Land Rover Defender Brakes Could Fail, Manufacturer Says in New Recall

Jaguar Land Rover is recalling a small number of Defender 130 sport utility vehicles over defective brakes.

Brake calipers on the SUVs could fall off, the company recently told federal regulators. Less than 200 cars are covered by the new recall, all of which are still at Land Rover dealerships.

“The cars were modified for an off-road competition, the JLR North Americas TReK, in which dealership employees compete,” Sean Tucker reports for Kelley Blue Book. “They modify the SUVs for better off-road performance.”

Brake calipers may not have been properly reinstalled after those modifications, Jaguar Land Rover told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“If the brake calipers are not installed following the published repair procedure, there is a risk the calipers may detach, resulting in degraded braking performance and possible structural damage to the wheel, increasing the risk of a crash,” the company said in a defect notice.

The company said it became aware of the issue when a recalled vehicle’s brake calipers detached during the September 2023 JLR North America TReK event.  Jaguar Land Rover is not aware of any accidents or injuries caused by the defect, it told NHTSA.

California Land Rover Owners: What You Need to Know

Although this particular recall is fairly limited, it highlights some of the serious defects and malfunctions that may be lurking in new and used vehicles.

Jaguar Land Rover and other major auto manufacturers call back millions of vehicles combined every year. They often cite serious defects that put everyone on the road in harm’s way.

Over the summer, the company announced it was calling back nearly 13,000 vehicles over a defect that could cause tail lights to fail, for example. It said the problem - caused by faulty wiring - increased the risk of accidents.

Know Your Lemon Law Rights 

Fortunately, Land Rover and other car owners in California do not have to wait around for a recall in order to get defective vehicles fixed. You have some valuable rights and protections under the California lemon law.

Formally known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, the lemon law forces car manufacturers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. The law also requires those companies to buy back vehicles that they cannot or will not fix. That includes covering the purchase price, financing fees and other related expenses.

The law permits automakers to instead offer to replace the vehicle. It is up to the owner, however, to decide whether to accept or reject this alternative arrangement.

There is no set number of repair requests or attempts that must be made before the buyback or replacement obligation kicks in. An experienced California lemon law attorney can guide you through the process, build the strongest possible claim and keep you apprised of your rights and options every step of the way.

Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.