Nabil Luqman

0f9d2dd4f71434084e2b6094de1865e23abb37bb9f28ca51feeabee679ec9be2

Social

support

issue

safety

Atto 3

emergency brake

build quality

brakedown

A BYD Atto 3 owner has taken to social media to recount a frightening experience that occurred during a family road trip on 1st May. What should have been a routine journey from Melaka to Penang ended in a potentially life-threatening ordeal on the Cheras-Kajang Expressway, after the electric vehicle (EV) suddenly engaged emergency braking and stalled in the fast lane without warning.
The incident has since raised pressing concerns over the reliability of EV systems, the responsiveness of after-sales service, and the adequacy of consumer protection in Malaysia&rsquo;s growing electric vehicle market.
Emergency Braking Without Warning Causes Near-Misses
&nbsp;<img src="https://r2.myc.my/57b49380078498ee5f55d2fc40a44604508a7f078538b4ece5d28fc7f5554e9f" />
The owner, who was travelling with his wife and children, had made a brief detour to Kajang to attend a Hari Raya open house. While rejoining traffic on the expressway, the vehicle abruptly initiated an emergency stop. The driver stated that there was no prior indication of a malfunction &mdash; no audible warnings, dashboard alerts, or steering anomalies.
Once stopped, the vehicle became unresponsive. The dashboard displayed a &ldquo;Power System Failure&rdquo; message, and attempts to restart the car were unsuccessful. Trapped in the fast lane with moving traffic behind them, the family could only wait helplessly as oncoming vehicles swerved at high speeds to avoid a collision.
&ldquo;It could&rsquo;ve ended badly. Cars were coming fast, and some had to slam their brakes or swerve dangerously. I was stuck with my kids in the car &mdash; it was terrifying,&rdquo; the owner wrote in his Facebook post.
Swift Response from Authorities, But Towing Complicated by Locked Wheels
&nbsp;<img src="https://r2.myc.my/f7263dacd7412c3325fb320f88d5a048f9f10b2bbc90947fb6f5ebca56c7d849" />
Fortunately, the highway patrol team responded swiftly, arriving within ten minutes to secure the area and place cones around the stalled vehicle. However, the process of removing the car from the expressway proved far more difficult than anticipated.
An hour later, the insurance company&rsquo;s tow truck arrived, but technicians discovered that the car&rsquo;s wheels remained locked &mdash; even though it had been shifted into Neutral. This prevented conventional towing. As a workaround, the team resorted to using wheel dollies, which lift each tyre off the ground, allowing the vehicle to be rolled onto a flatbed tow truck.
Service Centre Closed Upon Arrival, No Support Offered
&nbsp;<img src="https://r2.myc.my/310466dcf1810eeb3eaa41d94083e3317dc5e4d419af74811bc895bfc7c3ea9c" />
The vehicle was transported to BYD&rsquo;s Glenmarie service centre, arriving at approximately 7pm &mdash; after regular working hours. With no staff available to receive the car or provide assistance, the family was left to make overnight arrangements on their own. The owner and his family stayed with relatives nearby, uncertain about the next steps.
The following morning, the situation did not improve. According to the owner, service centre personnel appeared unprepared to deal with the issue and offered little information beyond vague assurances. After repeated insistence that the matter be treated as a serious safety concern, technicians diagnosed the problem as a fault in the 12V battery &mdash; the smaller battery responsible for powering auxiliary systems.
The service team informed the owner that the 12V battery needed to be replaced, but the required component was not immediately available. Moreover, the service centre advised that further checks on the wheel-locking issue could only proceed after the battery was replaced.
He was also told that a courtesy car would not be provided as none were currently available, leaving him without transport for the foreseeable future.
Travel Plans Cancelled and Frustration Grows
&nbsp;<img src="https://r2.myc.my/0f0b9a705ecd6b75d06ab90dbe844f8aa125f06c7a6d07955a94e0dcde8a9598" />
As a result of the breakdown and delays, the owner was forced to cancel his trip to Penang and return to Melaka. The incident had already caused significant distress to his family, and the lack of clarity or urgency from BYD&rsquo;s service centres in Melaka where he purchased the vehicle and the Glenmarie outlet, which is looking into the current issue at hand.
