In November, General Motors recalled nearly 70,000 Chevrolet Bolt vehicles after reports of the electric car's battery catching fire. Now a class-action lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Illinois blames GM for negligence and fraud, alleging that the manufacturer knowingly distributed cars with defective, dangerous batteries. 

If you or a family member owns a Chevy Bolt, review the facts about the class action suit and take steps to stay safe. 

Reported issues

According to the Detroit News, at least five Bolt batteries have spontaneously caught fire when fully or nearly fully charged. Two individuals have suffered smoke inhalation injuries related to these incidents. The battery issue affects Bolt EVs in the 2017, 2018 and 2019 model years. 

Next steps

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently investigating three of the Bolt battery fires. Chevrolet dealerships began offering vehicle battery software updates to customers on November 17. This patch will stop the battery charge at 90% to eliminate the fire risk. 

Attorneys for the class action plaintiffs argue that this solution decreases the efficiency and effectiveness of the Chevy Bolt and seeks monetary compensation for Bolt owners. They note that GM has exaggerated the capabilities of the Bolt, including battery capacity and range. 

GM is not the only auto manufacturer to experience issues associated with electric vehicle batteries. Last year, Audi recalled its first all-electric SUV after its battery too caught fire. You may be eligible for legal compensation if you have experienced monetary loss after purchasing an electric vehicle with battery defects such as the Chevy Bolt.