There are good news for you if you were one of those who bought an electric Chevrolet Bolt: You could receive financial compensation because the batteries in these vehicles are defective. There is currently a class action lawsuit against General Motors and LG Electronics because these batteries could swell and catch fire, so if this legal dispute is also your thing, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know.
This is not the first time something like this has happened. Other big companies have also faced lawsuits for battery problems. For example, Apple was sued because the batteries in its Apple Watch swelled and overheated. Now, General Motors is facing a similar situation, but on a much larger scale, as the problem involves its entire range of electric vehicles.
Which models are involved in this compensation?
Those who purchased a Chevrolet Bolt EV electric vehicle, from the 2017 and 2022 models, and manufactured before August 19, 2021, have to pay special attention because the class action lawsuit is also against them, and each user could receive up to $2,100 dollars in compensation for this error. And although GM and LG have not admitted fault, they have agreed to compensate those affected with $150 million dollars!
Who can request compensation?
As we told you in the previous paragraph, to receive the payment, you must have purchased (or leased) a Chevrolet Bolt EV model 2017-2022 and that was manufactured before August 19, 2021, if your vehicle does not meet these characteristics, this compensation is not for you.
The money you receive will depend on the repairs that have had to be made to your vehicle:
- $700 dollars if your Bolt received a new battery. $1,400 if you only had a software update instead of replacing the battery.
- Up to $2,100 if you had to pay for other battery-related repairs in addition to the update.
- $700 even if you already sold or returned the car before the repair was done.
Also, and this is new, GM is going to include diagnostic software to monitor the batteries and thus avoid similar problems in the future.
And how do I claim the money?
You will have to submit a request before February 24, 2025, you can do it online or through the website and, of course, you will need some documents to make both the payment and the repair of the vehicle.
- Vehicle registration to prove that you owned or leased the vehicle, or if not, the lease agreement if applicable.
- Your driver’s license (because they need an official ID)
- Proof of software repair if you have already visited a shop for this same problem.
When will you receive the money?
If you qualify for this payment, here you have the most important dates of the process:
- 24th February: it will be the last day to present your reclamation, if you do not send it before this date, you will not be able to claim this. Hurry up!!
- 25th March: The final hearing will take place, where a judge will decide whether the agreement is approved. Basically, it is the last step before payments begin.
- After 25th March: Once they decide this agreement, General Motors will start to send payment to the people who will benefit from this process.
If you have already submitted your claim, it is time to wait. If you have not yet submitted it, do not waste time because after February 24th there will be no more opportunity!! Also, you don’t have to go to court or file a claim, they’ve already done it for you. All you have to do is fill out the form and receive the money, GM will take care of everything else. Don’t miss this opportunity!