Jun 21, 2018, 11:24am ET

GM recalls Chevy Volt; software bug causes reduced power

The vehicle may lose propulsion power while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

General Motors has issued a recall for the 2013 Chevrolet Volt, addressing a software bug that can lead to loss of power.

Some vehicles received a software update that can prevent the Volt's batteries from balancing the voltage among individual cells, which can result in a low-voltage condition in one or more battery cells.

"If the voltage in a given battery cell falls below a certain level, the vehicle may enter a reduced power mode and notify the driver that propulsion power is reduced," the company wrote in its notice to the NHTSA. "If the vehicle continues to be driven after the vehicle enters reduced power mode, the vehicle may lose propulsion."

The software error was discovered as GM pursued a separate investigation into low-voltage conditions in Volt batteries.

The campaign affects approximately 3,200 vehicles sold in the US market.