[FlashBoltEUV]

There were 148,000+ Chevrolet Volt vehicles sold between 2011-2018 in two generations with different battery packs. There were over 200,000+ Chevrolet Bolt vehicles sold in one generation with essentially the same battery pack. You aren’t going to have trouble getting refurbished parts for your Bolt once it is out of warranty. If you live in a blue state, there are plenty of independent EV Shops that will work on your Bolt, so when it is out of warranty it will be okay. Meanwhile, if you are under warranty, then the manufacturer needs to repair it for free or replace your vehicle with another one.

 

[Mangled Jargon]

If you live in a blue state, there are plenty of independent EV Shops that will work on your Bolt

I'll have to look into that. I haven't seen any yet around here, but it's a small rural state and EVs are 'brand new' to the mechanics shops nearest to me. Without looking into it, I'll bet there's one in my state and it's 230 miles away from me.

 

[bisco]

we live in a blue state, and there aren't even any hybrid shops, never mind ev's.

 

[bobr33543]

The weird thing is that the shift-to-park issue has nothing to do with the traction battery. It is actually a fairly easy problem to fix.

 

[evtinker]

I think the best hope for long-term Bolt ownership is the 2026 Bolt EUV when it returns to production. Sure, there will be changes, but it isn’t a clean sheet design so quite a bit will inevitably carry over. Yes, the batteries will be different and almost certainly not interchangeable, but the more of the rest that is the same the more incentive there is to provide 3rd party battery solutions. It is one thing if a car is limited production and already likely to be doomed to an early grave by a minor component becoming unavailable, but quite another if those minor components are still in production.

 

[Mangled Jargon]

The weird thing is that the shift-to-park issue has nothing to do with the traction battery. It is actually a fairly easy problem to fix.

Yes, exactly! It's a well known problem, GM has a service bulletin and I've been told that at most it's a $450 fix.

Even worse, I stopped by to get it's current mileage, borrowed the key from the service dept and it came right on ready to go. No warnings on the dash. Which jibes with what they said last April. THey don't want him to get stranded if the battery problem gets worse.

 

[Kipmail]

My dad has a 2017 Volt. For a few months last year he was getting the well-known 'shift into park' warning. This April he took it to the dealer to that that fixed. GM has a service bulletin and everything. It is still at the dealer and he's not getting is back any time soon!

When he brought it in they ran their diagnostic software and found a problem with the high voltage battery. They refused to release the car back to him and said the battery will be replaced under warranty, and the battery should be there in a month. Well, it's still not in.

So I called GM's Concierge service and spoke with a nice person there that had ZERO information about when - or even if - a Volt battery would ever be available. Because I was nice and not being mean to her she put me on hold and called a dealer she knows that likes her. What she told me was very interesting.

There is no new High Voltage battery part number in the GM parts database. They don't have any new batteries and they are not making any more new Volt batteries, they do not exist. What the dealer did tell here is that there is a GM parts database entry for a refurbished battery, put it has no ship date and is listed as a future product. She was told by the dealer that GM is taking old Volt batteries and swapping out the bad module with a module from a different Volt battery! Some day those batteries will ship, but no one knows when.

Meanwhile, the dealer that had offered $11,500 trade in value says that is now down to 10,000 and dropping every day it sits on their lot, having waited four months already for a battery that they can't say when it will ship. Basically, the car is lost $400/month, undriveable, waiting for parts.

GM has moved on from this series. They are selling Ultiums now and have no care for previous models. They are not about to spend money on old tech. This may very well mean they do the same thing with the Bolts, now that they are no longer made.

Has anyone had any problems in the last six months getting their Bolt battery replaced by GM?

I am having the same issue. My car has been at the dealership since June 2024. Initially I was told I’d likely hear something after the beginning of 2025. I have been told I’m on a list for a refurbished battery but there is no time frame. My dealership has been great providing me with a loaner car.

