Chinese automaker BYD announces recall of 89,000 vehicles due to risk of battery system failure

BYDBYD

BYD - Foto: Alfribeiro/istock

Car manufacturer BYD has officially recalled 89,811 units of the Qin Plus DM-i model for a safety review procedure in the Chinese market. The measure meets a requirement from local regulatory bodies after the identification of a technical anomaly that compromises the proper functioning of the internal energy storage components.

The call covers specific units that left the assembly lines over a period of almost three years. The documentation filed with Administração Estatal of Regulação of Mercado of

The detection of this problem occurred after internal quality control analyzes and reports of anomalies in the manufacturing process. The company structured an immediate action plan to mitigate the risks to owners, involving both physical interventions at dealerships and the sending of remote data packages to the operating systems of affected cars.

Technical details of wiring harness failure

The root of the technical problem that motivated this mass recall lies in the assembly of the high voltage battery wiring harness. According to the technical reports presented by the automaker, there is a possibility that the component was positioned inappropriately during manufacturing, which could result in premature wear or undue compression of the wiring over the period of use of the car. Esta condition of continuous mechanical stress on the cables creates a favorable scenario for the breakdown of thermal and electrical insulation, exposing the system to critical failures during conduction.

The direct consequence of this structural degradation is a significant increase in the risk of internal short circuits. Caso If an electrical fault occurs while the vehicle is in motion, the energy management system may enter protective mode, resulting in a sudden loss of motive power. In extreme situations, overheating generated by a short circuit in the electrical harness can initiate a thermal runaway process, increasing the risk of fires in the lower compartment of the chassis, where the energy cells are housed.

Software patch and update procedures

To resolve the technical nonconformity, the automaker developed a repair strategy divided into two complementary stages. The first phase consists of releasing a software update via the internet, known as Over-The-Air, specifically targeted at the battery control module.

This new data package has the function of refining the vehicle’s thermal and electrical monitoring algorithms. With the update, the system is now capable of identifying abnormal voltage variations more quickly, issuing audible and visual alerts on the instrument panel before the physical wear of the harness reaches a critical point.

The second stage of the procedure requires the vehicles to physically appear at authorized workshops in the dealership network. Técnicos specialists will carry out a visual and tactile inspection of the wiring harness and, if any damage or wear to the insulation is identified, the component will be fully replaced at no additional cost to the owners.

Production history of affected models

The batch of vehicles included in this safety campaign was manufactured in a very specific time interval, comprising units assembled between January 2021 and September 2023.

The Qin Plus DM-i model represents a significant portion of the manufacturer’s registration volume, being one of the most popular plug-in hybrid sedans on the Asian market. Identification of the exact batch was possible thanks to the parts traceability systems implemented in the factories, which allow chassis numbers to be cross-referenced with the supply records of electrical components.

Manufacturer’s sales performance in the Asian market

The need to carry out a recall of this magnitude occurs at a time of high commercial performance for the car manufacturer. Relatórios recent market reports indicate that the company surpassed the mark of 441,000 vehicles sold in a single month, consolidating its leadership position in the new energy vehicle segment.

The significant sales volume is driven by an aggressive pricing strategy and the diversification of the product portfolio. The sedan line, in which the affected model is included, has been fundamental in attracting consumers looking to transition from traditional combustion engines to more efficient and cleaner propulsion systems.

Competition in the Chinese automotive market requires automakers to maintain a fast pace of technological innovations and launches. However, the exponential increase in production volume also places additional pressures on supply chains and quality assurance protocols on assembly lines.

Transparency in the conduct of security campaigns is seen by industry analysts as a determining factor in maintaining consumer trust. The agility in communicating the failure and offering a structured solution helps to preserve the brand’s reputation in the face of an increasingly demanding public regarding the reliability of embedded electronic systems.

Safety measures in the electric vehicle industry

The global transition to electrified mobility has required car manufacturers to develop new safety standards, especially regarding the management of high energy density batteries. Diferente of combustion vehicles, where risks are mainly associated with the storage of liquid fuels, electric and plug-in hybrid cars depend on complex wiring networks and control modules that operate under high voltages. To mitigate risks of catastrophic failures, the industry has invested heavily in artificial intelligence and machine learning applied to onboard diagnostic systems. Essas technologies allow the vehicle to continuously monitor the health of power cells, cable temperatures and insulation integrity. Dessa way, it becomes possible to anticipate mechanical or electrical problems before they result in unexpected stops or thermal incidents on public roads. Remote update integration has become a standard tool for proactively patching software vulnerabilities. Este feature drastically reduces the need for physical visits to mechanical workshops. Além Furthermore, it ensures that the circulating fleet always operates with the most recent safety parameters established by the brand’s engineering. The continuous improvement of these technologies is essential to maintain the physical integrity of occupants and the reliability of new modes of transport.

Logistics of service to summoned owners

The service operation for almost 90 thousand vehicles requires robust logistical coordination on the part of the after-sales network. The manufacturer started sending formal notifications to registered owners through registered letters, SMS messages, phone calls and direct alerts on the brand’s official smartphone app.

Authorized dealers were instructed to reinforce their stocks of spare parts and extend workshop opening hours to absorb the extra flow of appointments. The objective of the operation is to ensure that vehicle downtime is as short as possible, minimizing inconvenience for customers who depend on cars for their daily journeys.

Government Regulation on Automotive Quality

Supervision of vehicle safety campaigns in China is rigorously conducted by state authorities, which require detailed reports on the causes of failures and the effectiveness of corrective measures. The formal registration of this procedure with regulatory bodies ensures that the automaker meets legal deadlines for notifying consumers and carrying out repairs, ensuring that national road safety standards are strictly respected by all companies operating in the largest automotive market in the world.

Jeronimo Santos: Jeronimo Santos é colaborador da redação do Mix Vale, portal de notícias com cobertura de Brasil e mundo. Produz conteúdo nas editorias de economia e benefícios, com foco em informação de serviço para o leitor brasileiro. Escreve para o portal desde 2016: Formação: Marketing