Hello everyone! I finally found the time to continue my story about how I reached out to a BYD dealer for help with some issues.
For those who don’t want to read a long text, I’ll get straight to the point: despite servicing my car at an official service center and having a warranty, I was denied warranty repairs. The manufacturer isn’t responding to my inquiries and has essentially left me to deal with the problems on my own.
Now, for the details.
About a year ago, I wrote that the dealer had been unable to fix an issue with my front headlight for about six months. The problem appears to be structural and is likely related to a manufacturing defect by BYD.
Over the course of a year, I contacted the local Caetano dealer in Porto several times:
First time: To document the problem.
Second time: So their representatives could take additional pics of my headlight.
Third time: To personally get an explanation from the dealer. They informed me that they couldn’t help because my car wasn’t purchased in Europe. This is true; I bought it in China.
This didn’t upset me too much since the problem is minor.
I also submitted a request for a software update and SIM card replacement. The dealer’s representatives promised to resolve it in the coming days and to contact me. Of course, no one ever did.
Before moving to Portugal, I contacted the BYD Caetano dealer in Lisbon to confirm whether my warranty was valid. They assured me it was.
As long as I was getting regular maintenance done at the Caetano dealer, everything was fine for both them and me. But as soon as I approached them with a problem, they refused to help. Moreover, they kept me waiting for a response from the manufacturer for over six months. As a result, a car with 40,000 km on the odometer, which had regularly undergone maintenance, ended up without a warranty.
Effectively, the manufacturer, knowing about the issue with their product, refused to take responsibility and fulfill their warranty obligations. Think about that!
In over 20 years of driving, this is the first time I’ve encountered such a situation. While I’m critical of some German brands due to their high prices—which aren’t always justified by quality—even they provide support in similar situations. There are known cases where even out-of-warranty cars received assistance from the manufacturer in repairing and replacing faulty components.
In conclusion, I’d like to say a few words. Last year, I drove all over Europe in my BYD Han and often talked with other car owners, recommending this brand. A year ago, there wasn’t a single BYD in the city where I live, and now there are dozens. I’m sure my example influenced some car enthusiasts in their choice.
Feeling a sense of responsibility, I’ve decided to help other car owners make the right choice by providing more context. So, try not to let managers or advertising cloud your judgment. Ask the tough questions:
What will happen if, for example, the electric motor fails?
What is the return policy, and how long will it take? Is this process regulated?
For what reasons can I be deprived of the warranty?
If BYD refuses to take responsibility dye to sanctions for example, who will fulfill the warranty obligations?
In the current political and economic climate, it’s hard to predict even six months ahead, let alone six years. When the manufacturer is a European company, many things are clearer and more transparent. In the case of a company from China, as I’ve learned, everything can be unpredictable.
Good luck to you all.
P.S. A couple of words about reliability and unbiased reliability ratings.
Try to find BYD in the rankings of the most reliable cars—you can even narrow it down to just electric vehicles. The result may surprise you.
iSeeCars – Most Reliable Electric Cars for 2024
J.D. Power – Quality and Styling Distinguish Top EV Models
Autocar – Top 10 best electric cars 2024
Even in China…
Now it makes a lot more sense why Toyota, known for producing some of the most reliable cars on the market (according to J.D. Power, iSeeCars, and Autocar), offers only a 3-year warranty—because they actually honor it.
As for BYD, why stop at six years? Go big—make it 100 years! After all, if you’re not planning to fulfill your obligations or care for your customers, why hold back? It’s not like anyone’s counting, right?
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