[18Bolt SEA]

Has anyone gotten their Bolt replacement battery on the Big Island of HI? I have 2020 Bolt & contacted only Chevy dealer on BI, as soon as recall was announced. I know that the priority is 2017>2018>2019>2020.

I have had at least 3 EV concierges. One used to call me every week to let me know that no new battery was available for me. In March I was informed that my recall status had been changed to "no remedy identified" and they would not update me until that changed.
This dealer's service manager is not very friendly. In Sept, I drove 90 min to dealer to get software update only to find out that they were short handed. Their only tech was just going to lunch for an hour and would get to my car sometime later. They estimated a 4-5 hr wait to get software update. I told them that they should have called me to reschedule but they shrugged their shoulders. I would prefer my concierge to deal with this dealer but my concierge doesn't return my calls.
Have they started to replace batteries at this dealership? If so, what years?
Any suggestions?

 

[Packard V8]

Trying to force them to give a 2020 the software update? After driving, waiting and arguing were you successful?

jack vines

 

[18Bolt SEA]

Trying to force them to give a 2020 the software update? After driving, waiting and arguing were you successful?

I am not interested in getting the software update now. It is too risky to drive 90 min one way to get there and risk them doing the same thing to me. (Tell me that they are short handed and it is going to take 4-5 hrs to get my software updated.) I only charge to 90% and usually only charge with surplus solar (that is usually submaximal and usually intermittent) so my battery almost never gets hot during charging. In addition, some of my drives over saddle mountain and down the SE coast push my range to the limit so I don't want to be limited by the software update to 80-90% capacity.

I am trying to figure out if this dealer is actually replacing recalled Bolt batteries or giving everyone the run around. My Chevy dealer in Seattle got a batch of replacement batteries in and scheduled my 2018 Bolt's replacement, as soon as I could get the car to him. My guess is that Chevy will ship a batch of replacement Bolt batteries to this dealer and they will be able to replace all of the Bolt batteries on the Big Island with one batch of replacement batteries. (I see plenty of Tesla's on the Big Island and very few Bolts.) On the other hand, Chevy may have a warehouse in Honolulu that they ship batches of Bolt batteries and then barge them out to the neighboring islands based upon 2017>2018>2019>2020 priority. If I had a responsive EV concierge, he/she could probably figure out what is going on but mine did not return my call and hasn't reached out to me since March.

When I had a Volt, this dealer's service manager tried to tell me that if I didn't get my oil changed every 3 mo, I would void my warranty. Their service department is untrustworthy.

 

[ARCowboy]

I am not interested in getting the software update now. It is too risky to drive 90 min one way to get there and risk them doing the same thing to me. (Tell me that they are short handed and it is going to take 4-5 hrs to get my software updated.) I only charge to 90% and usually only charge with surplus solar (that is usually submaximal and usually intermittent) so my battery almost never gets hot during charging. In addition, some of my drives over saddle mountain and down the SE coast push my range to the limit so I don't want to be limited by the software update to 80-90% capacity.

I am trying to figure out if this dealer is actually replacing recalled Bolt batteries or giving everyone the run around. My Chevy dealer in Seattle got a batch of replacement batteries in and scheduled my 2018 Bolt's replacement, as soon as I could get the car to him. My guess is that Chevy will ship a batch of replacement Bolt batteries to this dealer and they will be able to replace all of the Bolt batteries on the Big Island with one batch of replacement batteries. (I see plenty of Tesla's on the Big Island and very few Bolts.) On the other hand, Chevy may have a warehouse in Honolulu that they ship batches of Bolt batteries and then barge them out to the neighboring islands based upon 2017>2018>2019>2020 priority. If I had a responsive EV concierge, he/she could probably figure out what is going on but mine did not return my call and hasn't reached out to me since March.

When I had a Volt, this dealer's service manager tried to tell me that if I didn't get my oil changed every 3 mo, I would void my warranty. Their service department is untrustworthy.

