[wesley]

A recall notice has been arriving in the mailboxes of the Korean Bolt EV owners this week. I'll provide a translation since it would provide little use to let you see the original Korean text.

---
Customer Notice

Thank you very much for your care and love of GM Korea.

We send you this notice as required by the Korean Automotive Management Act.

"Your car may generate 'knocking(tick-tick)' sound from the stabilizer link while slowly cruising, passing over uneven surfaces, or turning the steering wheel, and therefore the following repair is provided free of charge."

1. Contents of the Repair

A. Name of the Car or Part: Bolt EV
B. Manufacturing Date: November 2, 2016 to July 15, 2018
C: Equipment or Part at Fault: Stabilizer Link
D: Cause of the Fault: Due to its insufficient lubricating performance, 'knocking(tick-tick)' sound may be generated from the stabilizer link while slowly cruising, passing over uneven surfaces, or turning the steering wheel.

2. How the Repair is Provided
A. Validity of the Repair: August 30, 2018 to August 29, 2020 (2 Years)
B. Method of the Repair: Replacement of the stabilizer link
C. Location Responsible for the Repair: Subset of the GM Korea Servicing Network (56 Total, Listed on the Back)
D. Cost of the Repair: Completely Free of Charge
E. Effect on the Car that Did Not Get Repaired: 'Knocking(tick-tick)' sound may be generated from the stabilizer link while slowly cruising, passing over uneven surfaces, or turning the steering wheel, causing discomfort while driving.

3. Further Information
A. The repair may take up to 40 minutes to complete, but you may have to wait longer if you visit a service center without reservation. Please make a reservation on your nearest Servicing Network beforehand.
B. GM Korea Customer Center: 080-3000-5000(Call for information on the service center, claims, and other inquiries)

* Notice to the Lease or Rental Companies *
If this customer notice is received by a lease or rental company, please notify the actual driver or have the complementary repair done on their behalf.
---

Quite a lot of Bolt EV drivers in Korea, including myself, have experienced the annoying tick-tick sound from the front suspension starting around the beginning of summer, this year and last. But when the issue was raised last year, there were only a few hundred owners at most, so it didn't get much attention.

However, this year was different - the car was the best-selling EV for two consecutive months, and now the total number of Bolts in the country is approximately five thousand. It looks like GM Korea got the message and now the recall has been initiated.

Given the fact that the range of date of the affected cars go all the way to November 2016, GM Korea is basically conceding that the issue affects all 2017 and 2018 Bolt EVs.

 

[MDBolt]

Thanks for sharing. I have a suspicion our Bolt is suffering from the same issue. I’ve heard what sounds like a “clink” or “tink” when pulling out of the garage (there’s about a half inch drop off on the curb). Does it sound like that to you in your Bolt?

Initially thought it was due to the rear hatch as others have suggested. After lubricating that area liberally with silicone grease, nothing has changed.

Wondering if a similar recall / program makes its way stateside. If not I’ll probably bring it in anyway at some point.

 

[bro1999]

Thanks for sharing. I have a suspicion our Bolt is suffering from the same issue. I’ve heard what sounds like a “clink” or “tink” when pulling out of the garage (there’s about a half inch drop off on the curb). Does it sound like that to you in your Bolt?

Initially thought it was due to the rear hatch as others have suggested. After lubricating that area liberally with silicone grease, nothing has changed.

Wondering if a similar recall / program makes its way stateside. If not I’ll probably bring it in anyway at some point.

It's likely if enough of us complain, they will issue a bulletin. They basically acknowledge it's a potential issue for ALL Bolts in the above notice.

 

[MDBolt]

It's likely if enough of us complain, they will issue a bulletin. They basically acknowledge it's an issue for ALL Bolts in the above notice.

Count me in! How does one go about complaining in the proper channels to achieve this goal of bulletin issuance? I have a feeling that there should be a good enough number of folks here in the US with the same issue to gain traction.

As noted, it's a high-pitched metallic "clink" or "tink" during the situations described in the Korean bulletin (i.e., "while slowly cruising, passing over uneven surfaces, or turning the steering wheel"). Barely perceptible, I only hear it when the radio's off. It kind of reminds me of the sound that's made when plinking at tin cans.

I'll see if I can capture audio of it one of these days for demonstration purposes and post it on this thread. (Would probably help in the future if I decide to go to the dealer.)

 

[Enzeder]

Mine does this. Need to take it in as it's annoying. As the sound can be heard while the car is stationary I thought it was a strut bearing issue.
For reference, I can easily hear this over the radio.

 

[lexcyn]

Mine has this ticking noise as well - I hope we get the recall or at least a bulletin!

