General Motors LLC (GM) notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) they will recall more than 3,000 hybrid vehicles after finding a voltage problem.
Contact Allen Stewart today if you own a Chevy Volt lemon.
The Warren, Michigan-based manufacturer sent the agency a safety recall report on June 14, 2018 stating they will recall, 3,322 2013 Chevrolet Volt vehicles built between May 1, 2012 and June 26, 2013.
The affected vehicles received a software update during a dealer-performed service procedure that introduced an error preventing the vehicle’s batteries from balancing their voltage among individual cells. This can, under certain circumstances, cause a low voltage condition in certain cells. If voltage in a given battery cell falls below a certain threshold, the vehicle can enter reduced power mode, reducing and eventually losing propulsion. Sudden propulsion loss while driving can increase crash risk.
A GM engineer first reported a problem on May 11, 2018 after discovering the aforementioned software error prevented proper voltage balancing. GM opened an investigation which was combined with an existing investigation into low voltage conditions occurring in Volt batteries. The investigator revealed field data which showed elevated rates of low voltage conditions occurring in vehicles that received the software update.
Allen Stewart will be there for you throughout the lemon law process.
GM’s Safety and Field Action Decision Authority initiated a safety recall on June 7, 2018.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the HPCM2, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM’s number for this recall is 18215. GM owners can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide your recalled vehicle’s loss value, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to assist you. Lemon law lawyers help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.