Recently, multiple vehicle owners have reported to reporters that the XPeng P7+ steering system allegedly has insufficient waterproof design in connector components, making it susceptible to moisture infiltration into wire harness interfaces, causing short circuits. Moreover, facing hundreds of complaints, car owners have received significantly different after-sales solutions: some can get complete steering system replacements, others receive only sealant treatment, while some are denied repairs because the backend system shows no problems. Even when replacements are available, XPeng's compensation schemes are inconsistent.
This trust crisis that sealant cannot fix is eroding the sense of security among tens of thousands of vehicle owners. Legal experts point out that selective maintenance and responsibility deflection may constitute discriminatory service, violating consumers' right to fair trade. Meanwhile, if companies attempt to avoid recall responsibilities with low-cost alternative solutions, they face greater breach of contract risks.
**Steering Systems Secretly Sealed by After-Sales Service**
In November 2024, Lin Hua (pseudonym) spent 193,800 yuan to purchase a new XPeng P7+ at the XPeng Motors Beijing Hopson One store. Two months after taking delivery, the steering wheel occasionally made abnormal noises. She initially paid no attention until August this year when she saw many car owners on social media platforms saying this vehicle model commonly has steering system safety hazards, which finally caught her attention.
The steering system is one of the core components of automobiles, crucial for handling stability. Lin Hua saw on social media that numerous users reported the XPeng P7+ steering system wire harness exposure and insufficient waterproof design in connectors. Main symptoms include steering assist failure and steering wheel lockup, with some owners even reporting dangerous situations where they couldn't turn the steering wheel on elevated roads.
She immediately inspected her vehicle and found that the steering system connector was indeed covered with a layer of sealant. Since it was a new car that had only been serviced at XPeng's official after-sales facility during an accident repair in April, she immediately determined this sealant was applied by XPeng after-sales service. The accident was unrelated to the steering system. Photos provided by Lin Hua show gel-like substance at the steering system interface, with wiring wrapped in black tape, while she was completely unaware of this treatment, and no one else had access to the vehicle from purchase to discovery of the sealant. When questioned, after-sales service admitted to the sealant application, explaining "there was a market activity at the time, so we did it conveniently." Similar situations are not isolated cases, with multiple car owners nationwide also reporting that officials secretly applied sealant to steering systems during first maintenance.
On social media, complaints about XPeng P7+ steering systems continue to emerge. As of publication, this vehicle model has 207 complaints on automotive quality websites, with "steering system failure" being a typical issue. Through Lin Hua's introduction, reporters joined a XPeng P7+ issue discussion group with over 200 members, mostly XPeng P7+ owners. The first item in the group announcement states "steering system design defects, concealing sealant treatment from car owners, with steering lockup hazards."
As complaints about this vehicle model increase, Yangyang (pseudonym), a car owner from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, also recently checked her vehicle at a local XPeng 4S store. When she discovered sealant on the steering system and wanted to take photos for rights protection, the 4S store told her photography was not allowed. She stated that she purchased the car in April, when sales personnel urged quick payment citing "boosting store sales volume," offering incentives of 5,000 yuan cash and 5,000 yuan shopping cards if payment and delivery were completed before May 1st. "But half a month after purchase, I learned from other car owners that new cars produced in May all had steering system interfaces replaced."
Zhang, with 15 years of automotive repair experience, told reporters directly that steering system wire harness exposure is not normal and poses safety hazards. The so-called "sealant application" uses sealant for treatment, "but this cannot fully guarantee waterproofing. In extreme rainy weather or humid environments, it may still cause electronic power steering failure and other problems."
**Inconsistent Solutions**
After steering system problems spread, car owners' after-sales progress fell into difficulties. After interviewing, reporters found that car owners received vastly different after-sales solutions. Some can get complete steering system replacements, some only receive "sealant" treatment, while others are denied repairs because the backend shows no problems. Even when replacements are possible, XPeng's compensation schemes are inconsistent.
