issue Sparks New Class Action Lawsuit
Obviously GM is slow walking the owners of 2020-2022 Bolts. 1) Potential Fire Hazard Warning with instant limitations (Parking (many scenarios)/Range/etc. on using your new Bolt 2) Failed Software fix of Bolt 3) Another Software monitoring patch to further limit the Bolts range – from the Anticipated 260 Miles to now ~ 140 if you fallow their current recommendations 4. The inability to charge your car in your garage, or near your home, highly recommending you park your car outside – AWAY from everybody and everything, can’t park your car in a Condo or any Public garage (where there can be a charging station in some instances) because they don’t want the car to catch the building on fire or cars parked next to it. Can not believe that the executives at GM know they are going to lose this case and its gonna cost them big time (Think Pinto and Ford). Unbelievable. All they had to do was replace all the batteries and maybe shell out a few thousand bucks as compensation for driving a limited use vehicle – and most people (like us) would have been satisfied and signed off on any lawsuits (if the NEW battery actually solves this problem). Heaven forbid a family dies after gm’s Software says the battery is good – and a FIRE erupts killing all? Pathetic really pathetic. IMHO.
I bought a Bolt on Dec 2020. I love it. I ignored all the recall stuff. I did not get the software limiter fix. I occasionally charge to 100% and once was down to 20miles range in lower 10% of capacity. The car is fun to drive and very economical.
GM would have had a big hit if they had not been boned by LG. I am looking forward to a fresh new battery pack whenever GM gets to me. Currently I am at ~25k miles, no hurry.
Have a 2019. Have not been able to park it inside. Have not been able to fully charge it. Am leasing, so have not been getting what I paid for for quite some time–not since the original recall. The lease is up in July, and they still have not been able to get me a replacement battery. At this juncture, this state of affairs affects my ability to get top trade-in value for the car (has great mileage) on top of everything else. They owe me.
Recall 2021 Chevy bolt. Range domed, unable to use the vehicle to get to work every day that and add the fact that I have under ground parking at one office and outside tree lined parking at second office parking I’m now unable to drive my vehicle at all. GM took forever to offer the re-purchase after loosing my first request. The repurchase officer was for half the price of the vehicle. Second option was to invoice exchange but no dealership was willing to take the lose and GM had no options available due to inventory. A year later GM is trying to now do invoice exchange for a bolt with a renewed battery. I still haven’t seen that as I need a vehicle.
I have a 2017 Bolt EV. This has been a frustrating journey filled with broken promises and misinformation from Chevrolet. And I am stuck with a car that I can barely use.
In December I received a letter from Chevrolet stating: “..we have developed an advanced diagnostic software package that will remove parking and charging limitations..”. So I contacted the local dealership, who said they had never heard of that update, but the batteries will be available to order in February. I asked them to put me on the list for the February battery order..
In February I called the dealership again, only to be told that they can’t order the batteries till May or possibly June. And I’m still stuck paying for a half-useless car.
I bought the Chevy Bolt excited about the battery range. I felt that my wife could zip around without any range anxiety. Now, I had the range reduced 90% with the stipulation not to go under 70 Miles only to get another notice to reduce the range to 80% keeping the 70 mile minimum. With Michigan winters, this has made it near impossible not to slip under the 70 mile minimum. I’m patient but this doesn’t seem right as GM introduces new electric vehicles. Fix my battery before dumping more onto the market.
I am the owner of a 2019 Bolt EV. I requested / have received a repurchase offer from GM. The only problem I have with that is given the scarcity of comparable EVs for purchase and the insane mark-ups on those I have been able to locate the amount offered is not enough to get me into a new vehicle. I feel that I may have to retain the services of a lemon law attorney to seek damages from GM to resolve this matter / to be made whole.
As the owner of a 2020 Chevrolet Bolt that is currently under a recall due to battery fires, our experience has been one of broken promises with our 260 mile range reduced to about 140 miles, restrictions with parking the vehicle, and charging limitations. This situation has existed for several months with no end in sight. Despite our numerous requests to discuss with GM we have heard nothing and GM’s communication and customer experience are both abysmal from our perspective. Furthermore, GM’s EV repurchasing plan is a nightmare with several obstacles apparently designed intentionally to drag out the process as long as possible. We could have bought a Nissan Leaf for about 60% less than what we paid for the pile of junk Bolt.
I would like to participate in the nee class action suit. Since purchasing my 2020 Bolt in 2021 i have lost significant range and no remedy for the battery (serious safety concern) in the near future only significant range loss by decreasing the charge ans where ans how long we can charge. If I knew about tia kind of issue I NEVER would have purchased this car
I have a recalled Chevy bolt and haven’t been able to get him fixed due to a battery shortage, I bought that specific electric vehicle because the amount of miles it gets on a full charge, now that I have to have it on hilltop reserve my miles are shorter and have to charge they put the week