Following 61 complaints and multiple field reports from owners who have alleged that their 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volts are experiencing power loss while on the road, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated a preliminary evaluation into this possible issue.
The concern pertains to the plug-in hybrid Chevrolet Volt, whose Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) may be at the root of the problem. Customers have reported incidents in which their vehicles stalled, entered reduced power states, experienced no-start conditions, and most concerning of all, lost motive power while in motion.
Naturally, that’s a concern to NHTSA, which notes that a stalled vehicle can become a danger on the road. Moreover, if the driver has no way of restarting the vehicle, that puts them and other road users at risk of a collision.
Read: Chevy Dealer Quoted Volt Hybrid Owner Nearly $30,000 To Replace Battery (Update)
Although the investigation into the problem is ongoing, NHTSA states that GM has already released a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) about the 2016-2019 Volt’s BECM. However, that filing only concerns a no-start condition or the illumination of malfunction lamps. The automaker found that replacing and reprogramming the BECM fixed the problem.
GM said it was cooperating with NHTSA on its investigation, per Reuters. It added that it believes it has “taken appropriate action to remedy customer concerns related to the battery energy control module but will continue to support the agency’s review of the matter.”
However, some owners complain they have been waiting for months, or have been completely unable to get a replacement battery module after experiencing an issue. GM said it has replacement parts in the supply pipeline.
NHTSA’s preliminary evaluation is not a recall. However, it will be looking at the scale and scope of the issue, as well as its potential to cause harm, and may compel GM to start a recall on as many as 72,926 Volts, based on the results of its investigation.
