Dolphin
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Which Byd Dolphin engine is the most reliable? See common problems, reviews and reliability verdicts across generations and engines.
Frequently asked questions
Which Byd Dolphin engine is the most reliable?
BYD Blade front motor (Atto 3 / Dolphin) — Maint. Sensitive verdict. The front motor and the Blade pack are not what leaves these cars on the driveway. The repeated owner report is the small 12V battery. On the German Atto 3 forum the car is simply dead: doors stay shut, a home charger does nothing, and the ADAC jump-starts a 12V that is a year old. Dealers there have been swapping the batteries, and at least one owner was told it was a recall. A New Zealand owner logged the 12V never dropping below 12V after over-the-air update 1.1, which changed how the traction pack tops the small battery up. An Australian owner poll on Whirlpool found the dead cars concentrated in the first shiploads, not in every later Atto 3. The Dolphin does the same thing in a different shape: a UK car on bydowners.com kept falling asleep until a loose nut on the 12V terminal under the rear seat was tightened, and a Malaysian owner was locked out after the air-con hissed and the 12V collapsed. The other Atto 3 behaviour that changes a drive is the driver aids braking for nothing. A frozen screen is annoying. A car that will not unlock is the purchase you regret.
Which Byd Dolphin engines should you avoid?
None of the Byd Dolphin engines listed are rated "Problematic" or "Avoid" — but always check the service history before buying.
What are the most common Byd Dolphin problems?
The most commonly reported problems across all Byd Dolphin generations and engines: 12V battery leaves the car locked and silent, Driver aids that brake on an empty road, Dolphin: sleep mode and a loose 12V post.