Risk on BYD Shark spare tire leads to recall of 32,000 units

BYD has called a recall of 32,009 units of the Shark pickup (sold as Shark 6 in Australia), practically the entire volume sold in the oceanic country since its launch in October 2024. The reason is the risk of the spare tire coming off the support while the vehicle is in motion. In a statement, the manufacturer says that the detachment can pose a danger to other road users and cause serious injury or death.

The problem is in the cable that supports the spare tire, installed under the rear of the pickup. According to BYD, incorrect installation of the spare tire, improper positioning of the tray that accommodates it, or insufficient torque applied to the assembly can cause abnormal wear of the cable. Continuous movements and friction during use aggravate this wear until it eventually breaks.

The campaign covers the three configurations sold in Australia and covers units produced between August 29, 2024 and June 15, 2026. Most of it is concentrated in the Premium version, with 28,543 units, followed by the Performance, with 2,100, and the Dynamic Cab Chassis, with 1,366.

Guidance is to remove the spare tire

Until the repair is done, BYD recommends that owners who intend to continue driving remove the spare tire from the support. At dealerships, the spare tire lift set will be replaced by another revised design, free of charge. The manufacturer estimates about 30 minutes for the service, although the time spent in the workshop may be longer depending on the schedule of each unit, and there are cases in which the pickup will need to be left in the store until completion.

The company is notifying customers by email and through the official app. Those who have not yet been contacted can check the status of the vehicle on the brand’s Australian campaign page, informing the 17 characters of the chassis number.

Model has been sold in Brazil since 2024

The pickup arrived on the Brazilian market in October 2024, named only Shark, and is the first plug-in hybrid in the segment in the country. Launched at R$ 379.800, its price was reduced over time in the face of lower-than-expected demand. Until the publication of this report, BYD had not announced an equivalent campaign for the units sold in Brazil.

In Australia, the commercial performance was different: the more than 32 thousand units in two years placed the Shark 6 among the main names in a market historically dominated by the so-called utes, the medium mixed-use pickups. Due to the volume involved, the recall becomes one of the largest ever conducted by the brand in the country, which had already registered a previous campaign in Atto 3 for irregularity in the central anchor point for car seats in the rear seat.