How many times has NIO caught fire spontaneously?
2 Answers
NIO ES8 caught fire spontaneously four times in two months. Below is a partial introduction to the causes of spontaneous combustion in sedans: Electrical leakage: When the engine is running, the high temperature of the ignition coil can soften, age, and crack the insulation layer of the high-voltage ignition wire, making it easier for the high-voltage ignition current to break through the insulation layer, resulting in high-voltage electrical leakage. This causes the temperature at the leakage point to continuously rise, igniting gasoline leaked from the engine or carburetor, ultimately leading to fire and combustion. Grounding: Among spontaneous combustion accidents caused by circuit faults, the main cause is grounding. Particularly, many new car owners, who are very fond of their newly purchased vehicles, may install anti-theft devices, upgrade to high-end audio systems, or modify the vehicle's appearance. These actions can potentially cause wire grounding, leading to vehicle spontaneous combustion. Oil leakage: Leaked gasoline is the most terrifying flammable substance. Electrical failure and short circuit Commonly, the starter switch may weld due to contact sintering, preventing the starter solenoid switch from releasing. This results in prolonged starting time (the safe starting time for a starter is 5 seconds), causing the starter to overheat and catch fire.
NIO's spontaneous combustion incidents were mainly concentrated in 2019, when media reported about four or five cases that attracted widespread attention. I recall that NIO recalled over 4,000 ES8 models at that time due to a battery pack design flaw that could potentially cause short-circuit fires. Although the exact total is difficult to determine precisely, the company has significantly reduced similar issues since then by improving the battery management system and updating software. From a safety perspective, owners should regularly check their vehicle's battery status and avoid parking for extended periods in extreme heat. After all, while the probability of spontaneous combustion in electric vehicles is small, it can be very dangerous if it occurs. I also recommend that if you drive a NIO, pay close attention to official recall notices to ensure timely system upgrades. Small details in daily maintenance can prevent major problems. Overall, NIO has responded relatively quickly in the industry, and incidents have noticeably decreased in the following years.
