PUTRAJAYA: A total of 575 units of Chery Omoda 5 vehicles had undergone inspection after being recalled due to concerns over a broken axle issue.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that Chery Corporate Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Chery) had reached out to the remaining 25 vehicle owners to schedule inspection appointments, with the aim of completing this process by the end of June.
"In response to a viral incident on social media regarding axle failures in the Chery Omoda 5 model on April 28, the Road Transport Department (RTD) summoned Chery for further investigation on May 2," he said.
"To ensure the safety of vehicle owners and other road users, Chery initiated a recall of 600 Omoda 5 vehicles effective May 3.
"RTD will monitor the implementation of this recall process and is committed to ensuring that all affected units are inspected, confirmed safe, and that axle component replacements are carried out for the affected vehicles," he said at a press conference, here, today.
Loke assured that the RTD remained committed to upholding the highest standards and ensuring the safety and well-being of road users.
The recall was prompted by a complaint shared on social media by a woman whose Chery Omoda 5 SUV experienced axle failure while driving. She raised concerns about the design and welding of the axle, suggesting a potential structural vulnerability.
"Hi Chery Malaysia, I would like an explanation as to why my back axle snapped clean off while driving. No bumps, no accidents, no potholes, just sudden failure in the middle of the road.
"Also, why does it look like there are only two weld points instead of all the way around, allowing what seems to be like rust to eat away at the joint and cause it to spontaneously fall off?" she wrote on Facebook.