Brake light defect prompts BYD to recall 183,211 Tang and Qin vehicles in China
BYD has filed a recall in China covering 183,211 Tang and Qin vehicles built between 2014 and 2022, because a small part in the brake pedal can fail and leave the brake lights glowing.
- 183,211
- 77,846
- 58,026
- 40,316
What Happened
A Chinese market-regulator notice says BYD's two local car-making companies filed a recall plan covering 183,211 Tang and Qin vehicles. The notice is dated September 18, 2026, and the campaign starts immediately.
- 58,026 Tang; 77,846 new-generation Tang DM; 7,023 new-generation Tang EV
- 40,316 Qin vehicles
- 183,211 vehicles
183,211vehicles
Tang and Qin models built between 2014 and 2022, according to SAMR.
The cause is a production problem that left one batch of brake pedal limiter pads with abnormal material, the regulator said. With long use the pad can crack and break apart. In extreme cases it comes loose, and the brake lights then stay lit even when nobody is pressing the pedal, sending a false signal to traffic behind. That is the safety hazard behind the filing.
- Authorized dealerships will swap in an improved limiter pad at no cost to owners.
- Vehicles that already received the improved pad do not need the work done again.
- BYD will reach owners through registered letters, phone calls and text messages.
- Details are also available through the SAMR recall center's website and its WeChat account, where defect clues can be reported.
Why this matters
A brake light that stays on tells following drivers the car is slowing when it is not, so the flaw is a safety risk rather than a performance complaint. Owners of the affected Tang and Qin models get the repair at no charge. Buyers of older BYD vehicles are the group most likely to be contacted.
Terms in This Story
- SAMR
- China's State Administration for Market Regulation, the government body that oversees product safety and vehicle recalls in the country.
- Brake pedal stopper
- A small pad that limits how far the brake pedal can travel, also described as a brake pedal stopper.
- Recall
- A manufacturer's campaign to fix a safety defect in vehicles that have already been sold, usually at no cost to owners.
A brief summary; details can be imperfect — always verify against the original source.