Deepal S09 Leaks in Heavy Rain; Manufacturer Confirms Assembly Defect, Offers Compensation

On April 8, an owner of a Deepal S09 reported that their vehicle—purchased just nine months ago—suffered severe water leakage during heavy rain. Rainwater continuously seeped into the cabin through the A-pillar on the passenger side, triggering a "power limited" fault code in the vehicle's electronic system. The car is a plug-in hybrid new energy vehicle equipped with an intelligent driving system, and the owner expressed concerns that the water ingress could compromise electrical wiring and overall system safety. The owner took the vehicle to the Deepal Auto maintenance center at the Honggutan store in Nanchang for inspection. Technicians confirmed that the leak was not caused by improper use but rather by a manufacturing defect: a gap of approximately 0.1 millimeters existed between the film and sealant beneath the black trim piece above the windshield, allowing rainwater to enter. The service center has since sealed the leak point and performed cleaning and drying procedures on the affected areas. In response to the owner’s concerns regarding safety risks and requests for future assurances, the dealership agreed to compensate the owner with 12,000 loyalty points per day during the repair period, which can be redeemed for products in the Deepal online store. Additionally, the dealership committed to conducting a comprehensive vehicle data diagnostic and road test, providing timestamped and watermarked video documentation throughout the process, and ultimately issuing an official inspection report bearing the company’s official seal. Both parties have now reached preliminary agreement on the resolution of the water leakage issue and the compensation and assurance measures.