Wheels Fell Off While Driving... Chery Urgently Apologizes, Recalls Nearly 9,000 Vehicles

Author | Janson

Editor | Zhihao

A Chery SUV was driving on the road when its two rear wheels fell off on their own.

Car Thing news on October 12, recently, a 2023 model Chery OMODA 5 in Malaysia experienced a rear axle detachment event, the vehicle's two rear wheels fell off together with the rear axle assembly directly, the car also lay across the road, fortunately no casualties were caused.

▲ Online circulating video from the rear-facing dashcam of the involved vehicle

In the evening of October 11, Chery Automobile publicly apologized for the vehicle rear axle detachment event. The explanation showed that the involved batch of vehicles might have insufficient welding strength at partial welding positions of the rear axle beam, and in extreme cases there is a risk of weld seam tearing.

▲ Chery releases issue statement

Currently, Chery Malaysia subsidiary has initiated a recall, involving 8,878 OMODA 5 vehicles, relevant parts will be inspected, and replaced free of charge depending on the situation, domestic same-batch models have also initiated risk inspection.

Chery also confirmed that models using this structure were previously discontinued. The company has initiated a special risk inspection for domestic and relevant market same-batch models, will publish follow-up progress in a timely manner based on the inspection results, and publicly apologize for this matter.

After the incident, Malaysia Land Transport Authority (JPJ) has temporarily suspended the certification and new car registration of the affected OMODA 5 models, and required Chery to investigate the relevant vehicles and production processes.

▲ Online circulating bystander perspective of the accident

Public information shows, Malaysia 2023 model Chery OMODA 5, launched in July 2023, adopts 1.5T engine, matched with CVT transmission, rear suspension is torsion beam non-independent suspension.

From public information, this model may correspond to Chery OMODA (OMODA 5) domestically, launched in China in July 2022.

According to public terminal sales data statistics, from 2022 to 2024, OMODA accumulated sales of about 17,200 units domestically, respectively versions adopting 1.6T engine + multi-link architecture and 1.5T engine + torsion beam suspension.

Among them, domestic 2023 model OMODA 1.5T model also adopts torsion beam rear suspension, similar to the chassis structure of the Malaysia involved model.

This is not the first time Chery OMODA 5 has had a similar incident in Malaysia.

In April 2024, an OMODA 5 rear axle breakage incident occurred locally. Chery subsequently investigated and found that after parts supplier changed the welding head of the automatic welding equipment, equipment calibration deviated.

▲ 2024 axle breakage incident announcement

At that time, Chery recalled 600 OMODA 5 vehicles in Malaysia for inspection, among which 60 units were equipped with affected parts.

Two years later, the same model appeared rear axle detachment event again. However, currently it cannot be confirmed whether the two incidents were caused by the same manufacturing defect.