More than 23,000 Chery, Omoda vehicles recalled over safety defects in South Africa

More than 23,000 vehicles sold in South Africa have been recalled following safety concerns involving possible manufacturing defects affecting the braking systems and rear axles of three vehicle models.

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) said the recall, notified by Chery International (Pty) Ltd, trading as Chery South Africa, affects 23,667 vehicles across the Chery Tiggo 4, Omoda C5 and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max 2.0 ranges.

The largest recall involves 17,508 Chery Tiggo 4 vehicles made available for sale between October 17, 2023, and March 27, 2024.

According to Chery, the affected vehicles may have welding irregularities on the rear axle sleeve, which could cause the rear axle to dislodge and result in the rear suspension collapsing.

A further 3,474 Chery Tiggo 8 Pro Max 2.0 vehicles manufactured from May 20, 2026, onwards are affected.

The manufacturer warned that the front brake pipe may come into contact with the turbocharger assembly, resulting in wear and possible brake-fluid leakage.

This could compromise braking performance, increase stopping distances and potentially lead to collisions, serious injuries or fatalities.

The recall also affects 2,685 Omoda C5 vehicles made available for sale nationally between February 2023 and July 2026.

Similar to the Tiggo 4, the affected Omoda C5 vehicles may have welding defects on the rear axle sleeve, which could cause the axle to dislodge and lead to rear suspension collapse.

The NCC has urged affected motorists to visit authorised Chery dealerships for inspections and necessary repairs.

Consumers can also visit Chery South Africa's website to check whether their vehicles are affected using their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Motorists who are unsure whether it is safe to drive their vehicles have been advised to contact authorised dealerships or Chery's contact centre to arrange towing.

All inspections and remedial work related to the recall will be carried out at no cost to consumers.

NCC Acting Commissioner Hardin Ratshisusu urged consumers to respond to the recall notice and reminded suppliers of their responsibility to promptly notify the commission about product recalls.

“Whilst we urge consumers to heed the call and respond to this recall, we also remind suppliers of their obligation to notify any product recall promptly,” Ratshisusu said.

He further revealed that the NCC had initiated a separate investigation against Chery in October 2026 following allegations that certain vehicles had been recalled without notifying the commission.

The investigation is ongoing.