Report: GM Plans to Call Back 8,000 Chevy Volts
- Posted on January 5, 2012 at 1:56pm by
Becket Adams
- Print »
- Email »
General Motors has decided that it needs to strengthen the structure around the batteries in its Volt electric cars to keep them safe during crashes, a person briefed on the matter said Thursday.
GM will ask Volt owners to return the cars to dealers for structural modifications, said the person, who did not want to be identified because GM executives plan to announce the repairs later Thursday.
Watch the breaking update from CNBC:
The fixes are similar to a recall and involve about 8,000 Volts sold in the U.S. in the past two years. GM is making the repairs after three Volt batteries caught fire following crash tests done by federal safety regulators. The fires occurred seven days to three weeks after tests and have been blamed on a coolant leak that caused an electrical short.
GM’s move is considered a step below a recall, which would be issued by a car company and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
NHTSA and GM have said the electric cars are safe and that no fires have occurred after crashes on real-world roadways.
The Volt has a T-shaped, 400-pound battery pack that can power the car for about 35 miles. After that, a small gasoline generator kicks in to run the electric motor.
NHTSA has been investigating the batteries after a Volt caught fire in June at a crash test facility in Wisconsin. The fire broke out three weeks after a side-impact crash test.
GM said the Volt’s battery should have been drained after the crash, but it never told NHTSA to do that. Later, two GM executives said the company had no formal procedure to drain the batteries until after the June fire. GM has said that the liquid solution used to cool the Volt’s battery leaked and crystallized, causing an electrical short that touched off the fire.
The company now sends out a team to drain the batteries after being notified of a crash by GM’s OnStar safety system.
The company sold 7,671 Volts last year, falling short of its goal of 10,000. It was outsold last year by its main electric car competitor, the Nissan Leaf, at 9,674.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 581 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 408 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 407 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 373 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 360 Comments
Faith
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 407 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 408 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 360 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 302 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 407 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (90)
COFemale
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 3:00pmGood. Monument, CO family is out of their home because their “electric car”, which hasn’t been identified as a Volt yet, caught fire last night and burned the entire garage; raising CO2 levels so high that the family can’t stay in the home. Luckily the family was able to get out in their PJs, but some pets are still unaccounted for. The news station today confirmed the fire started from an electric car. This family was said to be very “green” conscience and use solar panels.
Report Post »TexasHunter
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 3:21pmDoes Owebama come with the recall? Sure hope so!
Report Post »IMPEACHBHO
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 3:50pmElectric? Gotta burn coal to get it. Green idiots.
Report Post »TXPilot
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 4:03pmI don’t know what everyone is complaining about, since the Volt is a truly remarkable green car. Not only does it run on electricity, use very little gas, but once it has been crashed, it’s programmed to burst into flames and reduce itself back down to a pile of various elements, ready for recycling……However, I think I will stay with my 40 year old jeep. No computers, no seat belts, no air bags, no emissions equipment, no crumple zones, no 30mph bumpers, no cheap plastic, no lightweight metal, no “modern styling” that makes it look like I’m driving a half-melted stick of butter….and best of all, it doesn’t need a NASA scientist to work on it, should it break…oh, and did I mention, it has actual chrome on it, instead of that plastic, fake stuff they use now?
Report Post »Polwatcher
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 4:13pmAnyone with amemory knows that Lithium batteries can spontaneously explode as they did in laptops a few years ago. From the very beginning, having an electric car with a lithium battery parked in my garage spells fire hazard. I cannot figure out why all the guru‘s couldn’t get that from the get go.
Report Post »Dr Vel
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 4:36pmYou might mention to them to open the doors and windows. CO2 is a heavier than air gas after all and will blow out with the breeze. What? You thought CO2 is a goo that stuck to walls forever?
Report Post »John 1776
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 4:36pmYes, Lithium burns when exposed to air, a lot like Sodium. Any crack or imperfection in one of the cases that lets air in can start things off. Once the burn starts, you have two sources feeding the inferno, the lithium itself, and the arc discharge of all the power stored in the battery. I don’t know how you can be positive that an accident, or even an install goof will not crack a battery.
