Chery recalls 23,667 vehicles in South Africa as regulator probes reporting

Chery is recalling 23,667 vehicles in South Africa over potential rear-axle welding and brake-pipe defects, while the country's consumer watchdog investigates allegations the automaker failed to report earlier recalls.

South Africa's National Consumer Commission (NCC) announced the action in a statement on Tuesday. It also disclosed a separate investigation, opened in October, into allegations that Chery recalled certain vehicles without notifying the regulator, acting commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu said. That probe remains ongoing.

The recall spans three models:

• Tiggo 4 — 17,508 vehicles, the largest share. These were made available for sale nationwide between October 17, 2023, and March 27, 2024. According to information Chery provided to the NCC, they may have welding irregularities at the rear axle sleeve, potentially causing the rear axle to dislodge and the rear suspension to collapse.
• Omoda C5 — 2,685 vehicles, recalled over potential welding defects at the rear axle sleeve, posing similar risks of rear-axle detachment and rear-suspension collapse. Affected units were on sale nationwide between February 2023 and July 2026.
• Tiggo 8 Pro Max 2.0 — 3,474 vehicles manufactured from May 20, 2026, onwards. Their front brake pipes may come into contact with the turbocharger assembly, causing wear and potential brake-fluid leakage.

The brake-pipe fault could reduce braking performance and increase stopping distances, potentially resulting in a collision, serious injury or death, the NCC said.

What does this change for owners?

The recall is a voluntary, precautionary measure, and not every vehicle included has a defect, Verene Petersen, group communications manager for Chery South Africa, said, according to Bloomberg. The necessary parts are already in South Africa, all repairs are free, and vehicles currently on sale are unaffected, she said.

The NCC urged owners to visit authorized dealerships for inspection and repair. Consumers can check their vehicle identification number (VIN) on Chery's website to determine whether their vehicle is affected. If a vehicle cannot be driven safely, owners should contact an authorized Chery dealership or its contact center to arrange towing. All remedial work will be carried out free of charge.

A wider pattern across markets

The South African action follows Chery's efforts to address rear-axle welding issues in China and Malaysia.

China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) announced on November 6 that Chery would recall 53,882 Tiggo 5x and Omoda-series vehicles starting November 27 over potential rear-axle welding defects. In October, Chery recalled 8,878 Omoda 5 vehicles in Malaysia after the rear axle of a 2023 model detached while being driven, prompting the local regulator to suspend the model's certification and new registrations.

The backdrop: rapid South African expansion

The recalls come as Chery builds its position in one of Africa's largest vehicle markets. Including its Jetour, Omoda and Jaecoo brands, Chery ranked third in passenger-vehicle sales in South Africa in October, according to Bloomberg.

The company inaugurated its Rosslyn plant, acquired from Nissan, in July. Under plans announced at the time, production is scheduled to begin in mid-2027, with annual capacity reaching 50,000 vehicles on a single shift once fully operational.

Overseas markets remain the core of Chery's growth engine. Chery Group exported 1,751,766 vehicles in the first 10 months of this year, up 64.8% year-on-year and accounting for about 70% of its total sales, according to data compiled by CnEVPost.

What to watch next: the outcome of the NCC's recall-reporting investigation, whether the Tiggo 8 Pro Max brake-pipe issue expands to other right-hand-drive markets, and whether the rear-axle welding problem surfaces in additional export territories as Chery scales the Rosslyn plant toward its mid-2027 production start.