From what I've heard, the dealership has very little control in the matter. Batteries for already owned Bolts are being prioritized (heavily, based on the statistics published) but they're done in VIN lots. Dealers don't get an ETA on the batteries (even for the unsold 2022's they can't sell sitting on their lots) until the battery replacement is either slated for production or produced. Then they don't get an ETA of when it will show up, just that it has been produced/is slated for production.

Eventually a battery pack, or set of packs, shows up in giant wooden crates. I'd imagine Hawai'i will take slightly longer in shipment because I'm not sure they could ship those batteries by air due to FAA regulations, even on cargo aircraft. They probably have to go by sea. So now instead of the usual train -> truckload -> Less Than Truckload -> Dealership, you've got sea freight mixed in there.

Just my thoughts. Sounds frustrating; I'm sorry to hear about your situation

 

[Packard V8]

X2 - it seems GM releases your VIN as ready for replacement, your dealer confirms you're ready, GM ships the battery linked to your and only your VIN.

jack vines

 

[18Bolt SEA]

Jack Vines,
You are wrong about the replacement process. When I bought my used 2018 Bolt, I called my closest dealer. Their service department told me that they had several replacement batteries on hand and they were willing to and did replace mine within a week.
In regards to your earlier comment, I did not go there to argue to get a battery update. They called and told me that I needed to bring my Bolt in to get the software update.
I still haven't heard anything from this dealer.
Has anyone on this forum, had their Bolt battery replaced on the Big Island?

 

[18Bolt SEA]

Of course Chevy will not fly replacement batteries to Hawaii. Heavy items are shipped to Hawaii from the west coast. The usual time to ship an EV to the Big Island from the west coast is 2 weeks.

 

[NortonCommando]

...Has anyone on this forum, had their Bolt battery replaced on the Big Island?

Good luck.
I know I would not want to be the first.
I'd keep quiet about it for as long as possible....

 

[Bolt2019]

Good luck.
I know I would not want to be the first.
I'd keep quiet about it for as long as possible....

I think I was #2 for my dealer. A theory could be that they would be extra cautious and following the instructions for the first few. I'm fine with that.
But of course one has to have some faith and trust in the dealer to begin with. It doesn't sound like 18Bolt SEA has that here.

 

[krkobel]

Has anyone on this forum, had their Bolt battery replaced on the Big Island?

You might want to direct message user KonaKaiKen. He’s active on the forum and lives in Kona.

 

[ARob]

You are wrong about the replacement process. When I bought my used 2018 Bolt, I called my closest dealer. Their service department told me that they had several replacement batteries on hand and they were willing to and did replace mine within a week.

That goes against thousands of accounts from folks on the forum who have had replacements completed. GM has done nearly half of the 2017-2019 fleet by now and the process repeatedly described is:

• VIN become eligible and recall status is updated in GM systems
• Nothing happens until owner calls dealer and dealer verified eligibility. Some dealers may be more proactive?
• Dealer orders pack
• Delivery takes 2-6 weeks or longer, depending on shipping availability
• Upon arrival, dealer notifies owner and schedules an appointment
• 1-2 days for the replacement.

If your experience in Seattle was as described, that certainly is not typical and there is probably more to it. Perhaps your car was eligible when you called? Maybe dealer had a cancelation from someone who sold or totaled their Bolt?

Here is the status of 2017-2019 model year Bolts as of July:

And 2020+:

The anecdotal evidence since May is that GM and Dealer inventory (unsold new 2022 Bolts not yet delivered to customers), and repurchased or trade in stock were getting higher priority. This was likely a short term thing to clear unsold inventory before 2023 models started shipping. Therefore, focus should be returning to 2020 models.

I know of 2017 owners who still have original packs, and presumably these remain higher priority than 2020+ models.

We all know how frustrating it is to wait and endure the uncertainty. But all the foot stomping in the world is unlikely to change anything. So, hang tight. Calling the concierge and dealer won't speed anything up and will only add to your (and their) frustration.

