On Friday, a US auto safety regulator announced the initiation of an investigation into 73,000 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid cars due to reports of sudden power loss, difficulties in restarting, and other related issues.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that the preliminary evaluation covers the model years 2016 through 2019 of the Chevrolet Volt, prompted by 61 complaints associated with the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM). Some complaints highlighted the lack of warning before the loss of power or entry into reduced power mode.
General Motors (GM) previously issued a technical service bulletin advising that if vehicles fail to restart, the BECM might need replacement and reprogramming. However, GM has not issued a recall for the affected vehicles.
It’s worth noting that GM discontinued production of the Volt in early 2019. As of now, GM has not provided immediate comments on the investigation.
The NHTSA emphasized that the identified issue could potentially pose a safety risk, particularly if the affected vehicles cannot keep up with the flow of traffic. The severity of the risk depends on the ability of a stalled vehicle to restart.
Some vehicle owners reported delays in obtaining replacement battery modules after experiencing the problem, with instances where the Volt unexpectedly lost propulsion, rendering it unable to turn on or drive.
Another owner noted a limitation in driving speed on the highway, stating that the Volt would not exceed 35 miles per hour and would stop driving on electricity randomly.
