BYD has issued its first mass safety recall in Australia, affecting 32,009 Shark 6 pickup trucks. The recall comes over a defect that could cause spare wheels to fall off during driving. It comes at a difficult time for the Chinese automaker, which rose to become Australia’s second most popular car brand in April 2026, trailing only Toyota.
The recall covers all Shark 6 variants manufactured between August 29, 2024 and June 15, 2026. According to the notice, a flaw in the spare wheel lifter assembly causes abnormal wear on the support cable. Over time, friction during driving weakens the cable until it snaps. Once it fails, the spare wheel detaches from underneath the vehicle. Owner complaints on online forums had already surfaced before the official recall, with some reporting spare tyres “removing itself” from vehicles and wheels “swinging around wildly” on the road.
BYD acknowledged that the falling spare wheel “may create a hazard to other road users and potentially cause serious injury or death.” However, the company has not reported any injuries so far.
The recall breaks down across three variants. The Premium model accounts for 28,543 units. Additionally, the Performance variant covers 2,100 units, while the Dynamic Cab Chassis adds 1,366 more. Beyond Australia, approximately 2,918 units also face recall in New Zealand. South Africa has not yet issued a formal recall through its National Consumer Commission, although local units share identical specifications with the Australian models.
As a fix, BYD will replace the faulty wire cable with a sturdier chain design in the lifter assembly at no cost. The repair takes roughly 30 minutes per vehicle. Until then, the company has advised all affected owners to remove their spare wheels entirely. BYD is notifying owners through email, the BYD App, and a dedicated VIN verification page on its website.
The Shark 6 had been a breakout success for BYD. It became Australia’s most frequently Googled utility vehicle in 2026, outpacing the Toyota Hilux. The model sold nearly 5,000 units in early 2025 alone. Although sales later slowed after the fringe benefits tax exemption ended for plug-in hybrids.
For Pakistan, BYD launched the same Shark 6 through its local partner Mega Motor Company in July 2025 at Rs 19.95 million. Neither BYD nor Mega Motor has announced whether Pakistani units are affected. BYD is also building a manufacturing facility near Karachi and plans to roll out its first locally assembled EV by late 2026.
