Recently, there have been continuous quality issues with Xiaopeng Motors. Many owners of the P7+ model have taken to social media and third-party complaint platforms to report steering malfunctions, with the steering column design of the P7+ being cited as flawed by industry insiders. However, instead of recalling the defective vehicles, Xiaopeng Motors has been secretly using gluing as a fix, which has led to ridicule from car owners. Additionally, some Xiaopeng X9 owners have reported sudden failures in the air suspension system, causing the vehicles to frequently bottom out while driving.
According to a report by China’s “Economic Reference News,” Mr. Wang from Suzhou purchased a Xiaopeng P7+ electric vehicle in December 2024, and in late July this year, he experienced a “fatal malfunction.” One night while driving on the Huchang Expressway, he found that the steering wheel was unresponsive and unable to change lanes. He had to forcefully turn the wheel to barely steer the car to the emergency lane, narrowly avoiding an accident with five passengers onboard.
On their official social media channel “1818 Golden Eye,” Zhejiang Radio & Television recently interviewed Ms. Zhang, who had a similar experience. She stated, “Just as I got onto the highway, I found the steering wheel to be extremely heavy and unresponsive, making it difficult to change lanes, with the steering wheel even issuing an alert.”
Mr. Li from Huizhou, Guangdong, encountered a series of failures with his Xiaopeng P7+. After purchasing the new energy vehicle in April this year, by mid-June, he faced a power steering failure while driving. Following an inspection at the 4S dealership, they attributed it to a steering mechanism malfunction and replaced it. However, the vehicle continued to experience new issues, with sudden loud noises occurring without collision warnings.
The “Car Quality Network” 2025 model complaint rankings show that in July, there were 212 complaints regarding steering and driver assistance system malfunctions with the Xiaopeng P7+, ranking second on the complaint chart.
The Xiaopeng P7+ is an upgraded version of the P7, officially launched on November 7, 2024, with a price range of 186,800 yuan to 218,800 yuan and a total delivery of 67,000 units.
In addition to the P7+ model, some Xiaopeng X9 owners have encountered problems with the air suspension system. After parking for a period or during driving, some X9 owners have reported complete loss of support in the air suspension system, resulting in frequent bottoming out. Despite multiple complaints to after-sales service, owners were only informed that it was a “normal occurrence.” Owners criticized Xiaopeng Motors for not proactively investigating systemic defects.
Some owners reported that Xiaopeng Motors employed an intriguing “remediation method”: applying industrial adhesive tape around the steering mechanism’s electrical wires and components. However, this makeshift solution did not fundamentally address the issue. In the case of Mr. Wang from Suzhou mentioned earlier, even after gluing the steering mechanism, the power steering system failure recurred.
Some owners revealed that their vehicles were surreptitiously glued at the steering mechanism by Xiaopeng Motors during maintenance.
The gluing technique employed by Xiaopeng Motors on the steering system drew various mockery and sarcasm from Xiaopeng car owners. An advocate for car rights affixed a slogan on their Xiaopeng vehicle: “Xiaopeng factory only knows how to covertly glue, have they considered addressing the problem directly?” Some slogans read, “Is there a hidden danger in the old steering mechanism of Xiaopeng P7+ waiting to happen if not replaced?”
One owner attached a metal sticker to the rear of their car reading “Glue for a Xiaofriend.” Another owner presented Xiaopeng Motors with a banner stating, “Xiaopeng P7+ old steering mechanism gluing technique is top-notch, gluing away the problems, refusing to offer replacements.”
Reported by the “New Yellow River,” multiple Xiaopeng P7+ owners have identified the steering mechanism malfunction as a “wiring issue.” Ms. Wang, an owner, believes that it’s “a matter of the waterproof level of the wiring harness. There’s a risk of water immersion in one of the plugs of the Xiaopeng P7+ steering gear, leading to a steering wheel lock.”
An employee of a component supply company, also an owner of the Xiaopeng P7+, speculated, “It’s probably a water ingress-induced component failure; the internal steering system issue may not be as severe.” Meanwhile, an individual familiar with vehicle maintenance informed, “This falls under a steering column design flaw, with the plug of the steering mechanism lacking waterproofing.”
In March this year, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation issued a User Guide for Vehicle Recalls, clearly stating that engine power loss, brake failures, power steering malfunctions, critical component breakages, and detachment are considered vehicle defects requiring a recall. However, up to now, Xiaopeng Motors has yet to initiate a recall procedure.