BYD faces fresh safety scrutiny as 88,981 Qin Plus cars recalled

The Chinese electric-vehicle manufacturer BYD has announced a recall of 88,981 Qin Plus DM-i plug-in hybrid sedans after China’s market regulator identified potential defects in the vehicles’ power-battery systems.

According to Autohome, the regulator determined that certain units may experience battery faults capable of reducing electric output, which in extreme cases could prevent the cars from operating in pure-electric mode.

The recall applies to two separate production batches: 52,890 vehicles produced between September 26, 2021 and September 23, 2023, and another 36,091 units manufactured from January 7, 2021 to September 30, 2022.

In the recall notice filed with the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), BYD explained that the issue stems from inconsistencies in the manufacturing of the power-battery packs. These inconsistencies can lead to lowered battery output, potentially causing the electric-drive mode to shut down under specific conditions.

To correct the problem, BYD plans to roll out over-the-air (OTA) updates to diagnostic software in all affected vehicles. When the updated system detects a battery anomaly, a warning light will appear on the dashboard, instructing owners to bring their cars to authorised service centres. As part of the recall, dealers will then replace the defective battery pack at no cost to the customer.

SAMR launched a defect investigation prior to the recall announcement, reflecting increasing regulatory oversight of battery-pack manufacturing standards across China’s major electric-vehicle producers.

This latest action follows another large recall by BYD earlier in the month, when more than 115,000 units of various models—including the BYD Tang and BYD Yuan Pro—were recalled due to design flaws and battery-related safety concerns.

Owners of the affected Qin Plus DM-i vehicles will be contacted by authorised dealers via registered mail, phone calls, or SMS notifications. They may also confirm whether their vehicle is included by calling BYD’s service hotline or consulting the recall-centre website operated by the regulator.

Overall, the recall covers a considerable share of Qin Plus DM-i production over more than two years, highlighting the critical role of battery-pack uniformity in hybrid vehicles, where both electric-drive reliability and battery safety are essential.

By Tamilla Hasanova