- A slew of fires forced Chevrolet to recall over 110,000 Bolt EV and EUV models
- The carmaker has so far replaced just over 68,000 battery packs
- A judge still needs to approve the proposed settlement
Owners of Chevrolet Bolt EVs with defective battery packs could be compensated up to $1,400 each through a $150 million settlement proposed by GM and battery supplier LG Energy Solution.
The two companies filed the proposed agreement at a federal court in Michigan, and while it needs to be approved by a judge, Bolt owners will likely be thrilled they could soon be compensated. The settlement proposes giving owners of 2017-2022 Bolt models either $700 or $1,400, depending on whether they had their battery replaced or if diagnostic software was installed to monitor the health of the battery.
Read: Some Californians Can Buy A 2023 Chevy Bolt EV For Just $8,000
“GM, LG Energy Solution and LG Electronics have agreed to a settlement with plaintiffs to resolve class action litigation related to the Bolt EV battery recall,” a GM spokesperson said. “As a result, Bolt owners who received a battery replacement or who have installed the latest advanced diagnostic software, may qualify for compensation. GM thanks its loyal Bolt customers for their patience.”
A spate of fires forced GM to recall more than 110,000 Bolt models built between the 2017 and 2022 model years after two manufacturing defects were discovered in the battery pack. The batteries of all 2017-2019 models were replaced, while defective ones in newer models were also replaced. Chevrolet also took the unusual step of installing software on newer Bolts to diagnose issues and determine if modules needed to be replaced.
Auto News reports that approximately 80,000 Bolt owners who had their vehicle’s battery packs replaced will receive $700, while roughly 22,560 will be eligible to receive $1,400 if their car was installed with the diagnostic software.
Documents filed in court reveal that as of April 2, Chevrolet had replaced 68,565 batteries from older Bolt models.
“This settlement is an excellent result for our clients and the class, and goes hand in hand with the battery and software remedies that GM and LG have already rolled out,” an attorney for the plaintiffs, Ryan McDevitt, said.