PS: My dealer thinks I'm crazy for bringing it in for this noise but it drives ME crazy!

 

[Hugoland]

Hi wesley - is there any chance that you have an official GM Korea recall number for this?

Many owners in the USA & Canada are having this issue too & it might be helpful for us to be able to talk to dealers about it.

Thanks for any help that you might be able to provide. h

 

[XJ12]

all electric cars are going to get louder pedestrian warning systems. not really to warn pedestrians, but to prevent people from hearing the suspension.

 

[wesley]

Thanks for sharing. I have a suspicion our Bolt is suffering from the same issue. I’ve heard what sounds like a “clink” or “tink” when pulling out of the garage (there’s about a half inch drop off on the curb). Does it sound like that to you in your Bolt?

Yeah, that sounds like it.

Hi wesley - is there any chance that you have an official GM Korea recall number for this?

Many owners in the USA & Canada are having this issue too & it might be helpful for us to be able to talk to dealers about it.

Thanks for any help that you might be able to provide. h

I will try to get ahold of the number. The notice did not include one, but there should be one written on the repair slip when the car is taken into the shop to fix this issue.

 

[mattgermain1]

I had this issue and it was so bad the dealer kept the car for 1 week while they tried to figure it out. They couldn't believe that all of the suspension was still torqued to spec. They ended up replacing the whole steering column and a few other parts and that finally resolved it. I know if was this issue. it started at 15k miles and was finally replaced at 22k miles after several visits to the dealer to complain. All work done under warranty. The worst part is i can hear it starting to happen again. If it gets worse I will bring it in before the 36k mile warranty is up.


thanks for sharing!

 

[Dar]

I received my 2017 bolt oct.28/17. In around March the clicking started. Took the car to the dealer and they changed the left front sway bar link. It’s was ok for awhile but the clicking is back again!
It makes the noise at low speeds less than 5km/h and can feel it clearly while in stop and go traffic, on and off throttle in L mode. I have under 13k km

 

[PhilBo]

all electric cars are going to get louder pedestrian warning systems. not really to warn pedestrians, but to prevent people from hearing the suspension.

And the steering, and the rear hatch, and the...............

 

[NewsCoulomb]

Given the fact that the range of date of the affected cars go all the way to November 2016, GM Korea is basically conceding that the issue affects all 2017 and 2018 Bolt EVs.

Not mine!

I'm glad they are taking care of this, though. I've heard a number of complaints from U.S. owners as well.

 

[wesley]

GM Korea's official recall number for this issue is: A182179910.
I've asked around for this in a Korean forum and someone just posted it for me.

Affected part number is listed as DW P42514933 ("Link, Front Stabilizer Shaft"), by the way.

 

[psyflyjohn]

Don't disregard the rear hatch as a noise generating point. If you are having irritating noises, have a passenger check around inside the car to localize it while you drive over your favorite bumps. Flooding the inside of the plastic hatch lining definitely eliminated the irritating squeak of plastic in contact with the metal hatch. I'm sure there are multiple sources of noise in the Bolt, and as we share experiences we can help dealers locate these points and fix them.

 

[Sean Nelson]

Don't disregard the rear hatch as a noise generating point.

Absolutely. I had a squeak/creak that I was sure involved the rear suspension because it only occurred when the rear wheels hit a speed bump. The dealer solved it by adjusting the rubber bumper stops on the hatch door and applying a bit of lubricant to them.

 

[quiddity]

For anyone in the know, is there a place US owners should report this in hopes to extend the Korean recall here?

This problem strongly resembles symptoms on my car (link), and I already had one dealer suggest I was just crazy or stupid or both, so I'm happy to see that maybe I'm not.

 

[Hugoland]

Although this is not the same as a recall, there is a North American Technical Service Bulletin listed in the 2018 Service Manual that applies to the 2017/18 Bolt ->
#18-NA-198 - Creaking Type Noise Heard from Front End While Turning and/or Driving Over Uneven Pavement (11 June 2018)

Found it in this list -> https://www.repairprocedures.com/ser...100306748.html

 

[Hugoland]

And because I forgot to say this earlier - thanks to wesley for posting the original info and for providing the follow-up details of the Korean recall.

Let's hope that GM in North America will do the same - or, is it up to government regulators to escalate this to a "recall status"?

 

[rgmichel]

This problem strongly resembles symptoms on my car (link), and I already had one dealer suggest I was just crazy or stupid or both, so I'm happy to see that maybe I'm not.

Hmm. Sounds like you just found out that Dealers consider customers to be crazy or stupid or both.