Russian media reports that Russians are complaining about problems with the door locks of Chinese-made cars. Automotive experts have even warned that in severe cold weather, the door locks on Chinese cars can turn them into “moving coffins”.
According to the Russian media, the driver’s side door of Chinese cars often gets stuck, forcing the driver to escape through the window. However, in cold weather, this action can become even more complicated due to potential damage to the window mechanisms.
The report from “Lenta Dnya” points out that a common cause of the malfunction is condensation water entering the electric drive device of the door lock. When the water vapor freezes, it causes the door lock to jam, making it impossible to open even by manual attempts.
Videos circulating online show drivers unable to unlock or manually open the door from inside the car. Even rolling down the window and reaching outside with their hand does not help open the door.
Automotive expert Vadim Kabanov told the “Post” that Russian winters can turn Chinese cars into “moving coffins”, becoming potential dangerous “automobile traps”.
“These Chinese cars have difficulty in remote starting and cannot handle snow accumulation or off-road conditions. Additionally, equipped with CVT transmissions, the overall performance of the vehicles is generally poor,” he explained.
The expert mentioned that Chinese cars do not perform as well as Korean, Japanese, and German cars in winter conditions. Kabanov also pointed out that owners of Chinese cars need to replace important components every three years, and various faults, including transmission issues, are persistent.