GM Recalls 1.2 Million Electric Vehicles Over Battery Fire Risk on June 1

DETROIT — General Motors recalled 1.2 million electric vehicles worldwide on Tuesday over a battery defect that can cause fires, even when the car is parked and turned off.

The recall covers all 2017-2022 Chevrolet Bolt EVs and EUVs, plus the 2022 GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyriq. GM said the defect, linked to a torn anode separator in LG Energy Solution battery cells, has been tied to at least 18 confirmed fires. The company set aside $1.9 billion for the fix, which involves replacing entire battery modules at a cost of roughly $8,000 per vehicle.

“We’re asking owners to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the repair is complete,” said Scott Harrington, GM’s vice president of global safety. “This is not a theoretical risk. We’ve seen fires occur in vehicles that were fully shut down.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation into the fires last month after receiving 22 complaints. GM initially tried software patches to limit charging to 90% capacity, but the fix failed to stop thermal runaway events.

Battery supplier faces scrutiny

LG Energy Solution, which supplied the defective pouch-style cells from its plants in Michigan and South Korea, said in a statement it is “working closely with GM to identify root causes and ramp up replacement production.” The South Korean battery giant faces potential liability for a portion of the recall costs under its warranty agreement with GM.

The recall is a setback for GM’s ambitious EV push. The company has promised to spend $35 billion on electric vehicles by 2025 and aims to sell only zero-emission passenger cars by 2035. Analysts said the battery issue could dent consumer confidence at a critical moment.

“GM is in a race to convince mainstream buyers that EVs are safe and reliable,” said Laura Chen, an auto analyst at Morningstar. “A recall of this scale—especially when the fix is a full battery swap—undermines that message.”

What owners should do now

GM will begin notifying owners by mail this week. Dealers have been instructed to prioritize the recall and provide loaner vehicles if needed. The company said it expects to have enough replacement modules by late August to complete repairs within 60 days of a customer scheduling an appointment.

Owners of affected vehicles can check their VIN at GM’s recall website or call the company’s customer service line. Until the repair is done, GM recommends parking away from the garage and not charging the battery overnight.

Written by

David Park

David Park is a technology journalist covering AI, fintech, clean energy, and startups.