 

[bcoz70]

So, my 2017 has had “shift to park” issues for some 5+ years that I’ve complained each time I bring it in for Service. They replaced a part under warranty, that took a lot of convincing and contacting GM directly, however, it continued. Also, constantly having to sync fob, and unable to open the locks or power off the car. Currently, my Volt gave those same errors, plus a propulsion message, which also has been going on for that same time, but this time it wouldn’t go into drive. Towed in and now it’s dead. Quoted $9800.

 

[Mangled Jargon]

Happy update! Chevrolet sent a Volt battery to the dealer a couple weeks ago!! 16 months sitting on the lot.

And guess what? The 12v battery is toast for sitting unused for 16 months. And of course, GM wants my dad to pay for that replacement.

 

[SpicyBolt]

Happy update! Chevrolet sent a Volt battery to the dealer a couple weeks ago!! 16 months sitting on the lot.

And guess what? The 12v battery is toast for sitting unused for 16 months. And of course, GM wants my dad to pay for that replacement.

Is that the original 12v battery in your dad's 2017 Volt? If so, it was on borrowed time anyway at 8 years old.

 

[jefro]

Can't believe you got a pack.

 

[Mangled Jargon]

Is that the original 12v battery in your dad's 2017 Volt? If so, it was on borrowed time anyway at 8 years old.

12v batteries aren't supposed to last more than 8 years?? I had no such problems with lead-acid batteries. Battery dead from lack of use, just put it on a charger for a few hours.

Is the lack of battery stamina today because of enshittification?

 

[Mangled Jargon]

Can't believe you got a pack.

I was shocked! I got an email from GM Concierge just a couple weeks ago that there was no battery coming. I'm waiting to see if I get another one of those 'Sorry, but a battery is not yet available and we don't know when it's coming' emails.

 

[jefro]

I see some packs available for hybrid cars that double the rage. A sodium ion vendor doesn't even want core.

 

[MichBolt]

12v batteries aren't supposed to last more than 8 years?? I had no such problems with lead-acid batteries. Battery dead from lack of use, just put it on a charger for a few hours.

Is the lack of battery stamina today because of enshittification?

Seriously?
ChatGPT: Summarize web sources for the typical life of a 12V lead acid battery:

"The typical lifespan of a 12V lead-acid battery depends on several factors, but generally, it lasts between 3 to 5 years under optimal conditions. Here's a summary of the key factors affecting the life of a 12V lead-acid battery:

1. Battery Type:

Flooded Lead-Acid (FLA): Lasts about 3-5 years with proper maintenance (regular checking of water levels, cleaning terminals, etc.).

Sealed Lead-Acid (SLA): Includes AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) and Gel types, typically lasting 4-6 years, but with less maintenance required.

2. Charge/Discharge Cycles:

A typical lead-acid battery can handle around 300-500 charge/discharge cycles at 50% depth of discharge (DoD). If discharged too deeply or too frequently, the lifespan can decrease significantly.

Charging should be done at the correct voltage to prevent overcharging or undercharging, both of which can shorten battery life."

 

[BehindBars]

Seriously?
ChatGPT: Summarize web sources for the typical life of a 12V lead acid battery:

"The typical lifespan of a 12V lead-acid battery depends on several factors, but generally, it lasts between 3 to 5 years under optimal conditions. Here's a summary of the key factors affecting the life of a 12V lead-acid battery:

1. Battery Type:

Flooded Lead-Acid (FLA): Lasts about 3-5 years with proper maintenance (regular checking of water levels, cleaning terminals, etc.).

Sealed Lead-Acid (SLA): Includes AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) and Gel types, typically lasting 4-6 years, but with less maintenance required.

2. Charge/Discharge Cycles:

A typical lead-acid battery can handle around 300-500 charge/discharge cycles at 50% depth of discharge (DoD). If discharged too deeply or too frequently, the lifespan can decrease significantly.

