Jaguar Land Rover’s Airbag Recall: When Even Luxury Needs a Safety Upgrade

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Jaguar Land Rover North America recalled a whopping 20,999 US vehicles for a potentially deadly airbag flaw that would put occupants at risk during a collision. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said some of the airbags would rip apart when deployed, effectively not protecting passengers and putting them at risk of injury or burn by released hot gases.

Scope of Recall:

The recall covers several Jaguar Land Rover models, ranging from brand-new Range Rover Evoque SUVs to other vehicles produced for the U.S. market.

Nature of Defect:

Engineering analysis found that the airbag of the passenger can fail to completely burst through the instrument panel when it deploys, resulting in potential tears. The flaw can decrease airbag cushioning of occupants and permit hot gases to escape, resulting in burns.

Risk Factors:

A burst airbag is not able to safeguard passengers during an accident effectively, raising the risk of serious harm or burns.
No Injuries Reported Yet: Jaguar Land Rover has stated that, to their knowledge, there have been no reported accidents, injuries, or fires traceable to this flaw. The problem was detected by testing by the supplier and not by customer complaints.

Remedy and Next Steps:

Owners of the affected cars should have their local Jaguar Land Rover dealer or approved repairer contact them for a free repair. The dealers will send out the defective airbag modules free of charge.

Notification Schedule:

Owner notification letters will be mailed in the next few weeks, with the dealerships already informed of the recall process.

What Owners Must Do

Check if your vehicle is affected by entering your VIN into the Jaguar Land Rover or NHTSA recall websites.
Get it fixed as soon as you can to protect you and stay in line with the recall.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Jaguar Land Rover official communications