It’s difficult to engineer cars for edge cases, such as -35 degree Russian weather. The fact that most cars can keep trooping through these conditions makes them especially impressive. And the fact that many Chinese cars can’t, shows how far its auto industry has left to grow.

The China Observer YouTube channel reports that Russia has consistently ranked first in Chinese automotive export shipments for years. But after invading Ukraine and being punished with extreme tariffs, even wealthy Russians may be unable to buy cars from anywhere else. As Chinese cars become ubiquitous, and the worst of the Russian winter sets in, drivers are discovering some serious problems, with some even nicknaming the cheap Chinese vehicles “portable coffins.”

The dangerous problems Chinese cars face in Russian winters

The biggest problem is doors and windows that freeze shut. This is a huge issue with flush-mounted powered door handles on EVs (i.e. Tesla knockoffs). But Chinese internal combustion cars are also reportedly trapping Russians. The Chery Tiggo 4 is notorious for driver’s side door lock motors that take on condensation, freeze, and make it impossible to unlock the car—from the inside. If your windows are already frozen shut with ice, or your window motors have the same problem, you can be in serious trouble.

When Geely Monjaro’s lock you in, the problem can look a little different. Apparently, the door handles hang loose and don’t activate the mechanisms at all. The Haval Jolion and H6 have also been called out for similar problems.

In Siberian temperatures, powertrains can fail as well. A Changan CS55 and Haval F7 owner both reported transmissions (CVTs, to be exact) that begin “knocking” once temperatures get low enough. Cars sitting for a few days are collecting moisture in poorly manufactured exhaust systems, which is then freezing into a block and prevent the engine from starting. 

We’re talking the negative 30s. In those temperatures, you can forget about getting the Chery Tiggo 7 and 8 SUVs’ fancy retractable door steps to extend—or folding back in place once extended.

Once vehicles do get stuck, you may have other problems. Multiple drivers have reported designated towing points simply snap off where they should be reinforced.

One of the country’s most popular automotive influencers didn’t pull any punches when summing up how she believes Chinese automakers think. “Their job was to sell you the product right here, right now without thinking about tomorrow.”

You can see China Observer’s coverage embedded below: