GM Announces New Chevy Bolt Recall

General Motors has recalled 140,000 Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles (EVs) in North America over a potential fire risk when seat belt pretensioners deploy in a crash.

The automaker recalled the vehicles because when exhaust gases from the front seat belt pretensioners come in contact with carpet fibers after a crash, it can cause the carpet to ignite. The recall comes after three reports of fires that could have been caused by the problem, GM reported. The severity of the fires is unknown.

GM noted the recall covers Chevrolet Bold EV vehicles from the 2017 to the 2023 model years and effects about 120,000 U.S. vehicles and 20,000 Canadian vehicles.

This recall follows a 2021 recall where General Motors asked Bolt owners worldwide to bring their EVs in for battery replacement.

The remedy is for GM to install metal foil along the edge of the carpet nearest to the pretensioner exhaust. With some models, pretensioner covers will be installed.

Earlier this year, Hyundai and Kia recalled 230,000 vehicles over reports of the pretensioners exploding and sending shrapnel into the cabin.