Recalls: BYD Shark 6
Overview
OverviewManufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.
Recalls: BYD Shark 6
No recall information is available for the BYD Shark 6.
Problems and faults: BYD Shark 6
Overview
OverviewThis section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.
To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.
BYD Shark 6 Dynamic and Premium: Low-Speed Torque Limitation (The “Off-Road Gearing” Issue)
For the BYD Shark, owners (and reviewers) have reported that the vehicle can fail to maintain progress on steep, rutted, or technically challenging off-road climbs. Despite having a high combined torque rating, the wheels may stop turning entirely when faced with significant resistance at low speeds. Unlike traditional diesel utes, the BYD Shark does not have a low-range transfer case. Instead, the BYD Shark relies on a single-speed reduction gear for its electric motors which may reach a “stall” point where they cannot generate enough torque to overcome an obstacle. For these vehicles, the only “fix” to clear obstacles was to use momentum, though this increased the risk of damage.
The BYD Shark 6 Performance was available in Australia from May 2026. The BYD Shark 6 Performance had a two-speed rear transmission and simulated low-range crawling to improve off-road capability.
2024-25 BYD Shark 6: Towing Capacity & “Power Limited”
2024-25 BYD Shark 6 vehicles had a 2500 kg braked towing capacity (significantly lower than the 3500 kg of competitor vehicles). Furthermore, owners have reported that the software could aggressively limit power delivery (“Power Limited” mode) if the battery’s state-of-charge (SOC) dropped too low while towing heavy loads.
The cause of this problem was that the 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine could struggle to simultaneously drive the generator and provide enough buffer for the battery during sustained high-load towing on steep gradients.
For 2026 models, BYD Australia has confirmed a software and hardware update to increase braked towing capacity to 3500 kg. For 2024-25 BYD Shark 6 vehicles, however, owners are advised to have a high battery “Save” threshold (e.g. 50% or higher) in HEV mode before towing to reduce the likelihood of “Power Limited” mode engaging.
2024-25 BYD Shark 6: CV joint and drive shaft failures
For BYD Shark 6 vehicles, there have been reports of constant velocity (CV) joint and front drive shaft failures when the vehicle is used in sand or moderate off-road conditions. Symptoms start as a “friction noise” from the front end, progressing to a severe knocking and vibration that makes the car undrivable.
It appears that these failures are due to the high-torque output of the electric motors, combined with the specific angle of the independent front suspension during articulation.
If CV joints or front drive shafts fail, they need to be replaced. Owners are advised to avoid “full lock” turns while applying heavy throttle in high-traction or high-resistance (sand/mud) driving conditions.
BYD Shark 6: intrusive Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) and Driver Monitoring System (DMS)
BYD Shark 6 owners have reported that the Driver Monitoring System (DMS) frequently emits audible warnings for “distracted driving” as a result of the driver yawning, talking, or wearing certain types of sunglasses. Additionally, the Lane Keep Assist (LKA) system can be jerky and “hunt” between lines on Australian regional roads or in areas with heavy shadows.
These issues have been attributed to sensitive camera calibration and software logic. To address these issues, some owners manually disable these features in the “Safety” settings tab after starting the vehicle. The “Custom” button on the steering wheel can also be used to create a shortcut to the safety menu. Over-the-Air (OTA) updates have been released to refine sensitivity, though owners have reported that these problems persist.
BYD Shark 6: parasitic drain of 12 volt battery
BYD Shark 6 vehicles may fail to start (“bricked”) after being left unused for several days. The dashboard may display 12V battery low warnings, or the car may be completely unresponsive to the key fob. This occurs because of parasitic draw from the onboard 4G/5G connectivity and the “Always On” cloud features – these can deplete the small 12V lead-acid battery if the High-Voltage (HV) battery’s DC-DC converter doesn’t trigger a top-up frequently enough.
BYD dealers can apply a BMS (Battery Management System) software patch to ensure the 12V battery is charged more aggressively from the main traction battery. However, many owners also opt to replace the factory 12 volt battery with a higher-quality AGM (Absorbent Glass Mat) unit.