To make matters worse, the vehicle, although only 10 months old, had already surpassed 20,000km in mileage, which meant the 12V battery was no longer covered under warranty. According to BYD Malaysia&rsquo;s warranty policy, the lead-acid 12V battery is protected for 1 year or 20,000km, whichever comes first. The main high-voltage EV battery, which powers the electric motor, carries a longer 8-year or 160,000km warranty, subject to a minimum 70% State of Health (SOH) standard.
Previous Wall Box Complaint Remains Unresolved
&nbsp;<img src="https://r2.myc.my/c8d2a388e6e9527601bd4fe896b5ff4897eae55b82332f8a0301fde13939be98" />
In his <a href="https://www.facebook.com/nurafifah.abdulrahim/posts/pfbid0Kptpjy8nrG15zzhc6fxeztDdTvFeeZGMPCBvUhzdJ2oarrfWnNU6MykyK6pfvdhzl">Facebook post</a>, the owner also revealed that this was not the first issue he had encountered with BYD. Two months prior, he had lodged a complaint regarding a malfunctioning wall box charger &mdash; the home charging station provided by the brand.
Despite repeated follow-ups, he claims that no technician has been dispatched to inspect the unit, and the only response he continues to receive is that &ldquo;the matter has been reported to the supplier.&rdquo; To date, the issue remains unresolved.
The owner stressed that his post was not intended to disparage BYD, but to raise awareness among current and prospective EV owners about potential safety risks and customer service challenges. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not trying to shame anyone,&rdquo; he wrote. &ldquo;But something like this could happen to anyone &mdash; and it could be deadly.&rdquo;
He also called for greater coordination between BYD dealerships and service centres, particularly when it comes to resolving critical faults and providing consistent support.
Company Reaches Out Following Public Post
Since the viral post, the owner has confirmed that BYD Sime Darby &mdash; the local distributor for the Chinese automaker &mdash; has contacted him and is working to resolve the issue. The nature of the power system failure and wheel-locking problem is still under investigation at the time of writing.
Popular EV, But Teething Problems Remain
<img src="https://r2.myc.my/dc39fb60b0d7e9e50ce32390c48c4d4b86afe380ba68f579279d5f5c85a3f62e" />
The BYD Atto 3 was launched in Malaysia in December 2022 and has quickly become one of the country&rsquo;s best-selling electric vehicles. According to Road Transport Department (JPJ) data, a total of 6,563 units have been registered as of March 2025.
While BYD is known for its aggressive pricing and well-equipped models, this incident has sparked debate over the long-term reliability of EVs and the readiness of local support infrastructure to meet increasing demand.
While electric vehicles continue to gain dominance in the automotive market, not all manufacturers are fully sold on an all-EV future. Concerns remain &mdash; ranging from environmental impact and charging infrastructure to driving experience. Some carmakers, such as Toyota, have even voiced reservations, stating that certain EVs lack the emotional engagement of traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. As a result, several brands are choosing to focus on hybrids or continuing ICE development alongside electrification.
Although Malaysia is gradually improving its EV infrastructure, significant gaps persist &mdash; and these pose ongoing challenges for both established and emerging brands. In particular, questions are being raised about the long-term reliability and consistency of vehicles imported from China. While China has demonstrated remarkable capability in high-tech manufacturing, concerns about quality control still linger in the minds of some consumers. As the saying goes, &ldquo;Made in China&rdquo; can mean many things &mdash; and for now, a degree of caution may still be warranted.
What are your thoughts on purchasing an EV vehicle now? Let us know in the comments. 
&nbsp;
*Sources: Visual and Reference Credits to Social Media &amp; various cross-references for context.
FOMO much? Follow our&nbsp;<a style="color: #ff0000;" href="https://www.facebook.com/mycclub/">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a style="color: #ff0000;" href="https://www.instagram.com/myc_news/?hl=en">Instagram</a>&nbsp;for more updates.

While BYD continues to investigate the issue, it raises an unsettling question — how many other vehicles might be at risk of suffering the same fate? 

3c0d13bd13b69550ec5a68de928d8080db16da01632cfb751c5c3d3d5fe392de

Terrifying Breakdown: BYD Atto 3 Abruptly Brakes On Expressway With Family On Board

Terrifying Breakdown: BYD Atto 3 Abruptly Brakes On Expressway With Family On Board

While BYD continues to investigate the issue, it raises an unsettling question — how many other vehicles might be at risk of suffering the same fate?

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