General Motors is recalling 3,233 model year 2013 Chevrolet Volts to remedy a problem with battery cell balancing that could cause the car to shut down in traffic.
General Motors says a previous software update to the Vehicle Interface Control Module (VICM) to improve the car may have disabled the cell balancing function causing a low-voltage condition.
If the voltage drops, the vehicle may lose propulsion, increasing the risk of crash.
“If the voltage in a given battery cell falls below a certain level, the vehicle may enter a reduced power mode and notify the driver that propulsion power is reduced,” the carmaker wrote in its notice to the NHTSA. “If the vehicle continues to be driven after the vehicle enters reduced power mode, the vehicle may lose propulsion.”
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the VICM, free of charge.
The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule.
Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM’s number for this recall is 18215.
