Following its preliminary response to the incident in which the rear axle of a Chery OMODA 5 SUV broke while the vehicle was in motion, Chery Auto Malaysia has provided further information and expanded on the measures it is taking.
After taking its investigations all the way back to China, where the axle assembly originated, it was found that the vendor supplying the item was at fault. According to the company, the vendor reported that the issue was due to a facility upgrade during which a worn-out tip of the automated welding machine was replaced by a new welding tip. The replacement of the new welding tip resulted in a miscalibration of the equipment.
This resulted in a batch of axle assemblies being improperly welded at a certain point. As records must be kept for every process, a batch of 600 axle assemblies made during the period in question was identified as being potentially defective. It was this number which Chery Auto Malaysia had earlier mentioned being potentially affected.
Now, after more thorough investigation, the company says that 60 of the axle assemblies from that batch were installed on August 15, 2023 in the OMODA 5 vehicles assembled in Malaysia at the plant in Kedah. Whether the other 540 units were also shipped to Malaysia or installed on vehicles for other markets is not mentioned.
60 units affected but 600 to be recalled
Nevertheless, Chery Auto Malaysia is not focussing on just those 60 units, and has also included another 540 units that were produced between August 14 – 17, 2023, to be inspected as an additional precautionary measure. It is not known if the company will also replace the axle assemblies in these vehicles if no specific issue is identified.
“Chery Auto Malaysia views this matter most seriously as customer safety is our utmost priority. We are in the process of reaching out to customers of the affected Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN) to request them to bring their vehicle to our authorised service centres for a detailed inspection,” said Chery Auto Malaysia Vice-President, Lee Wen Hsiang.
“We have also set up a website for OMODA 5 owners to confirm their vehicles are not affected, which can be done by simply keying in their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Our authorised service centres and technicians are well prepared to serve our customers potentially affected by this,” said Mr. Lee, adding that no other vehicles by the brand are affected.
Transport Ministry briefed
He said that the company has briefed the Ministry of Transport on this matter which has led to the recall of 600 vehicles. “Chery Auto Malaysia is committed to providing safe and reliable transportation solutions, and we are dedicated to ensuring that all our vehicles meet the highest safety standards. In line with this commitment, Chery Auto Malaysia voluntarily arranged a meeting to brief the Ministry of Transport (MOT) on the current product inspection status and the root cause involving the OMODA 5 axle incident,” Mr. Lee explained.
He added that as of May 3, 2024, the company has contacted 32 owners of the 60 affected vehicles. Normally, for a recall, the company will also send out notices to affected owners. In the case of the OMODA 5, the good thing is that it is still new in the market and the vehicles will still be with the first owner whose contact details are known to Chery Auto Malaysia.
This is not always the case with models that have been in the market for many years, during which time ownership is likely to have been changed. Should a recall notice be sent out, it can only be sent to the original owner who may not have the vehicle any longer. One example is the Takata recall which involves vehicles over 10 years old and ensuring the replacement is done for all affected vehicles has been a challenge for manufacturers who do not have up to date ownership data.
Weekly update to public
Chery Auto Malaysia says it will provide a weekly update to the public to provide ongoing information about the status of this recall exercise. Those who have queries can contact the Chery Malaysia Customer Careline at +603 – 2771 7070 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm) or visit an authorised Chery dealer for assistance.
Chery OMODA 5 rear axle issue – 600 units potentially affected