General Motors has issued a safety recall for approximately 400,000 Chevrolet Equinox EV, Blazer EV, and Cadillac Lyriq vehicles due to a software defect in the battery thermal management system. The flaw could allow the battery to overheat during rapid DC fast charging in extreme temperatures.
GM identified the issue through its connected vehicle monitoring system, which detected abnormal temperature readings during fast charging events in vehicles operating in ambient temperatures above 100°F. No fires or injuries have been reported.
The fix is a software update that adjusts the charging curve and thermal management algorithms to prevent overheating conditions. GM will deploy the update over-the-air to all affected vehicles beginning immediately, with the process taking approximately 30 minutes per vehicle.
Owners are advised to avoid DC fast charging in extreme heat until the update is installed. Standard Level 2 home charging is not affected by the issue. The GM app will notify owners when the update is available for their vehicle.
The recall highlights the ongoing challenges of managing lithium-ion battery systems across diverse operating conditions. As EVs become more prevalent, software-based recalls are increasingly replacing traditional hardware recalls, enabling faster and less disruptive fixes.
