Chery Auto Malaysia is working closely with the Ministry of Transport to coordinate a recall of 600 units of Chery Omoda 5, to fix an issue involving detachment of the SUV’s rear axle (to be specific, it’s the control arm holding the torsion beam rear suspension).

For the first time since a single car incident was reported 28-April, Chery Malaysia is now describing the exercise as a ‘recall.’ The company's earlier statements issued to the press had avoided using the word 'recall.'

Chery Auto Malaysia says 60 units of Omoda 5 on the road are affected. As of 3-May 2024, 53% of the owners of the 60 affected vehicles have been contacted.

However, as an additional precautionary measure, Chery Auto Malaysia will be widening its inspections, recalling a total of 600 units.

“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,” Chery Auto Malaysia Vice President, Lee Wen Hsiang, explained.

“Following a comprehensive investigation, 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,” said Lee.

Chery Malaysia has also setup a web page for customers to enter their vehicle identification number (VIN, or chassis number) to check if their vehicle is affected by the recall.

“To ensure Chery customers are well informed, a weekly update will be publicly shared to provide ongoing information about the status of the recall programme. Chery Auto Malaysia thanks all our customers for their patience, understanding and cooperation, and the Ministry of Transport for its advice and guidance in this matter,” said the company’s press statement released today.