Jaguar Land Rover Finds Fix for SUVs at Risk of Shutdowns

Jaguar Land Rover North America has found a way to fix more than 170,000 hybrid vehicles recalled earlier this year for shutdown risks.

The company will update software in recalled vehicles to fix the problem, JLR said in a September notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. JLR initially recalled the vehicles in April but said it had not yet found a solution.

JLR warned in the initial recall that failing electrical components could cause the vehicles to shut down unexpectedly. “A concern has been identified on Jaguar and Land Rover Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicles (MHEVs) where the DCDC converter can fail due to an internal fault in the boost control microchip,” the manufacturer said at the time. 

The recall spans every mild-hybrid Land Rover and Jaguar model JLR sold in the states for model years 2019 to 2024. 

• Range Rover 
• Range Rover Sport 
• Defender
• Discovery
• Range Rover Velar 
• Range Rover Evoque
• Jaguar F-PACE 
• Jaguar E-PACE 
• Discovery Sport 

The problem is in the DC-DC converter, a component that manages 12-volt electrical charging. According to the recall notices, a driver will first see a red "Stop Safely Electrical Fault Detected" warning within about 10 seconds after the converter fails. The situation gets worse if the driver ignores the warning and stays on the road. Lane keep assistance, suspension and stability control systems can start showing faults, the transmission can shift into neutral, and the engine will eventually shut down.

“A loss of motive power, or of vehicle lighting, will increase the risk of a crash,” JLR said. The company logged nearly 6,000 U.S. warranty claims and field reports involving DC-DC converters, but said it is not aware of any related accidents or injuries.

More Safety Issues for Land Rover Drivers

This is not the only headache for Jaguar Land Rover and its drivers. 

JLR also recently announced it is recalling nearly 900 Range Rover Sport SUVs, warning that the vehicles’ rear subframes may have been built with cracks. In March, it called back fewer than 200 sport utility vehicles whose sunroof trim could detach and fall off, creating road hazards.

The good news for Jaguar Land Rover drivers in California is that you have some important rights and protections under the state’s lemon law. You don't need to wait for a recall to get the company to fix your car.

The lemon law, also known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, requires automakers to perform a wide range of repairs on cars while they are under warranty. The law also requires companies to buy back (or replace, in some cases) vehicles they are unable to fix or simply refuse to fix. 

Talk with an Orange County Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, an Orange County lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with an Orange County lemon law attorney.