More Chevrolet Bolt EVs May Catch Fire, But You’ll Never Guess Why

General Motors has more bad news for Chevrolet Bolt EV owners. Another fire-related recall is in order, this one affecting 19,898 units in Canada covering the 2017-2023 model years.

Of course, you all remember when GM last year was forced to recall every single unit built so far—a total of about 142,000—to replace potentially defective batteries made by LG. Over 15 separate incidents were reported involving Bolt EV fires.

• Also: 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EV: The Two Mistakes GM Can’t Afford to Repeat
• Also: Chevrolet Bolt EV Production to Increase 75 Percent in 2023

This time, the battery isn’t to blame. The automaker explains that the carpet could catch fire after a crash where a front seat belt pretensioner deploys. How exactly? It appears the exhaust from the deployed pretensioner may ignite fibres in the floor carpet near the B-pillar.

Believe it or not, this isn’t the first time that GM is warning customers of possible carpet fires. In 2019, approximately 75,000 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups from the 2019-2020 model years were recalled in Canada for the same exact issue. The solution at the time was to modify the seat belt pretensioner bracket.

For the affected Bolt EVs, GM says dealers will install foil tape under the carpet near the front seatbelt pretensioners. On certain model year vehicles, they will also install seatbelt pretensioner covers.

GM has yet to specify when the remedy will become available, however.