Chery Omoda 5 Recall Hits 8,878 SUVs Over Rear Axle Welds

The Chery Omoda 5 recall now covers 8,878 SUVs in Malaysia, after potentially defective rear axle welds were linked to an incident in which an axle detached from a moving vehicle. Chery Auto (HKEX: 9973) announced the action in a statement on Sunday, saying the 2023 Omoda 5 involved caused no injuries. The company launched an investigation immediately and stayed in close contact with regulators, including the Road Transport Department (JPJ). The regulator responded by suspending new registrations of the model while the safety questions are examined.

Cause of the Rear Axle Weld Defect

Chery's investigation found that some welds on the rear axle trailing arms of vehicles in the affected batch may lack sufficient strength. That weakness creates a risk of weld rupture under extreme conditions. The company said models using this design had already been discontinued. Its Malaysian subsidiary has started the recall in coordination with JPJ, inspecting the components and replacing them free of charge where necessary. Chery Malaysia said the recall covers the C and H variants of the Omoda 5, but it did not specify the production years of the affected vehicles.

Johor Bahru Incident and Regulator Response

According to local media reports, an Omoda 5 lost its rear axle and wheels while being driven in Johor Bahru, in the state of Johor in Malaysia, on October 6, raising concerns about the model's safety. JPJ announced on October 11 that it was immediately suspending the Vehicle Type Approval (VTA) of the Omoda 5 and halting new registrations until a technical investigation is completed and the safety risks are confirmed to have been adequately addressed.

JPJ instructed Chery Malaysia to identify all potentially affected vehicles using part numbers, production batches and vehicle identification numbers (VINs). The agency will also conduct technical audits of the Omoda 5's production and assembly line, as well as its rear axle component supplier. Chery stressed that the recall does not affect models currently on sale. The Omoda 5 was discontinued in Malaysia and replaced by the Chery O5 in September 2025. The older model used a torsion beam rear suspension, while the O5 uses a multi-link independent rear suspension.

Second Rear Axle Recall for the Model in Malaysia

This is the Omoda 5's second recall in Malaysia over rear axle problems. In April 2024, a rear axle suddenly detached while an Omoda 5 was being driven, and Chery recalled 600 vehicles for inspection. The investigation at that time attributed the problem to improperly calibrated rear axle welding equipment and identified 60 vehicles produced on August 15, 2023, that required rear axle replacement. Chery Malaysia has yet to say whether the latest incident involves the same defect.

Precautionary Checks in China and Other Markets

Chery said it has launched precautionary checks on Omoda 5 vehicles from the same production batch in China and other relevant markets, and that it would disclose the findings promptly. The Omoda 5 went on sale in China in 2022, but sales were weak, with monthly volumes failing to exceed 1,000 vehicles from 2023 onward. It was subsequently withdrawn from the domestic market and is now primarily sold overseas.

Omoda and Jaecoo in Chery's Overseas Strategy

Chery Auto established Omoda in 2021 as an overseas brand targeting young consumers globally. Together with Jaecoo, launched in 2022, it forms the O&J brands, which announced in April this year that their combined cumulative global sales had surpassed 1 million vehicles. Chery is considering bringing Omoda and Jaecoo to China to bolster its domestic sales, which remain under pressure, Chinese technology news outlet Leiphone reported last month. Overseas markets are the main driver of growth, with Chery Group selling 292,308 vehicles in September, up 4.2% from a year earlier. Exports accounted for 207,814 vehicles, a monthly record for a Chinese automaker.

Industry Impact & Outlook

The suspension of Omoda 5 type approval and registrations in Malaysia shows how quickly regulators can act when a structural component fails on the road, and it raises the stakes for Chery as overseas markets drive its growth. Because the affected vehicles belong to a discontinued generation, the immediate effect on current sales appears limited, but repeated rear axle problems may draw closer scrutiny of weld quality and supplier oversight. Owners of the C and H variants are the most directly affected, while the audits of the production line and axle supplier could shape the scope of any further action. The results of Chery's precautionary checks in China and other markets will indicate whether the issue extends beyond Malaysia, and regulators and buyers will likely watch how transparently those findings are disclosed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many vehicles are affected in Malaysia?
The recall covers 8,878 Omoda 5 SUVs in Malaysia, specifically the C and H variants, because some welds on the rear axle trailing arms may lack sufficient strength. Chery Malaysia has not specified the production years of the affected vehicles. It is working with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) to inspect the components and replace them free of charge where necessary, and JPJ has told the company to identify affected units using part numbers, production batches and VINs.

Why did Malaysia suspend Omoda 5 registrations?
Malaysia's JPJ suspended the model's Vehicle Type Approval and new registrations on October 11 after an Omoda 5 lost its rear axle and wheels while being driven in Johor Bahru. The suspension remains in place until a technical investigation is completed and the safety risks are confirmed to have been adequately addressed. JPJ will also audit the production and assembly line and the rear axle component supplier, and no injuries were reported in the incident.

Are current Chery models affected?
No, Chery said the recall does not affect models currently on sale, because the Omoda 5 was discontinued in Malaysia and replaced by the Chery O5 in September 2025. The older model used a torsion beam rear suspension, while the O5 uses a multi-link independent rear suspension. Chery has also launched precautionary checks on Omoda 5 vehicles from the same production batch in China and other relevant markets and said it would disclose the findings promptly.

Has the Omoda 5 had this problem before?
Yes, in April 2024 an Omoda 5 rear axle suddenly detached while the vehicle was being driven in Malaysia, leading Chery to recall 600 vehicles for inspection. That investigation attributed the problem to improperly calibrated rear axle welding equipment and identified 60 vehicles produced on August 15, 2023, that required rear axle replacement. Chery Malaysia has yet to say whether the latest incident involves the same defect, so the cause of the new failure remains under investigation.