Xpeng has issued a recall for 33,473 X9 electric MPVs in China, covering vehicles produced between 8 August 2023 and 11 August 2025. The recall begins on 28 August and addresses a manufacturing defect in the front air springs that can cause slow leaking after prolonged use in hot and humid conditions. In extreme cases, the leak can affect vehicle handling.
The timing matters because Xpeng launched the X9 in the UK just weeks ago, with deliveries beginning in Q3 2026. The UK cars are right-hand drive models on a newer specification than those covered by the recall, but buyers considering the X9 deserve to understand what happened in China and why.
What the Recall Covers
The problem originates in fluctuations during the manufacturing process, which left some vehicles with reduced airtightness in their front air spring strut assemblies. After extended use in hot and humid environments, those springs can slowly lose pressure, triggering warning lights and text alerts on the dashboard. In the most severe cases, the suspension can sag on one or both sides, affecting the car’s handling to the point where some vehicles were reported as undriveable.
The issue came to public attention in Chongqing, where summer temperatures reached 40°C and a cluster of X9 owners reported one-sided or full-body sagging while driving. Xpeng responded on 16 July with a public apology and an extended warranty on the air spring system: 8 years or 160,000 km, covering the front air spring strut assemblies, air supply unit, solenoid valve box and air tank, with the warranty transferable across ownership changes.
The recall, announced on 24 July by China’s State Administration for Market Regulation, goes further. Xpeng will replace the front air spring strut assemblies with improved components for all vehicles within the scope, free of charge. Some vehicles have already received the improved parts and won’t need another replacement.
Does This Affect UK Buyers?
The recall covers X9s produced between August 2023 and August 2025. UK deliveries are beginning in Q3 2026 from a newer production run, and Xpeng has not indicated that the defect affects the updated production specification. The improved air spring components that Xpeng is fitting to recalled Chinese vehicles are presumably already standard on cars produced after August 2025 so no, the UK buyers won’t be affected with this issue.
Xpeng’s response to the issue is also worth noting. The company apologised publicly within days of the first complaints, extended the warranty proactively before the recall was announced, and then issued the recall after customers raised questions about why a widespread issue wasn’t triggering one. That’s a broadly appropriate sequence of responses, even if the original failure represents a quality control lapse.
Context: The X9 in Europe
The X9 is Xpeng’s flagship model, a large electric MPV priced from £74,990 in the UK. It sits at the premium end of the seven-seat EV market and competes with models like the Mercedes EQV in terms of positioning, though it undercuts them significantly on price. For a broader comparison of how it sits against other large electric MPVs, my Mercedes GLB Electric vs Chinese 7-seat EVs piece is worth reading alongside this.
| Specification | Standard Range | Long Range | AWD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor | 235 kW FWD | 235 kW FWD | 370 kW AWD |
| WLTP range | 534 km (332 mi) | 615 km (382 mi) | 579 km (360 mi) |
| 0-100 km/h | 8.2 sec | 7.75 sec | 5.9 sec |
| Top speed | 200 km/h (124 mph) | 200 km/h (124 mph) | 200 km/h (124 mph) |
| DC charging | 542 kW peak | 542 kW peak | 542 kW peak |
| DC 10-80% | 12 min | 12 min | 12 min |
| Seats | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| UK price (OTR) | £74,990 | £79,990 | £84,990 |
FAQ
What is being recalled? 33,473 Xpeng X9 electric MPVs produced in China between 8 August 2023 and 11 August 2025. Xpeng will replace the front air spring strut assemblies with improved components free of charge. The recall begins on 28 August 2026.
What was the problem? Manufacturing process variations left some vehicles with reduced airtightness in their front air springs. In hot and humid conditions, the springs can slowly leak, causing suspension sagging and, in extreme cases, affecting vehicle handling.
Does this affect UK X9 models? UK deliveries are beginning from a Q3 2026 production run, which is after the recall scope ends (August 2025). Xpeng has not indicated the defect applies to newer production. UK buyers should confirm their vehicle’s production date with the dealer.
What did Xpeng do about it? On 16 July, Xpeng apologised publicly and extended the X9’s air spring warranty to 8 years or 160,000 km. On 24 July, following pressure from owners, Xpeng announced a formal recall with free replacement of affected components.
Featured Image Source: Xpeng
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