Maybe your comment "You are wrong about the replacement process" will be seen by most as unnecessarily confrontational given everything we collectively know about the process. Maybe something more like that has not been my experience would be a more respectful way to disagree? Don't forget the cardinal rule of the forum is respect. You will generally get the same in return.

 

[KonaKaiKen]

You might want to direct message user KonaKaiKen. He’s active on the forum and lives in Kona.

Still waiting on my battery. The only Chevy dealer on this island is in Hilo. Getting service from this dealership is difficult. It's a 3 month wait to get any kind of service. My next ev will not be a Chevy even though I actually like the Bolt. My wife and I were just talking this morning. We're considering a Ford or some other make with a nearby dealership. I think I'll go and check out the Ford Mustang ev forum.

 

[18Bolt SEA]

@KonaKaiKen
Did you get your battery replaced yet? I can't get them to even order my replacement battery because the want me to drive it there so that they can "confirm my eligibility". Problem is that I live 90 min away so it would be a waste of at least 3 hrs just so they could look at my car.
They did service work on my Volt at their Toyota dealership in Kona. Have they done any work on your Bolt in Kona?
Have you ever gotten the service manager to return your calls?
Mahalo

 

[KonaKaiKen]

@KonaKaiKen
Did you get your battery replaced yet? I can't get them to even order my replacement battery because the want me to drive it there so that they can "confirm my eligibility". Problem is that I live 90 min away so it would be a waste of at least 3 hrs just so they could look at my car.
They did service work on my Volt at their Toyota dealership in Kona. Have they done any work on your Bolt in Kona?
Have you ever gotten the service manager to return your calls?
Mahalo

Yes, at the end of last November. I made a staycation out of it and stayed at Volcano National Park for 2 days. I saw 2 volcanoes going at once. The battery replacement went well. They did a good job and the car has been running great. They will keep your car overnight and give you a rental. The guess-o-meter always shows 300 or more miles whenever we charge. I have used the Kona Toyota for some services. For service in Hilo I suggest stopping by the service department next time you're on that side of the island. In my case they called me when they had a battery for me. Your turn for a new battery shouldn't be too far off.

 

[18Bolt SEA]

My concierge called me back 4 hrs later today. She agreed that it was totally unreasonable for this dealer to ask me to drive 90 min each way so the dealer could certify my eligibility. It took her hours to finally speak to someone at the dealership. She spoke with the parts manager who agreed that my Vin certifies my eligibility and finally ordered my battery today after my Vin was approved back in Nov 2022. He said that they would call me to schedule replacement after it arrived in 3-4 wks. I suspect that in a month, I will need to make numerous phone calls to get the battery installed but maybe they will surprise me. Nothing is easy in dealing with the Chevy dealer in Hilo, ask
BTW if my concierge or I followed Rob's above "advice" (lecture) and waited patiently for the dealer to get back to me, it would never have gotten ordered. The difference between customer service at my Bolt dealer in Seattle and Hilo is enormous, see KonaKaiKen's post.

 

[KonaKaiKen]

My concierge called me back 4 hrs later today. She agreed that it was totally unreasonable for this dealer to ask me to drive 90 min each way so the dealer could certify my eligibility. It took her hours to finally speak to someone at the dealership. She spoke with the parts manager who agreed that my Vin certifies my eligibility and finally ordered my battery today after my Vin was approved back in Nov 2022. He said that they would call me to schedule replacement after it arrived in 3-4 wks. I suspect that in a month, I will need to make numerous phone calls to get the battery installed but maybe they will surprise me. Nothing is easy in dealing with the Chevy dealer in Hilo, ask
BTW if my concierge or I followed Rob's above "advice" (lecture) and waited patiently for the dealer to get back to me, it would never have gotten ordered. The difference between customer service at my Bolt dealer in Seattle and Hilo is enormous, see KonaKaiKen's post.

I ordered my battery in February. They told me 4-6 weeks to get it but it actually took 9 months. So be patient, that's life living on a rock.