Report Post »The American People
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 4:06amahhhhhh “green” technology before its viable. Its a shame that they had to learn the lesson like that but I hope they did learn why you keep an agenda driven administration out of car production. Obama can drive one though if he wants. Sending the Volt’s production to China? That will only make the damn thing safer right?? lol. Its actually because of that move that I can’t wait for GM to fail. Go Ford.
Report Post »Ready2Rumble
Posted on January 7, 2012 at 6:02pmI wondering if almost being killed by their electric Edsel has cured these idiots of being their “greenism”?
Report Post »SLARTIBARTFAST
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 3:00pmLithium -Polymer (li-po) batteries sold for radio controlled airplanes provide a lot of power, allowing the little planes and helicopters to do things never tough of when I was in the hobby 20 years ago. They do, however, highly recommend that you wrap the batteries in special fire-proof bags when they are being charged, and also say that you should not approach a crashed model aircraft for 30 minutes for fear of fire. Check it out here: http://www.towerhobbies.com/help/ama_lipo/index.html
Report Post »a1776patriot
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:58pmInstead of Volt owners taking their cars back to the dealer they should drop them off in front of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave and thrown their keys over the fence onto the White House lawn.
Report Post »sndrman
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 7:53pmright next to john fing kerrys nam medals? or were they his medals in the 1st place?
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:57pmI bet barack made a deal with Progressive insurance to install their little monitoring device that “rewards good driving” while helps them deny as many claims as possible.
Report Post »OklahomaBound
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:54pmDon’t recall them, people who bought these things got what they paid for, a government vehicle, so let them live with their purchase.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:52pm###### “……electric cars to keep them safe during crashes…..########
_______________________________________________________________________________
How can that statement be possible? In order for a car to be involved in an accident, it must be able to work or run in the first place… This car does neither making it accident proof.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 3:01pmThat means it’s safety rating should be through the roof.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 3:12pmA tow truck driver told me years ago .. that after a crash you had to take extra precautions just to tow the vehicle away .. I would not want to be in it during the crash!
Report Post »Republic
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:48pmThis is just a, “shocking” report. Sorry….couldn’t resist.
Report Post »FEMALL
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:45pmIt’s come to this: Suing Ourselves–All those greedy Volt folks who said “ca-ching” on the taxpayers dime during Cash 4 Commie Clunkers will now line up and sue the taxpayer owned Govt Motors under Lemon Laws.
O=Extra Constitutional Affair
Report Post »vinnymac46
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:41pm“The company sold 7,671 Volts last year, falling short of its goal of 10,000. It was outsold last year by its main electric car competitor, the Nissan Leaf, at 9,674.”…
And GM’s brainiacs keep wondering why they go bankrupt…
Report Post »concealled9mms
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 3:20pmand they are going to start building the volt in china
Report Post »GrumpyCat
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 4:26pmThey sold 7600 and are recalling 8000? Thats amazing!
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:36pmIt’s about how many they sold. That car is costing the American taxpayer $250,000 per vehicle.
Report Post »http://www.michigancapitolconfidential.com/16192
Dumpster Baby
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:33pmWhat is wrong with alternative forms of energy? Just curious.
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:37pmNothing wrong with them. Just angry that taxpayer’s are doing the losing rather than private investors.
Report Post »RebelBroker
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:42pmNothing is wrong. Did you get from this article that something was wrong with alternative energy? If so, I sure did miss it. The problem comes up when the alternative offered is not a very good alternative. Smart alternatives tend to thrive and create new markets. Nobody starting buying flat screen TVs instead of tubes because of some government mandate. They did it because the flat screens were better. People did not stop buying horses in favor of cars because of a mandate, they did it because it was a better alternative. You offer the public a good alternative and they will adopt it.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:51pmBecause they havn’t developed an alternative source that will meet the demands.
