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Driver Files Lawsuit Against BYD After Defect in Dolphin Mini Recently Purchased in Salvador. Case Exposes Failures in Service, Judicial Dispute, and Debate on Consumer Rights.
In Salvador, a driver is facing an impasse involving the electric car manufacturer BYD and a local dealership, according to a news report on Thursday, 09/18.
Ernesto Galvão, 40, saw his dream of driving a 100% electric vehicle turn into a headache just days after the purchase. The Dolphin Mini, acquired for R$ 120 thousand, showed defects right at the first charge. Now, the case has gone to court and raises discussions about quality, warranties, and consumer service.
The High Investment and Frustrated Expectation
The acquisition of the electric car was planned. In addition to the financing approved by the bank, Ernesto invested about R$ 25 thousand in solar panels to power the vehicle at home, betting on long-term savings. Choosing the Dolphin Mini, a popular model from BYD in Brazil, represented not just a vehicle, but a more sustainable life project. However, just four days after the purchase, the problems began.
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During the first charge, a strange noise coming from the motor caught the driver’s attention. Ernesto immediately contacted the Parvi dealership where he had purchased the vehicle on Avenida Paralela. The car was held for four days for testing. However, the diagnosis was inconclusive.
Two months later, the defect remains without a definitive solution. The dealership and the manufacturer identified that the problem lies in the transmission connected to the motor. BYD reportedly recommended the complete replacement of both parts. For Ernesto, this measure is unacceptable: “I don’t want this change to be reflected in the car’s documentation and decrease the vehicle’s value,” says the driver.
Additional Complaints and Filing of the Lawsuit Against BYD
Besides the defect in the motor, the driver points out issues with the door locks and the hood. The accumulation of problems, coupled with the lack of agility in resolution, led Ernesto to file a lawsuit against BYD and the Parvi dealership. The action was filed in the 9th Consumer Relations Court of Salvador at the beginning of September.
According to him, the service provided was insufficient: “The service they provided was very poor from the start. Very disrespectful. Both the dealership and BYD did not take action to solve the problem.”
The Response from the Parvi Dealership and the Position of BYD
Contacted by the report, Parvi did not comment on the details of the lawsuit but sent a statement signed by the after-sales manager: “The Parvi Group acts in accordance with all technical and customer service protocols of BYD, always prioritizing transparency, safety, and satisfaction of our customers. In any occurrences, our customers have total support from the dealerships and official service channels.”
BYD, for its part, maintained the same position. In an official response, the manufacturer stated that it continues to monitor the case together with the dealership network but did not present a timeline for a definitive solution to the problem.
For Ernesto, the companies’ stance has generated even greater frustration. According to him, BYD blames the dealership for the delay in requesting the part, while Parvi cannot provide concrete timelines for the replacement. This lack of clarity reinforced his decision to seek judicial redress. “Once again, they blamed the dealership. They said they still haven’t made the request. They keep passing the buck and never provide a solution,” the driver laments.
What Consumer Law Says About Cases Like This?
Consumer law experts emphasize that immediate replacement of a vehicle is not the norm. Lawyer Pedro Falcão explains that in cases of defects, the company has a period of 30 days to make repairs. If it fails to resolve the issue within that timeframe, the customer may seek a refund or product replacement. “It is the companies’ responsibility to repair the defect in question. If the repair is not fulfilled within the 30-day period, the customer is entitled to a refund or exchange for an equivalent product,” details the lawyer.
However, he notes that Brazilian courts have adopted different decisions in similar situations: “In cases where there has been a loss of trust or a well-founded fear of new defects, there have been some precedents for immediate replacement, but it’s not guaranteed.”
While he awaits the unfolding of the process, Ernesto keeps the car parked and accumulates losses. For him, the experience has created distrust not only in relation to the model purchased but also regarding the brand’s support in Brazil.
The situation resonates at a time when BYD is trying to expand its share of the Brazilian market, investing in factories and marketing campaigns aimed at popularizing electric cars. However, cases like this raise doubts about the reliability of technical assistance and may compromise the brand’s reputation among consumers seeking sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel.
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