Chevrolet Preliminary Evaluation PE23022: Loss of Motive Power due to the Battery
2019 Chevrolet Volt
Electrical System Electrical System:Propulsion System Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery:Management System/Energy Control Module (Bms/Becm)
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 61 complaints and multiple TREAD (Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation) field reports alleging a loss of motive power, including a stall, reduced power state, and/or a no-start condition due to the Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) in model year (MY) 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt passenger car vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM).?The complaints allege that a loss of motive power or reduced power mode can occur at various speeds and the ability to restart after this occurs may not be available. Some complaints also allege that there is little to no warning when the loss of motive power or reduced power mode occurs. The hazard posed by a vehicle stalling event is manifested in the inability of the vehicle to move with the flow of surrounding traffic.? The stalled vehicle along with its operator and occupants becomes a stationary target with traffic moving past the vehicle. Two factors have a major impact on the potential hazard to the vehicle, its occupants and surrounding vehicles, the surrounding traffic speed and the stalled vehicle-??s restart ability. If the vehicle operator can restart the vehicle immediately or within a reasonable amount of time, the hazard is reduced, and the vehicle can rejoin the flow of traffic. If the surrounding traffic is not traveling at a significantly higher speed than the stalled vehicle, the surrounding traffic has sufficient time and ability to take evasive measures to avoid the road hazard imposed by the stalled vehicle. GM has released Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 18-NA-261 which concerns the BECM in the MY 2016-2019 Chevrolet Volt. This TSB states that a no-start condition or illumination of a malfunction indicator light (MIL) along with various diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) is possible. TSB states that this condition is caused by an internal issue in the BECM, and the repair is to replace and reprogram the BECM. Data from both ODI and GM has been discussed with the company on several occasions. ODI is opening this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) to determine the scope and severity of the potential problem and to fully assess the potential safety-related problems. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