Specifically, first-batch car owners who took delivery in November 2024 mostly succeeded in getting replacements; car owners who took delivery after 2025 are often told steering systems have been sealed and can be used normally, with replacements only available if the backend indicates faults; some car owners who received approved replacement solutions have waited two months without replacement due to stock shortages. Additionally, for car owners who have had steering systems replaced, XPeng offers different compensation amounts, generally 8,000 or 5,000 points. Lin Hua complained, "Consumers who complain more and strongly demand explanations generally get better after-sales solutions. Other car owners and I feel XPeng is playing favoritism."
When reporters accompanied Lin Hua to XPeng's Beijing offline store, official after-sales personnel stated directly, "XPeng P7+'s steering system indeed has vulnerabilities. After discovering problems, insulation treatment was implemented. We apologize for the behavior of applying sealant without informing car owners - it was an oversight by after-sales service." When asked whether the entire batch had problems, after-sales responded "only one batch in 2024 had problems, complete steering systems can be replaced."
However, when reporters further questioned on-site whether vehicles with similar problems should be recalled, an XPeng Motors internal supervisor admitted, "Personally, I think they should be recalled."
According to feedback from car owner group members, steering systems produced before May 2025 basically have the same hidden dangers, essentially all having exposed wire harnesses with only sealant treatment applied, different from newly replaced steering systems. From comparison images of new versus old steering systems posted by car owners who took delivery from June this year, the new model has black outer shells installed at plug locations. "The new model has better waterproof treatment for wire harnesses, at least better than sealant treatment, but final effectiveness depends on internal sealing rings," Zhang stated.
Reporters called XPeng Motors' official customer service, with representatives stating, "Only individual vehicles from early production of XPeng P7+ have occasional steering system faults, and specialists will contact car owners for in-store inspections." Regarding whether XPeng P7+ steering systems have quality issues and after-sales handling, reporters sent interview outlines to XPeng Motors via email, but no response was received as of publication.
**Suspected Multiple Infringements, May Require Mandatory Recall**
XPeng Motors' official announcements show that the XPeng P7+, with family travel and superior space performance as key selling points, has delivered over 67,000 units and has been the best-selling mid-to-large pure electric sedan in the 150,000-200,000 yuan category for eight consecutive months.
According to multiple car owner feedback, XPeng P7+ owners have formed multiple issue discussion and rights protection groups, with some groups reaching 500 members. Sun Yuhao, senior partner at Shanghai Haihua Yongtai Law Firm, pointed out that according to regulations such as "Household Automobile Product Repair, Replacement, and Return Responsibility Regulations," if steering system failures cause serious safety hazards like steering wheel lockup, even beyond three-guarantee periods, manufacturers should still bear repair or replacement responsibilities; if the same fault cannot be resolved after multiple repairs, it may trigger vehicle return or replacement conditions. If the steering systems of the above vehicle models are determined to have systematic design defects with frequent similar fault complaints, companies should initiate mandatory recalls and uniformly replace defective components.
Sun Yuhao further stated that XPeng Motors' current response approach involves multiple legal risks. First, selective maintenance and responsibility deflection, replacing steering systems for only some vehicles while refusing to acknowledge defects in other batches, may constitute discriminatory service under the "Consumer Rights Protection Law," violating consumers' right to fair trade.
Meanwhile, the legitimacy of sealant solutions is questionable. This treatment method temporarily fails to address design defect sources. If subsequent safety accidents occur, companies may bear product liability tort risks for not taking reasonable remedial measures; not clearly informing about sealant solution nature, risks, and alternative solutions during repairs may violate consumers' right to know.
From technical standards perspective, sealant as a non-standardized repair method may not meet process standards if it hasn't passed National Quality Inspection Administration durability tests, such as waterproof performance IP67 rating requirements. "If companies use low-cost alternative solutions to avoid recall responsibilities, they may need to bear certain breach of contract responsibilities," Sun Yuhao emphasized.