On 17 October 2025, BYD announced the largest recall in its history — over 115,000 vehicles in China — following an investigation by SAMR, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation.
The story got retold inaccurately almost everywhere, particularly regarding the cause. Since that distinction matters a great deal to owners, here is what the recall documentation actually says.
It Was Two Separate Campaigns, Not One
The most common misunderstanding is treating this as a single defect. SAMR announced two unrelated campaigns.
1. BYD Tang — 44,535 vehicles (built March 2015 - July 2017)
Cause: a component design issue causing the active discharge function of the drive motor controller to malfunction. In extreme cases this can lead to circuit board corrosion and disable the vehicle’s pure electric drive mode.
Remedy: a free software update.
Note the dates. These cars were built in 2015-2017, which predates the Blade Battery entirely. This is not a battery cell issue in any sense.
2. BYD Yuan Pro — 71,248 vehicles (built February 2021 - August 2022)
Cause: improperly installed power battery gaskets, resulting in reduced sealing. The consequence is that prolonged high-speed driving through water may allow water to enter the power battery, degrading its insulation performance. In extreme cases, output power is reduced.
Remedy: free application of a specialised sealant to reinforce the battery casing.
What Was Widely Reported Incorrectly
| Widely circulated claim | What the documentation says |
|---|---|
| ”Announced September 2025” | 17 October 2025 |
| ”Batteries can detach from their mounts in a collision” | No. The Yuan Pro issue is gasket sealing, not mounting integrity |
| ”Risk of thermal runaway” | The filing describes reduced output power and degraded insulation — not thermal runaway |
| ”Free replacement of battery mounting hardware” | Tang = software update. Yuan Pro = sealant application |
| ”This destroys the Blade Battery’s safety reputation” | Neither campaign is a Blade cell defect. The Tang predates Blade; the Yuan Pro issue is assembly, not chemistry |
This isn’t pedantry. An assembly fault fixable with sealant is a fundamentally different thing from a cell defect, and the two have very different implications for how much you should trust the underlying technology.
Why the Yuan Pro Issue Matters in Phuket
The Yuan Pro was never sold in Thailand, so no Thai owner is affected. But the failure mechanism is directly relevant here, and it comes from the manufacturer’s own filing:
“Prolonged high-speed driving through water may cause water to enter the power battery.”
That is the same mechanism we warn about every monsoon season, now documented by a manufacturer at scale. It tells you three things:
- IP67/IP68 does not mean you can drive through water freely. One imperfectly seated gasket is enough to let water in
- Speed matters. Water forced against seals by vehicle speed behaves nothing like still water in a test tank
- Duration matters. “Prolonged” is BYD’s own word
If BYD had to recall 71,248 cars over imperfect gasket sealing, driving through Phuket floodwater deserves more caution than most owners give it — even in a car with no outstanding recall.
Are Thai-Market BYDs Affected?
| Model | Sold in Thailand | In this recall |
|---|---|---|
| BYD Atto 3 | Since 2022 | No |
| BYD Dolphin | Since 2023 | No |
| BYD Seal | Since 2023 | No |
| BYD Atto 1 / Atto 2 | 2026 | No |
| BYD Sealion 6 / 7 | Since 2024 | No |
| BYD Yuan Pro | Never imported | Yes — but not present in Thailand |
| BYD Tang | Never imported | Yes — but not present in Thailand |
Bottom line for Thai BYD owners: this recall does not affect your car. Neither recalled model was ever sold here.
Separately, the Yuan Pro also carries a window switch recall — worth knowing if you’re looking at a privately imported used example.
What Actually Matters If You Own a BYD in Phuket
- Check your VIN with the distributor every 6-12 months. It’s the only reliable method — don’t rely on news coverage.
- Keep firmware current. The Tang recall was fixed by software, which demonstrates that updates genuinely carry safety content.
- Keep all service documentation. You’ll need it for any warranty claim.
- Don’t drive through water deeper than 30 cm. The Yuan Pro lesson generalises to every EV.
- Get the 12V checked every 12-18 months. This is what will actually leave you stranded — not a recall.
Note: BYD’s ฿5,000 Battery Lifetime Warranty promotion that ran to 31 December 2025 has now expired. If you want extended coverage, ask the distributor about current terms rather than relying on older articles.
Looking After a Blade Battery in Phuket’s Climate
- Charging to 100% daily is fine. LFP Blade differs from NMC here, and BYD says so itself
- Avoid sitting below 20% repeatedly
- Avoid more than three DC fast charges in a day — heat accumulates
- Park in shade. Phuket sun accelerates degradation of both the traction pack and the 12V
EV Phuket — BYD Battery Support
- 12V replacement for every BYD model (Atto 1/2/3, Dolphin, Seal, M6, Sealion)
- BMS reset after fitting
- Free 12V health check
- Post-flood inspection before you plug the car in
- 24-hour service, 20-30 minute arrival
Call 098-168-9907 — anywhere in Phuket
Related Reading
- EV Care in Phuket’s Rainy Season - water ingress, and why IP67 isn’t enough
- BYD Atto 3 Battery Guide - the Thai-market model
- Used EV Buying Checklist - how to check recall status by VIN
- BYD Battery Service
Sources: SAMR (State Administration for Market Regulation, China), BYD recall filings 17 October 2025, Reuters, CarNewsChina, just-auto — verified July 2026.