Urgent recall of thousands of SUVs that could burst into flames
An urgent recall has been issued for thousands of Jaguar electric SUVs due to a risk of their batteries catching fire.
Jaguar has urged owners of the 2019 I-Pace SUV to immediately park their vehicles outdoors, away from other buildings, as there is a risk that the vehicles’ batteries could burst into flames.
Jaguar said in a statement that there have already been three fires in the US linked to the problem. the recall documents issued on Thursday.
The British carmaker said dealers will update the batteries of its electric cars to limit charging capacity as a temporary measure, but has not yet come up with a permanent solution.
Jaguar has had to issue three previous recalls for the same problem, which required updating the diagnostic software.
Jaguar is recalling its 2019 I-Pace SUVs due to issues with the cars’ batteries
“Owners who previously updated their vehicles with the enhanced diagnostic software believe their vehicles are protected from thermal runaway. For 2019 model year vehicles, this may not be the case,” the documents state.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the I-Pace’s batteries, which were made in Poland by LG Energy Solution.
The agency’s investigation was first opened in April 2022, after five automakers issued recalls over potential defects that could cause the batteries of electric and hybrid vehicles to catch fire or stall.
Automakers that have issued recalls over the issue since February 2020 include General Motors, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, Stellantis and Volkswagen.
It comes just days after major automaker BMW recalled 720,796 of its own vehicles in the US over concerns about short circuits in the engines.
The recall involves the X1 and X5 models, as well as some 5 Series sedans, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said in a recall notice last week.
Jaguar has already been forced to recall cars three times before due to the same problem
The British car manufacturer has not yet developed a permanent solution to the problem
Other models may have been affected, but the regulator has only specified three.
An NHTSA spokesperson said, “An improperly sealed electrical connector on the water pump could be exposed to water and cause a short circuit.”
According to the regulator, dealers will check the water pump and plug and replace them if necessary, and install a protective shield free of charge.
According to the NHTSA, BMW was aware of approximately 18 customer complaints, concerns or real-world incidents, but the company has not received any reports of accidents or injuries in the U.S. related to this report.