Almost three years after Chevrolet issued the first Bolt EV battery recall that later turned into multiple recalls and a massive, costly fiasco for GM and supplier LG Chem, the saga is still not over.
General Motors has announced that it will pay $1,400 to owners of 2020-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EVs and Bolt EUVs who haven't got their batteries replaced yet.
This is essentially an upfront payment to customers as part of an expected class action settlement. To get the $1,400, Bolt EV and EUV owners have to install a piece of diagnostics software that GM says will detect whether their batteries need to be fully replaced, Electrek first reported.
"GM is announcing a compensation program for 2020-22 Bolt EV/EUV owners upon installation of the final advanced diagnostic software as part of the original battery recall," a company spokesperson wrote in a statement.
"Owners are eligible to receive a $1,400 Visa eReward card upon installation. This applies to Bolt EV/EUV owners in the US only. We're grateful to our customers for their patience and understanding.”
The Visa eReward card can be used for online purchases.
Gallery: 2023 Chevrolet Bolt EV
Owners must install the "software final remedy" by December 31, 2023 and sign a legal release. If the settlement ends up being more than $1,400, those who accept the payment will still receive the difference, GM said. Owners who decline will have to wait for the class action lawsuit to finalize. This compensation program only applies to owners involved in recall N212345944.
In June, GM told owners of 2020-2022 Bolt EV and EUV vehicles that a free diagnostic software will allow their cars to charge to 100 percent again after having to endure a recall that limited range to 80 percent for a significant period of time
The automaker also said the software would monitor the battery for anomalies, and in case it detected any, GM would replace the drive battery or its affected modules. Basically, the software's job is to detect which battery modules need replacement.
Eventually, the software will either warn customers that their battery pack or modules need to be replaced, or automatically return the maximum range to 100 percent.
The thing is the vehicles need to cover at least 6,200 miles before the final assessment. That could take months or years for some buyers, which is why General Motors mandated that owners complete the diagnostic by March 2025 in order to qualify for an extended warranty or replacement battery, if needed.
It's worth noting that 2017-2019 Chevrolet Bolt EVs feature a different battery chemistry and are part of a separate recall that will see all owners receive a replacement battery.
