In June, a Volt caught fire three weeks after a government crash test damaged the car’s battery and cooling system, and additional testing last fall resulted in a second fire that prompted the investigation.
The announcement of the changes came Thursday as GM officials participated in a conference call with reporters.
They said the planned changes have already been shared with federal safety regulators who have been investigating the first risks associated with the Volt, noting that multiple crash tests that the company had conducted on Volts with the reinforced steel and upgraded cooling system had concluded with no intrusion into the vehicle’s battery compartment.
In a statement posted on its website, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said it believed the changes would address the issue, but that it would nevertheless continue its investigation for at least another several weeks.
It also said testing had indicated that there was no fire risk if the battery pack was not damaged or no coolant leaks.
GM has sold nearly 10,000 Volts since the car, a plug-in hybrid, went on sale in late 2010. Company officials said they currently have no plans to recall Volts that are already out on the road, but rather are encouraging owners to voluntarily bring their cars into their local dealership for modifications.
Those modifications are expected to get underway next month.
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