BYD Shark 6 Recall Australia: Check Your VIN and Get the Free Repair

BYD has recalled 32,009 Shark 6 vehicles in Australia over a spare wheel retention fault. If you own one, check your vehicle identification number through BYD’s official recall checker, then contact your preferred BYD dealer if it is included. The Australian Government recall notice confirms the recall work is free.

The important owner question is what to do while waiting for repairs. Australian reporting of BYD’s announcement says affected owners wishing to continue driving should remove the spare wheel until the repair is completed. Confirm the instructions for your vehicle with BYD before driving, and ask the dealer for assistance if you cannot safely carry out the handbook procedure.

Why is the BYD Shark 6 being recalled?

The Australian government notice identifies a manufacturing defect involving the spare wheel tray or lifter. Incorrect positioning can cause the support cable to wear and fracture, potentially allowing the spare wheel to detach while the vehicle is moving. The resulting hazard could cause an accident, injuries, or property damage.

BYD’s explanation, reproduced in Australian reporting, also identifies incorrect spare wheel installation and insufficient fastening torque as possible contributors to abnormal cable wear. This recall concerns the spare wheel support assembly; its stated remedy is replacement with an updated lifter design.

Readers researching the vehicle more broadly can visit AussieMotor’s BYD Shark 6 model page. For recall eligibility, however, use the official VIN check rather than the model name or advertised model year.

Which Shark 6 vehicles are affected?

The government notice covers the 2024–2026 year range and lists applicability across all variants within the model. That does not establish that every individual vehicle is included: owners still need to check their VIN.

Australian reporting of BYD’s announcement provides the following breakdown:

These figures describe production batches. They should not be treated as purchase or registration date ranges. A ute registered later may still have been built within an affected batch.

How to check your VIN

Open BYD’s Vehicle Recall Information page and enter your 17-character VIN. BYD says the checker identifies open recall campaigns associated with that vehicle. You can find the VIN on your registration papers or through the lower corner of the windscreen on the driver’s side.

You can also open the government notice for REC-006728, which includes a downloadable affected-VIN list. The manufacturer campaign reference is APRA2609H0001S. Keep those identifiers handy when speaking with the dealer.

If your result is unclear, ask BYD to confirm both whether the vehicle is included and whether the repair has already been completed. This is particularly useful if you bought the ute second-hand or have recently changed your contact details.

Can you keep driving before the repair?

Reporting of BYD’s owner instructions says affected vehicles should have their spare wheel removed if they will continue to be driven before the recall repair. The cited removal procedure is on page 259 of the Shark owner’s handbook.

Ask your dealer to confirm the applicable handbook instructions and whether assistance is available. If the carrier looks damaged, the wheel is hanging loose or the spare has already detached, describe the condition to BYD before moving the vehicle and request advice about inspection or recovery.

Removing the spare also changes your puncture contingency. Discuss that with the dealer before towing, travelling remotely, or starting a long journey. Do not improvise an unsecured way of carrying the wheel.

What does the free repair involve?

Australian reporting says BYD will replace the spare wheel lifter assembly with an updated design. The reported repair estimate is approximately 30 minutes, although workshop scheduling can mean the vehicle needs to remain at the dealership longer.

When booking, ask whether the required parts are available, how long the dealer expects to keep the vehicle, and how completion will be recorded. Request written confirmation after the work so you have a clear record for future servicing or sale.

This appointment should be discussed separately from routine maintenance. AussieMotor’s guide to driving a plug in hybrid without charging covers everyday PHEV operation, but charging habits do not resolve the spare wheel recall.

What should second-hand buyers check?

Before buying a Shark 6, obtain its VIN and check the official recall information. Ask the seller for the repair invoice or dealer confirmation, then verify any uncertainty directly with BYD.

A vehicle can fall within the original affected batch and subsequently receive the repair. The useful question is therefore whether the required work remains outstanding, rather than simply whether its build date appears in the table.