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Chevy Bolt owners must choose between rebates and battery defect lawsuits

<p>Chevy offered rebates to Bolt EV (https://www.engadget.com/chevys-2022-bolt-ev-redesign-comes-with-an-entirely-new-model-210004893.html) owners who bought their cars just before a 2023 model price drop (https://www.engadget.com/gm-2023-chevy-bolt-ev-euv-price-cut-193132395.html), but that discount comes with a large catch. Jalopnik (https://jalopnik.com/chevy-offers-bolt-owners-6-000-to-waive-right-to-sue-o-1849357351) and Autoblog (https://www.autoblog.com/2022/08/02/chevy-bolt-battery-fire-rebate-fine-print/) note the rebate application requires that drivers &quot;forever waive and release&quot; their right to sue GM or LG over the Bolt's reported battery defect (https://www.engadget.com/gm-chevy-bolt-ev-recall-battery-replacement-155343570.html). You'd have to be content with the savings even if the car did serious damage, in other words. GM confirmed the agreement language with Engadget.</p><p>GM first recalled (https://www.engadget.com/gm-recalls-chevy-bolt-over-battery-fire-reports-230044311.html) the Bolt in November 2020 after reports of battery fires between 2017 and 2019. The automaker tried addressing the issue with a software update in April 2021, but two subsequent fires and a second recall led the NHTSA to warn against parking indoors (https://www.engadget.com/gm-chevy-bolt-fire-warning-215322969.html). That prompted a July 2021 recall where GM replaced the battery packs (https://www.engadget.com/gm-recalls-bolt-evs-once-again-over-fire-risks-154033780.html). The brand eventually recalled all manufactured Bolts, pledged an additional $1 billion for battery replacements and offered an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty on substitute batteries.</p><span id="end-legacy-contents"></span><p>The company has since used financial incentives to regain trust. It slashed the price of the Bolt EV and Bolt EUV between $5,900 and $6,300, and offered comparable rebates (https://www.chevybolt.org/threads/5900-rebate.44119/page-3#post-731936) to people who bought 2020, 2021 and 2022 models this year. The exact rebate amounts depend on the model year and trim level.</p><p>As Jalopnik explained, this isn't the first time GM has used legal agreements to protect its reputation. Cadillac Lyriq (https://www.engadget.com/cadillac-lyric-suv-ev-first-drive-video-130014787.html) buyers were offered a $5,500 discount if they agreed not to talk about problems with the electric SUV, and purchasers of high-end cars like the Hummer EV void their warranties (https://www.engadget.com/gm-limit-warranty-transfers-ban-buyers-flipping-hummer-ev-151155610.html) if they flip their vehicles within a year. However, this latest move could easily be the most concerning — the rebate amounts to a legal settlement rather than a kind offer.</p>

Source: Chevy Bolt owners must choose between rebates and battery defect lawsuits (https://www.engadget.com/chevy-bolt-ev-rebate-battery-lawsuit-waiver-192335723.html?src=rss)