Chevy Bolt Recall Said to Cost GM $800 Million

A big batch of defective batteries for electric vehicles is proving to be quite expensive for General Motors.

The company is likely to spend some $800 million to recall roughly 70,000 Chevy Bolts, CNN reports. That shakes out to about $11,650 per vehicle to fix or replace the battery.

GM announced in July that it was yet again recalling the vehicles because of fire risks. Defective batteries had been cited in at least nine Bolt fires since 2020, all of which happened while the cars were turned off. The latest recall also followed a viral video showing a car going up in flames in a suburban home garage.

Paired with a recent Hyundai recall, in which the Korean automaker said it will spend $874 million to recall 82,000 electric vehicles over defective batteries, the news does not exactly bode well for the burgeoning EV market.

“The challenge for the Bolt and other electronic vehicles is that the large batteries are by far the most expensive component — so replacing the battery is comparable to replacing the entire engine in a traditional car,” CNN’s Chris Isidore reports.

This is not the only recall that GM has announced in recent months. 

In July, the company also said it was recalling some 380,000 Cadillac and Saab sport utility vehicles over a suspension issue that the company said increased the risk of a crash. GM said seatbelts may not work in another 95,000 SUVs a month earlier.

Know Your Rights Under California's Lemon Law

The good news for GM and other car drivers in California is that you do not need to wait for a recall in order to get a malfunctioning vehicle fixed.

The California lemon law requires car manufacturers to perform a wide range of repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. The law also requires the companies to buy back cars that they are unable or unwilling to fix. A manufacturer can instead offer to replace the vehicle, but it is up to the owner to decide whether to accept or reject this alternative offer.

There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts that must be made before the buyback requirement kicks in. An experienced California lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights and options.

How a Los Angeles Lemon Law Attorney Can Help

If you are a car owner who has been stuck with a lemon or in a dispute with a manufacturer over repairs, an experienced Los Angeles lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help. 

Our firm has represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases in L.A. and across the state. We help the people we represent fight back by holding manufacturers accountable.

Our offices are conveniently located in L.A., San Diego, and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a Los Angeles lemon law attorney.