Chinese electric vehicle maker BYD will immediately recall more than 180,000 cars to address a manufacturing defect affecting a brake pedal component, China’s market regulator said on Friday.
The recall covers 183,211 Qin and Tang series vehicles produced between 2014 and 2022. According to the State Administration for Market Regulation, a defect affecting a batch of brake pedal stopper pads could cause the components to crack or detach over time.
The regulator said that, in extreme cases, the defect could cause the vehicle’s brake lights to remain illuminated even when the brake pedal was not pressed. This could mislead other road users and create a safety risk, prompting the recall.
BYD said in a regulatory filing that it would replace the affected component free of charge through authorised dealers. The recall involves vehicles produced over several years, making the regulatory action significant in scale and covering models from earlier stages of the company’s expansion in China’s rapidly growing electric vehicle market.
The recall comes as Chinese EV manufacturers continue to face close regulatory attention over manufacturing quality and vehicle safety. The action demonstrates the role of China’s market regulator in requiring manufacturers to address identified defects affecting components that could create risks for drivers and other road users.
Separately, another Chinese electric vehicle maker, Nio, will recall 686 Firefly-branded electric vehicles because of a manufacturing defect involving a component in the steering system, the market regulator said.
In extreme cases, the Nio defect could result in a loss of power steering assistance, according to the regulator. The company will inspect the affected vehicles and replace the faulty wiring harness free of charge.
The two recalls involve different components and different vehicle manufacturers, but both concern manufacturing defects that could affect vehicle safety. BYD’s recall centres on brake pedal components and the potential for brake lights to remain illuminated, while Nio’s action involves a steering-system component and the possible loss of power steering assistance.
For BYD, the recall affects a substantially larger number of vehicles and covers Qin and Tang series cars produced between 2014 and 2022. The company has committed to replacing the affected brake pedal component without charge through its authorised dealer network.
The regulatory actions highlight the importance of manufacturing controls as China’s electric vehicle industry continues to expand. Defects involving relatively small components can have broader safety implications when they affect systems connected to braking, steering or other essential vehicle functions.
Both manufacturers are now required to address the identified defects through inspections or component replacements, with the work to be provided to affected vehicle owners free of charge.