Charging should be done at the correct voltage to prevent overcharging or undercharging, both of which can shorten battery life."

3-5 years typical lifespan under optimal conditions? I’d like to know what those optimal conditions might be. It’s more like 8 years typical battery life for me. I have two (ICE) vehicles right now where their 12 volt lead acid batteries are currently 8 years old. I tested those batteries recently and there was no indication they should be replaced at this time.

Optimal conditions for me is keeping the battery fully charged and keeping it cold whenever possible.

 

[Mangled Jargon]

Seriously?
ChatGPT: Summarize web sources for the typical life of a 12V lead acid battery:

"The typical lifespan of a 12V lead-acid battery depends on several factors, but generally, it lasts between 3 to 5 years under optimal conditions. Here's a summary of the key factors affecting the life of a 12V lead-acid battery:

1. Battery Type:

Flooded Lead-Acid (FLA): Lasts about 3-5 years with proper maintenance (regular checking of water levels, cleaning terminals, etc.).

Sealed Lead-Acid (SLA): Includes AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) and Gel types, typically lasting 4-6 years, but with less maintenance required.

2. Charge/Discharge Cycles:

A typical lead-acid battery can handle around 300-500 charge/discharge cycles at 50% depth of discharge (DoD). If discharged too deeply or too frequently, the lifespan can decrease significantly.

Charging should be done at the correct voltage to prevent overcharging or undercharging, both of which can shorten battery life."

AI is not a credible source.

Not one of those AI generated statements is even remotely true. As for reality I've never had a lead-acid battery last less than 5 years, and as long as 10.

Sounds like AGM batteries are not 'better technology, but Enshittification instead to force them to last less long, so the manufacturers can force us to have to buy them more often. Appliances life clothes washers and refrigerators used to last 20+ years, now we are lucky for them to last 5.

 

[SpicyBolt]

12v batteries aren't supposed to last more than 8 years?? I had no such problems with lead-acid batteries. Battery dead from lack of use, just put it on a charger for a few hours.

Is the lack of battery stamina today because of enshittification?

In my entire 50+ year life of driving and owning cars in Minnesota, I don't think I've ever had a 12 volt battery last as long as 8+ years. And, for many years I kept them until they died too.

Now, that I'm older and more financially secure, to avoid the hassle of a dead battery, I typically replace my 12 volt battery after 5 years. If it's $200, that's just $40/year. If the battery had lasted 10 years, then I would have saved a whopping $20/year. Unless your dad was about to sell his Volt, it's likely he would have needed a new 12 volt battery soon anyway.

 

[atc98092]

As for reality I've never had a lead-acid battery last less than 5 years, and as long as 10.

I certainly have. I've replaced the 12v in our '05 Dodge 1500 twice in at most 6 years. The truck is always garaged, but to be fair isn't driven a lot. About 2 months ago I went to use it after sitting for about two months and it was completely flat. I used my jump pack to start it and drove down to O'Reilly's to have them test it. They couldn't even test it because it was so flat, so I just replaced it.

I'd say in most ICE vehicles I've owned over the years my average was probably 5-7 years. But an ICE vehicle has an alternator that is providing a constant charge while the engine is running. In an EV/PHEV/HEV they use a DC-DC converter to charge from the HV battery, which isn't what a flooded cell lead acid battery likes. I haven't owned a PHEV/EV for long enough to see how long the battery will last, but from most reports on this and other forums, 3 years is considered an average to good lifespan.

 

[ClarDold]

But an ICE vehicle has an alternator that is providing a constant charge while the engine is running. In an EV/PHEV/HEV they use a DC-DC converter to charge from the HV battery, which isn't what a flooded cell lead acid battery likes.

The performance of the charge control module in my Cadillac with an alternator was identical to the charging behavior of my Nissan LEAF.
I'm not sure what your description of the output of a DC-DC converter is supposed to be saying.