XPeng Motors Faces Whistleblower Allegations Over Steering Design Flaw and Concealment

According to the post, despite known safety risks stemming from a design flaw in the steering system, XPeng Motors did not initiate a recall or formally inform vehicle owners. Instead, the company allegedly applied adhesive to the affected area without notification, raising concerns about the company's commitment to user safety.

The whistleblower pointed out that early batches of the XPeng P7+ may experience sudden steering failure during operation. The issue originates from a flaw in the steering connector design, where water ingress causes short-circuiting and subsequent malfunctions. On the China Consumer Complaint website, a complaint reads: “XPeng P7+ vehicles delivered between November 2014 and February 2015 have steering harnesses without waterproofing. Many members of our car owners’ group have experienced sudden loss of steering.”

On social media platforms, search terms like “XPeng P7+ steering failure” and “XPeng P7+ steering lock issue” have begun trending, with users sharing their experiences and calling for a product recall.

The P7+, described as “the world’s first AI vehicle” and a flagship model developed over three years, is now facing widespread scrutiny. The whistleblower, one of the first XPeng P7+ owners, noted that signs of the flaw emerged as early as February during a visit to a 4S service center, where adhesive had already been applied to the steering connector. At that time, the owner questioned whether this constituted a design defect. Other users confirmed similar experiences, mentioning that they were informed the adhesive was applied to address issues related to bumps or vibrations.

XPeng P7+ was officially launched in early November 2024. According to promotional material, the model was designed to deliver the space and comfort of a luxury executive sedan while offering users the advanced intelligence of electric vehicles. Equipped with AI Tianji 5.4.0, in-house developed end-to-end large models, and AI Eagle Eye driving solutions, the vehicle integrates features like the self-developed X-GPT model and Qualcomm 8295P cockpit chip. XPeng had emphasized safety compliance with the 2024 C-NCAP five-star standard, boasting a unique integrated front and rear aluminum die-cast body and a 2000 MPa ultra-high-strength cage structure. The battery reportedly passed a 700J bottom impact test—2.3 times the industry average.

Despite these assurances, issues surrounding a single connector have led to serious safety concerns. One user reported two steering lock incidents within seven months and fewer than 8,000 kilometers of use—one on the highway and another upon exiting. Another owner in Anhui experienced a steering lock during rush hour traffic. In one 500-member vehicle group, three cases were identified; another group reported six incidents.

Though XPeng Motors has not issued a public response, the company may have been aware of the issue prior to the Lunar New Year. The whistleblower also left a comment under a company executive’s Weibo post, asking whether “playing with customers’ lives” was a justified decision. The comment was deleted, and the user was blocked.

According to the whistleblower, XPeng opted to address the issue with adhesive rather than initiating a recall, despite a noticeable increase in incidents during warmer temperatures. “How can XPeng ignore user safety and still claim to represent responsible domestic new energy development?” the post asked.

Other owners expressed dissatisfaction. One Henan-based user noted the adhesive was applied during their first maintenance appointment, yet no record appeared in the app. When asked if it was done secretly, the owner said: “You could say that—if you didn’t see it, they wouldn’t tell you. If you did, they’d explain it briefly.”

Many other P7+ owners have since reviewed their service records, discovering an item called “chassis maintenance” during early servicing—raising further suspicion. While some were contacted by XPeng and asked to bring their vehicles in for background-identified steering issues, others continued to report concerns even after adhesive was applied.

One user questioned the effectiveness of this approach: “What happens when this adhesive-covered plug needs to be replaced? Shouldn’t it have been waterproof to begin with?” Another replied: “In theory, yes.” Some users reported that even after the adhesive was applied, steering failures persisted.

At present, the issue appears to primarily affect early batches of the XPeng P7+, but the total number of impacted vehicles remains unclear. Whether XPeng Motors will launch a formal recall for this critical safety matter remains to be seen.