Chery’s chairman has publicly apologized over vehicle quality issues in Malaysia after a Chery Omoda 5 was caught on video with its rear axle detached from the vehicle. Speaking at the World Intelligent Connected Vehicles Conference on October 21, chairman Yin Tongyue said he had personally apologized to a Malaysian minister, according to Carz Automedia Malaysia.
The incident triggered a recall covering 8,878 Omoda 5 vehicles across C and H variants, plus a temporary suspension of the model’s vehicle type approval by Malaysia’s Road Transport Department (JPJ) — halting new registrations until the investigation concludes.
A Repeat Failure
This isn’t the first axle failure for the model. Two years ago, another Omoda 5 suffered a detached rear axle while driving, prompting a 600-unit recall. Chery blamed a miscalibrated welding tip at a supplier then — and preliminary findings in the current case again point to potentially insufficient welding strength at certain rear axle joints.
The Omoda 5 is a discontinued model, replaced in September 2025 by the Chery O5 with a different multi-link rear suspension. But thousands of the older torsion-beam vehicles remain on Malaysian roads.
What Owners Should Do
Chery says parts delivery for the 8,878 affected vehicles is underway, with free inspections and replacements at authorized service centers nationwide. Owners can check whether their vehicle is included by entering the VIN on Chery Malaysia’s website, or call the Chery Careline.
The episode has also reignited debate over Malaysia’s long-promised Lemon Law, with lawmakers questioning what protections buyers have when new cars suffer serious defects. For now, affected Omoda 5 owners should get the free fix — and keep every service record.
The incident has thrust Malaysia’s consumer protections into the spotlight. Lawmakers are asking why the Lemon Law amendments announced in Budget 2026 still haven’t been tabled a year later — leaving buyers of defective vehicles to navigate warranty claims and the Tribunal for Consumer Claims on their own. For Omoda 5 owners, the practical steps are: confirm your VIN is in the recall, book the free inspection promptly, and keep every service record and communication with the dealer. If the car has suffered repeated issues, document everything — repair orders, dates, days without the vehicle. Strong records are what turn a frustrating defect into a successful tribunal claim if the recall process falls short.
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