Jaguar Land Rover issues recall over engine fault

JAGUAR Land Rover (JLR) has issued a recall of two of its mid-size SUVs, the Discovery Sport and Range Rover Evoque, over a potential fault that could result in the loss of power steering, engine function or even a fire.

The recall affects 497 examples of the 2017 model year Discovery Sport and 300 examples of the 2016 and 2017 model year Range Rover Evoque, but only variants that sport the new 2.0-litre Ingenium turbo-diesel engine and nine-speed automatic transmission.

The potential fault lies in the engine harness of the new all-aluminium unit, which has been routed incorrectly and could result in contact with the water-charge air-cooler bracket. Vibration from the engine could result in the outer sheath of the cable rubbing through and exposing the wires of the engine harness.

This could possibly lead to electrical arcing and short circuiting, which could result in the loss of power steering, the engine shutting off without warning, engine parts melting, or a fire in the engine bay.

The new Ingenium diesel was added to the Evoque range in September 2015 and a year later for the Discovery Sport, however the recall only affects models produced between July 4 and October 2016.

Vehicle identification numbers (VIN) for the Discovery Sport range between SALC2AN9HH633943 and SALCA2BN2HH653045, and affected Evoques between SALVA2BN2HH168185 and SALVA5BN3HH188706.

Owners will be contacted by JLR via mail and instructed to take the vehicles to their preferred Land Rover dealer, who will inspect the affected parts and reposition, repair or replace the necessary components.

Until that time, JLR recommends that owners park their cars outside and away from other vehicles and property.

It is the second recall that JLR have issued for the pair of mid-size SUVs in the last week, previously for an incorrectly assembled right hand lower control arm to the knuckle joint in the front suspension, which could cause loss of suspension if the front right wheel is subjected to a jarring impact such as hitting a kerb or pothole.

The first recall affected vehicles produced between March 31 and August 25.

Despite its mechanical gremlins, the Discovery Sport had a solid year for sales, moving 4432 units in 2016 – the second most in the $60,000-plus medium SUV segment behind the Mercedes-Benz GLC, which only just pipped the Disco with 4454 sales.

The baby Rangie was slightly behind with 2732 sales, which was still enough to beat out the Porsche Macan (2172), Volvo XC60 (2134) and Jaguar F-Pace (829) but not enough to trump the BMW X3 (3824), Audi Q5 (3599) and Lexus NX (3308).