In early January 2026, the central regions of Russia experienced severe frosts and snowfalls. In these conditions, owners of Chinese cars massively complained about technical failures. The problems affected door locks, transmission, retractable elements and the exhaust system.
Chery — frozen doors and blocked interior
The most high-profile cases were recorded by owners of Chery Tiggo 4. In the cold, the car doors began to lock spontaneously, due to which drivers could not leave the cabin. These cars were called «coffins on wheels».
Cars locked drivers inside the cabin due to spontaneous door locking.
Most often, it was the driver's door that did not work. If the windows froze to the frames, it became impossible to get out of the car without outside help.
Geely and Haval — problems with locks
Owners of Geely Monjaro and Atlas faced freezing cables and door locks. With temperature changes on the street or in the cold, the passenger door simply would not close. But after warming up in the garage, the mechanisms started working again as they should.
Similar malfunctions were also identified by owners of Haval M6 and F7. Some owners tried to fix them with a hair dryer and silicone grease.
Changan, Jetour and Exeed — noises and breakdowns
Changan CS55 owners complained about extraneous sounds in the gearbox after driving in the snow. Exeed TXL and VX owners encountered freezing retractable sills.
Some owners disabled them via fuses. Jetour's bumper amplifier broke off while being pulled out of a snowdrift.
Freezing muffler and condensation
A separate problem was the accumulation of water in the exhaust system. In the cold, the condensate froze and blocked the exhaust.
Chery Tiggo 5 owners point to a design flaw in the muffler — a bend in the pipe in front of the main muffler. Some car owners drill a hole in it to drain water.
Results of the winter test
Experience of operation in frosts showed that some Chinese cars were not sufficiently adapted to the Russian climate.
The main problems are related to seals, locks, electronics and the exhaust system. Now manufacturers have to refine the design for stable operation in severe winter conditions.
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