Jaguar Land Rover Airbag Recall Impacts Over 250,000 Vehicles

The Jaguar Land Rover airbag recall has been announced for 250,857 vehicles across North America after the automaker identified a defect that could prevent the driver's airbag from deploying during a crash. The campaign covers several Land Rover models built between the 2020 and 2026 model years. According to the company, the issue is linked to a component within the driver's airbag electrical circuit that may deteriorate over time, potentially affecting airbag performance when deployment is required.

Affected Models and Defect Details

The recall applies to 2020-2026 Land Rover Defender, 2021-2026 Discovery, and 2022-2026 Range Rover vehicles. Jaguar Land Rover determined that the connector linking the driver's airbag to the clockspring may develop fretting corrosion over extended use. As corrosion increases electrical resistance within the driver's airbag circuit, the system may fail to deploy the airbag during a collision, creating an elevated safety risk for vehicle occupants.

Supplier and Production Improvement

The affected airbag connector was manufactured by Alps Alpine Europe GmbH. Following identification of the defect, Jaguar Land Rover introduced a production improvement by applying a protective lubricant gel to the connector pins during assembly. This preventive measure was implemented in new vehicle production to reduce the possibility of fretting corrosion developing at the electrical connection over the vehicle's service life.

Customer Remedy and Owner Notification

To correct the issue, Jaguar Land Rover dealers will apply a protective lubricant gel to the driver's airbag connector terminals at no cost to vehicle owners. Interim notification letters explaining the safety risk are scheduled to be mailed beginning August 7. Once dealerships receive the complete repair solution, additional owner notifications will be issued, advising customers to schedule the final service procedure.

Dealer Instructions

Jaguar Land Rover has also instructed its dealer network that any affected inventory vehicles must not be sold until the required recall remedy has been completed. The company emphasized that selling vehicles covered by the recall before repairs are performed is prohibited, ensuring all impacted vehicles receive the necessary corrective action before reaching customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which vehicles are included in the Jaguar Land Rover airbag recall?
The recall covers selected Land Rover Defender, Discovery, and Range Rover models produced between the 2020 and 2026 model years for the North American market. Specifically, it includes 2020-2026 Defender, 2021-2026 Discovery, and 2022-2026 Range Rover vehicles. Owners should wait for official notification or contact an authorized Jaguar Land Rover dealership to confirm whether their specific vehicle identification number (VIN) is included in the recall campaign.

What is causing the airbag problem?
The issue results from fretting corrosion that may develop at the driver's airbag connector located within the clockspring assembly, increasing electrical resistance over time. If resistance becomes too high, the driver's airbag may not deploy when commanded during a collision. Jaguar Land Rover identified the condition during its investigation and introduced a production change by applying protective lubricant to the connector pins on newly manufactured vehicles.

What repair will dealerships perform?
Authorized Jaguar Land Rover dealerships will apply a protective lubricant gel to the driver's airbag connector terminals as part of the recall remedy without charging vehicle owners. Interim owner notification letters are expected to begin mailing on August 7, while additional communications will follow once the complete repair process is available at dealerships. Owners should arrange service promptly after receiving the official notification.