A fire incident involving a Jaecoo J7 has gone viral recently, sparking much speculation as to what caused the demise of said brand new SUV. Now, an internal circular issued to Jaecoo dealers that we’ve obtained has confirmed the cause.
The incident, which occurred in the hands of a Sarawak-based Jaecoo J7 customer, was caused by an aftermarket dashcam (or digital video recorder - DVR) device that was improperly or poorly installed into the vehicle by a third-party workshop.
Said cause was confirmed by principals Jaecoo Malaysia in the internal memo mentioned, which it has quietly circulated across its authorised dealership network in the wake of the viral incident. No fatalities or serious injuries were reported, but the fire did substantially damage the front end of the vehicle. A security guard present on scene when it occurred was able to partially contain the flames before firefighters arrived and fully extinguished it.
Moreover, Jaecoo Malaysia also stressed the importance of having aftermarket modification of accessories, particularly those involving electrical wiring, be carried out exclusively by trained personnel at authorised service centers. This is to ensure all connections are secure and meets required safety standards, reducing the risk of electrical faults such as short circuits, which may also lead to the voidance of the vehicle’s warranties.
Launched in July 2024, the locally assembled (CKD) Jaecoo J7 sees two variants available priced from RM138,800. Since then, over 7,000 units have been shifted, and the nameplate is set to grow bigger with an upcoming PHEV guise soon too.
