Land Rover is recalling 250,857 SUVs from the 2020 to 2026 model years due to a potential issue with the driver’s airbag, which may fail to deploy in a crash.
Related: Motorhome Rental in Europe: A Comprehensive Guide
The problem stems from corrosion in the clockspring connector, a spiral-wound electrical component that maintains a continuous connection between the steering wheel’s fixed and rotating parts. As the connector corrodes, it can increase electrical resistance within the airbag system, potentially interrupting the signal required for deployment. According to the recall documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the defect affects certain Defender, Discovery, and Range Rover models, all of which share common electrical architectures in their steering columns.
The Defender recall covers 2020–2026 models, spanning the entire current generation since its reintroduction. The Discovery includes 2021–2026 versions, aligning with the model’s most recent design cycle. The Range Rover recall applies to 2022–2026 vehicles, reflecting the timeline of its latest platform updates. Each of these ranges corresponds to the periods when the clockspring design in question was installed.
Related: Future of Side Loaders in Logistics and Warehousing
An engineering review found that the airbag warning light should appear 300 to 400 miles before the connector corrodes enough to disable deployment, providing drivers with a critical early indicator of the fault. The warning light is tied to the vehicle’s onboard diagnostics, which monitor resistance levels in the clockspring circuit. So far, Land Rover reports no injuries or accidents linked to the issue, suggesting the defect has not yet resulted in real-world failures under typical driving conditions.
Owners will receive notices starting August 7, with the mailings sent in phases based on model year and production dates. The notices will instruct them to visit a dealership for a free fix: a protective lubricant applied to the connector terminals to prevent moisture intrusion and subsequent corrosion. Dealerships have been supplied with the necessary materials and training to perform the repair, which is expected to take under an hour. The same solution was later added to production models to prevent the defect, meaning newer vehicles rolling off the assembly line now include the lubricant as a standard preventive measure.
Related: Promo Akhir Tahun Hyundai: Penawaran Terbaik untuk Memiliki Mobil Impian di 2024
All 250,857 vehicles in the recall are believed to have the faulty connectors, as the component was sourced from a single supplier during the specified production windows. Drivers can check if their vehicle is affected using the NHTSA’s recall lookup tool, which requires the vehicle identification number (VIN) to confirm eligibility for the repair.