Report Post »mrfunn
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:58pmIt seems some of the alternative forms of energy should still be in the research and development phase.
Report Post »The money would be better spent there.
CatB
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 3:09pmYou plug it in .. and you are powering the car with COAL .. how is that an “alternative”?
Report Post »GaryInTheMiddle
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 3:21pmThere is nothing wrong with alternative energy, if it works. I totally resent having to pay for Obuttheads folly with my taxes. Alternative energy need to come from the private market so they have an incentive to do it right.
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:33pmI worked in the automotive/truck industry for 30 years. I always told people not to get cars like this because of mostly unproven technologies in them. Plus the proven fact that the more things you put into a motor vehicle the greater the chance of breakdowns.
Report Post »diablosho
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:25pmHEAR THAT!!! Suddenly buying cars, much like cellphones, REQUIRES a monthly-subscription in addition to a VERY LARGE initial purchase!!! Freakin’ stupid…
Report Post »OneTermPresident
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:22pmThe Volt runs on coal… It takes a coal fired electricity plant to supply it’s batteries with power.
Report Post »OneTermPresident
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:19pmFunny how everything Oblamer has been around has either filed bankruptcy or gone to hell in a handbag.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:33pmThat‘s because he doesn’t have a clue and never will. He never grew up American and will never know how to be one.
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 5:32pmIts because the stimulus money went to his friends and campaign contributors..Just another rip off of the American tax payers..If all this Green Technology is needed; the free market will provide it a no cost to the tax payers
Report Post »mrfunn
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:19pmWonder if they will be any better built in China?
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:27pmNo, they won’t be built better, just cheaper.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 3:10pmIt is not a “CALL BACK” … it is a RECALL .. remember what Obama and his thugs did to Toyota?
Report Post »bks762
Posted on January 6, 2012 at 1:04amNot better… just much cheaper. The paint will have lead in it just like the toys they produce, any metal alloys will be full of cadnium, the battery will probably be full of lead as well. Of course the Unions won’t have as much cash to donate to their beloved Democrats after those employees get fired when their jobs are shipped overseas. And Obama wants to “strengthen” the middle class??? Apparantly not in this country. By the way… if your kids drop a piece of candy or a chp in one of these things made in China DON’T let them pick it up and eat it or they may get lead poisoning!!!
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:19pmGee, the Voltobama-Mobile is a piece of dangerous, expensive junk. Whoda-thunk-it?
Report Post »tamatt27
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 5:53pmThe Volt itself has nothing to do with Obama……the car was researched and developed before he was elected.
Report Post »MistaB
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:17pmSounds like they recalled every Volt that was sold. Amazing.
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:14pmI think this is funny as hell! GM = Idiots!
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:11pmMighty expensive way to light your smokes barry.
Report Post »SoCaLCapitalist
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:09pmGovernment Motors a name you can’t trust. This car was obviously rushed to market without proper testing.
The VOLT is Obaminations Mission Accomplished
bama54m
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:08pmThsi is what you expect,,when the gov. runs anything,,can you say USPS !
Report Post »I saw one of these turkeys on I-79,runnng on the rain with no lights on,,and it was a doctors car Go figure,,maybe he was trying to drum up some business ?
smithclar3nc3
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:12pmAm I missing something here The company sold 7,671 Volts last year and they’re recalling 8,000.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:17pmSMITH: Must be more of the Democrat’s Bad Math – like that 99% and 1% hooey ….
Report Post »Dumpster Baby
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:05pmThis is all the proof I need that God wants us to continue to consume fossil fuels. His supply is endless and glorious.
Report Post »MAULEMALL
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:03pmLeave it for the chineese to fix
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on January 5, 2012 at 2:03pmCoal Fired Cars, towing portable fire departments. Training will be mandatory ,and the expense picked up by the owners , for electrical and hazardous material fire fighting. You HAVE to join a union also.
More of Barry’s green job initiative.
Report Post »