Why Chery's E5 recall is about sound, not safety
A software fault in the acoustic alert system means 1,800+ Chery E5s are being called back — here's what the rule requires and what owners need to book.
The quiet car problem
When the Chery E5 rolled out in Australia, its silence was a selling point. But that same quiet became a compliance issue. The small electric SUV is required to emit a pedestrian warning sound at low speeds under Australian Design Rule 113/00, which mandates Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems for quiet road transport vehicles. Chery Motor Australia is now recalling over 1800 examples because a software issue can stop the system from activating. If it fails, pedestrians and other road users may not hear the vehicle approaching — a real hazard in car parks and built-up streets where EVs creep along at walking pace.
The fix is free, the process is specific
Affected owners aren't being asked to do anything technical. The recall notice directs them to schedule an appointment with an authorised dealer for the rectification, which is carried out at no charge. There's no mention of a remote update — this is a workshop visit. For those with questions, the Chery Motor Australia customer experience team can be reached on 1800 424 379 or by email. The company's notice makes clear the software issue is the sole trigger, not a hardware failure.
What ADR 113/00 actually demands
The Australian Design Rule 113/00 sets minimum sound requirements for electric and hybrid vehicles when travelling at low speeds — the speed range where they're otherwise nearly silent. The rule applies to vehicles sold in Australia, and the E5 is one of the first Chery models to fall under it. The system must emit a continuous sound that varies with speed, and it can't be switched off by the driver. In the E5's case, the software bug prevented activation, which is why the compliance breach was flagged. The rule is designed to protect the most vulnerable road users, particularly the visually impaired who rely on sound to detect approaching traffic.
How the recall compares to industry practice
This isn't a Chery-specific problem. The AVAS requirement has caught out several manufacturers since it took effect globally, though specific examples aren't detailed here. What's notable is the timing: Chery's recall notice is dated within months of the vehicle's local launch, suggesting the compliance failure was caught during routine verification rather than after an incident. For an owner, the practical takeaway is that the recall involves a software update, which will be carried out free of charge at an authorised dealer.
