General Motors is recalling approximately 20,000 Chevrolet Volt electric vehicles in Canada and another 120,000 in the United States to fix a seatbelt issue that caused a fire.
The recall covers specific Volt hatchbacks from model year 2017 to 2023, but does not include the Volt utility vehicle or Volt manufactured for GM’s self-driving vehicle unit, Cruise.
In a statement Tuesday, GM said in rare cases, exhaust fumes from the front seatbelt pretensioners could come into contact with carpet fibers after a crash and start a fire.
Pretensioners have sensors that determine when a collision is imminent, and pull passengers into a proper seating position and slow them down before a collision.
The company has found three reports of fires that may have been caused by this issue. Their severity is unknown.
General Motors said it will notify affected Canadian owners by mail, instructing them to take their vehicle to a dealership and install foil tape under the carpet near the pretensioner’s exhaust. The vehicle also requires a pretensioner cover.
CBC News has reached out to General Motors for more information.
