BYD has recalled more than 32,000 Shark 6 plug-in hybrid bakkies in Australia over a fault that could cause the spare wheel to detach while driving.

According to MyBroadband, BYD Australia said the problem may occur if the spare wheel tray is positioned incorrectly or the fastening torque is insufficient.

The company warned that this could cause abnormal wear on the spare wheel support cable.

Spare wheel could detach

BYD said continued movement and friction while the vehicle is being driven could eventually cause the cable to fail.

If that happens, the spare wheel could detach from the vehicle’s undercarriage and create a hazard for other road users.

The company warned that the fault could potentially result in serious injury or death.

BYD said affected vehicles will receive an updated spare wheel lifter assembly at no cost to owners.

According to MyBroadband, the repair itself should take around 30 minutes, although vehicles may need to remain at dealerships for longer.

Owners in Australia have also been advised to remove the spare wheel in the meantime by following instructions in the owner’s handbook.

More than 32,000 vehicles affected

The Australian recall covers 32,009 Shark 6 vehicles.

Affected Premium models were manufactured between 29 August 2024 and 12 June 2026, while affected Performance models were built between 27 January and 15 June 2026.

Both the Premium and Performance versions are also sold in South Africa.

However, MyBroadband reported that it remains unconfirmed whether locally sold vehicles are affected.

BYD South Africa had not responded to MyBroadband’s questions by the time of publication, while the National Consumer Commission had not announced a local recall.

South African impact unclear

MyBroadband noted that the South African Premium and Performance models have the same specifications as their Australian counterparts.

BYD reported 713 Shark sales in South Africa between March and August 2026.

The brand has also grown rapidly in the local market, with 860 BYD vehicles registered in August alone.

For now, South African Shark 6 owners will have to wait for confirmation from BYD or local regulators on whether the recall will extend to vehicles sold here.