Land Rover has announced a major safety recall affecting 250,857 SUVs because of a potential driver’s airbag issue. The problem could prevent the airbag from deploying correctly during a collision, increasing the risk of injury.
The recall affects selected Defender, Discovery, and Range Rover models from the 2020 to 2026 model years. Owners of affected vehicles will receive the repair free of charge.
Which Models Are Included?
The recall covers selected 2020 to 2026 Land Rover Defender models, 2021 to 2026 Discovery models, and certain 2022 to 2026 Range Rover SUVs.
According to the recall documents, all 250,857 vehicles could contain the affected clockspring connector. Therefore, Land Rover advises owners to respond as soon as they receive an official recall notice.
What Is The Problem?
The issue involves the driver’s airbag clockspring connector. Over time, the connector may develop corrosion, increasing electrical resistance inside the airbag circuit.
As a result, the driver’s airbag may fail to deploy during a crash. Since airbags are essential safety equipment, Land Rover issued the recall to eliminate the potential risk.
Early Warning Before Failure
Fortunately, Land Rover’s engineering analysis found that drivers should receive advance warning before the airbag becomes inoperative.
The airbag warning light is expected to illuminate around 300 to 400 MILES before the connector reaches the point where the airbag may not deploy. Therefore, owners should not ignore the warning indicator.
Free Repair For Owners
Land Rover dealers will apply a protective lubricant to the clockspring connector terminals at no cost. The repair is straightforward and is designed to prevent corrosion from developing.
Moreover, Land Rover has already introduced the same protective lubricant during vehicle production. As a result, newly manufactured vehicles are not affected by this issue.
Middle East Impact
Land Rover has not confirmed whether vehicles sold in the Middle East are included in this recall. However, owners in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain should contact their local Land Rover dealership or authorized distributor to verify whether their vehicle is affected.
Vehicle owners can also check their VIN through their local Land Rover retailer once recall information becomes available in their respective market.
Final Thoughts
Although Land Rover has not reported any crashes or injuries related to this issue, the company is taking preventive action to protect customers. If your Defender, Discovery, or Range Rover is included in the recall, booking the free repair promptly is the safest course of action.
