File photo of a Chevrolet Bolt, courtesy of 
Gregory Varnum, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsFile photo of a Chevrolet Bolt, courtesy of Gregory Varnum, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Windsor

GM recalls electric Bolt vehicles due to fire risk

A defect in a seat belt system has prompted General Motors to issue a North American recall.

The Detroit-based automaker has recalled 140,000 Chevrolet Bolt EV vehicles due to an issue with the seat belt pretensioner. GM said that in rare occurrences, exhaust gases from the pretensioner may come in contact with floor carpeting fibers. In the event of a crash, it may start a fire.

GM said it had received reports of at least three fires but no reports of injuries.

The seat belt pretensioner is a key part of the mechanism, as it locks the belt into place in a collision.

The recall has included just over 20,000 Bolts sold in Canada. Vehicles from model years 2017 to 2023 are involved.

Vehicle owners will be notified if their Bolt is included. A GM dealer will correct the problem at no cost to the consumer.

Details on the recall can be found on the official U.S. NTHSA website.

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