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The New Chevy Bolt Needs To Be Fixed As It Sits At Dealership Lots

  • GM says the taillight harness grommets may not be seated correctly.
  • Dealership mechanics have been told to inspect taillight grommets.
  • If necessary, the lights must be removed and the grommet reseated.

Things just keep getting worse for the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt. Soon after it was revealed that the all-electric hatchback’s planned production run has been slashed by roughly 75 percent, GM has had to issue a service update due to the possibility of a water leak with Bolts sitting at dealership lots.

The service notice – which is not the same as a safety recall – reveals that 2027 Bolt models may have partially seated taillight harness grommets. As such, water can work its way into the taillight. Only 2027 Bolt models at dealerships are involved, meaning customers who have already taken delivery don’t need to worry.

Read: Chevrolet Bolt Dies Next Year After A Disappointing Return

GM has instructed dealer mechanics to fold down the rear seats and look through the cutouts for the rear seat latch strikers so they can see the grommet. The taillights then need to be sprayed with water for at least one minute, and if any water is seen seeping through the grommet, a repair needs to be performed.

To do this, mechanics must remove the impacted taillight assembly and reseat the tail lamp grommet into the sheet metal. Once this is done, the light should be watertight, although dealers have been told to perform the water test for a second time to confirm.

In addition to the service notice impacting 2027 Bolt models at dealership lots, certified pre-owned vehicles will be de-certified until the inspection and, if necessary, the fix is performed.

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Although the service notice doesn’t include Bolts already delivered to customers, owners could, in theory, follow this guide themselves if they’ve noticed any water getting into the taillights, since slight water intrusion isn’t a safety risk. But if you’re not much of a DIY-er, we’re sure a local Chevrolet dealership will be happy to perform the inspection, but it’ll probably cost you an arm and a leg.

News of this issue comes just days after it was revealed that production of the 2027 Bolt will cease when roughly 35,000 are built. Initially, Chevy had hoped to build 150,000 units, but demand for it clearly hasn’t met expectations. This comes despite the fact that it’s one of the most affordable new EVs in the country, starting at $27,600 excluding a $1,395 destination fee.

 The New Chevy Bolt Needs To Be Fixed As It Sits At Dealership Lots

Chevrolet Bolt Dies Next Year After A Disappointing Return

  • The Chevrolet Bolt will reportedly go out of production early next year.
  • GM had envisioned building 150,000 units, but actual number could be 35,000.
  • Bolt has been a slow-seller since its return, despite starting at $27,600.

The story of the Chevrolet Bolt is perplexing as the model was one of the most popular electric vehicles in America. Despite this, GM killed the Bolt and Bolt EUV to build full-size electric trucks at Orion Assembly.

This plan quickly fizzled as the Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV were met with the same enthusiasm as a wet hug. As a result, after multiple delays, GM decided to retool Orion Assembly for production of ICE-powered trucks and SUVs.

More: GM Quietly Plots A Family Of Low-Cost EVs After New Bolt

Amid this chaos, the Bolt went on a short hiatus before returning with some notable improvements and a new home in Kansas. Despite a significant amount of work, Chevrolet confirmed it would be a β€œlimited run model.”

It appears it will be even more limited than expected as Reuters is reporting production has been slashed by approximately 75%. This means that by the time the model goes out of production in the first quarter of 2027, only around 35,000 units will have been made.

 Chevrolet Bolt Dies Next Year After A Disappointing Return

The company was reportedly planning to build 150,000 units, so it appears bringing the Bolt back was a huge mistake and a giant waste of resources.

While GM declined to comment on the numbers, the company told the publication β€œWe continuously evaluate market dynamics and customer demand.” That being said, sales have been dreadful. In the first half of the year, Chevrolet only managed to sell 4,224 units. That puts them on track to sell less than 9,500 Bolts for the entire year.

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As a refresher, the Bolt starts at $27,600 before a $1,395 destination fee. It features a 65 kWh LFP battery pack, which feeds an electric motor developing 210 hp (157 kW / 213 PS) and 169 lb-ft (229 Nm) of torque. This enables the model to travel up to 262 miles (422 km) on a single charge.

It’s not entirely clear why the β€˜reborn’ Bolt hasn’t been able to live up to the success of the original, but the elimination of the federal tax credit undoubtedly played an important role. It also doesn’t help that the β€˜new’ model looks so similar to the old one, and the car hasn’t really been promoted.

That being said, consumers have embraced the Equinox EV. The crossover starts at $34,995 – before a $1,800 destination fee – and offers 319 miles (513 km) of range.

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