LGES High Voltage Battery Failures

On April 1, 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an Equipment Query (EQ) to contact and obtain information from LG Energy Solutions (LGES), a supplier of high voltage batteries, and its purchasers that received the same or similar high voltage batteries as identified in recalls for Mercedes Benz 20V107, Hyundai 20V630, General Motors 20V701 and 21V650, Hyundai 21V127, Stellantis 22V077, and Volkswagen 22V162. The purpose of contacting these companies was to 1.) make the companies aware of the defects as described in the aforementioned recalls, 2.) have those companies determine the impact, if any, those defects have on the vehicles they manufactured, and 3.) ensure safety recalls are conducted as appropriate. On April 4, 2022, the Recall Management Division (RMD) issued an Information Request (IR) to LGES requesting: 1.) LGES provide a list of all customers that received the same or similar LGES high voltage batteries, 2.) the submission of a Part 573 Defect Information Report (DIR) to NHTSA or an explanation as to why LGES will not supply a report, and 3.) specific information related to the structure, materials and location of the manufacturing plant of the high voltage battery. On May 2, 2022, LGES responded to NHTSA’s IR, explaining that high voltage batteries contain three primary components: cells, modules, and packs. LGES stated that cells, modules, and packs are “manufactured in a separate process and customized to meet the specifications and tolerances of a specific OEM’s design and performance requirements.” LGES further noted that, due to this highly customized process, each battery line is unique to each OEM and its application, and, therefore, LGES will not submit a DIR related to the aforementioned recalls. On October 5, 2022, RMD issued a follow-up IR to LGES requesting a list of all purchasers of LGES high voltage battery cells, modules, or packs for automotive applications within the past five years and intended for the U