When the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted safety tests on the Chevrolet Volt, the resulting damage from severe crashes sparked battery fires. This led to investigations, which found that the threat of fires was minimal. However, General Motors has not let the issue fall by the wayside.

The automaker recently announced that they will be conducting a Customer Satisfaction Program in which Volts will be retrofitted with safety gear. This will include a sensor to monitor coolant levels, a tamper-resistant bracket for the coolant reservoir to avoid overfilling, and reinforcing the vehicle's safety structure to provide further protection to the car's battery pack. GM has already conducted a number of tests with the new enhancements, which have all proven to protect the battery and coolant in the Chevy Volt.

"These enhancements and modifications will address the concerns raised by the severe crash tests," said Mary Barra, GM senior vice president of Global Product Development. "There are no changes to the Volt battery pack or cell chemistry as a result of these actions. We're as confident as ever that the cell design is among the safest on the market."

Even though the Volt battery will be better-protected, accidents can still cause costly damage to vehicles. An extended warranty can cover the expenses in such cases.