--- title: "GM Offers Chevy Bolt Owners $1,400 Gift Card After Going Back on Battery Swaps" description: "GM had originally included 2020-2022 Bolt EVs in its initial battery replacement recall, until it changed that policy this past summer." date: "2023-10-24" modified: "2023-10-24" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-offers-chevy-bolt-owners-1400-gift-card-after-going-back-on-battery-swaps" categories: - "Car Tech" - "Chevrolet News" - "Electric Vehicles" - "News" - "News by Brand" tags: - "Bolt" - "Chevrolet" - "Electric Vehicle" --- # GM Offers Chevy Bolt Owners $1,400 Gift Card After Going Back on Battery Swaps ![]() *Chevrolet* In 2021, a number of battery fires in [Chevrolet]() Bolt EVs led General Motors to investigate and discover issues with some of the LG-supplied battery packs used in the vehicles. Naturally, GM issued a recall to replace all affected [Bolt]() packs. However, this past June GM announced it wouldn't be replacing batteries in 2020-2022 model-year cars, but instead installing an inconvenient software monitoring system to check the battery's safety over a long period. To get those customers on board with diagnostic software after promising them a battery swap, GM is now offering a $1,400 Visa gift card. The software GM is pushing to these Bolts will diagnose the battery's health to first determine if they need replacement as *[Electrek]()* reported, but there are two catches. To do so, owners will have to drive around 6,200 miles (10,000 km) with the software installed, and the Bolt's charge capacity will be limited to just 80% during the diagnostic period. Once the software deems the battery safe, charge capacity is designed to return to 100%, but more than 6,000 miles of driving with 80% of total range is an inconvenient proposition for many customers. Also, what if the battery *is* bad over that span, and requires replacement all the while? ![]() **General Motors** As you can imagine, many customers on the [*ChevyBolt.org*]() forum aren't happy with this arrangement and just want their batteries replaced, instead of having to live with a capped battery for 6,200 miles. And since many EV owners only drive short distances, those miles may take quite a while to rack up. Making matters worse, those miles would need to be completed before March 31, 2025 for the vehicle in question to qualify for a battery replacement, should the software deem it necessary. The $1,400 is part of the compensation from the class-action lawsuit, which was a result of the recall. To get the $1,400 Visa, customers need to sign a legal release and install the software on their Bolt. A GM representative told *The Drive*: "GM is announcing a [compensation program ]()for 2020-22 Bolt EV/EUV owners upon installation of the final advanced diagnostic software as part of the original battery recall. Owners are eligible to receive a $1,400 Visa eReward card upon installation. This applies to Bolt EV/EUV owners in the US only. We’re grateful to our customers for their patience and understanding." ![]() **General Motors** Without question, '20-'22 Bolt owners have the right to be annoyed, as they were initially promised battery replacements that later turned into an update that limits the day-to-day usability of the car they purchased. Of course, those customers may still get their batteries replaced if the software determines it's required after the testing period, but that potentially leaves them driving with underperforming or perhaps even dangerous batteries for months, or more than a year. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()