Power struggles: KwaZulu-Natal businessman battles Jaguar Land Rover over electric I-PACE woes
A KwaZulu-Natal businessman says he intends to sue Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) after experiencing months of problems with his electric Jaguar I-PACE.
Clive Lander said he bought the car after falling in love with electric vehicles. “This would’ve been my third electric car, and I believe once you change to electric you never go back, but I will never go back to Jaguar.”
Lander said he drove the vehicle problem-free for the first 60,000 km, but the first permanent fault appeared on 29 August 2024. “In our case, our car indicated a faulty battery pack, the charge limit was at 72% and we also didn’t get the correct travel distance before the battery would die. After researching I found that these are known to catch fire and worldwide have been bought back by JLR… Except in South Africa.”
He added that checking his VIN number showed the vehicle matched others recalled internationally. “I sent the car to the dealership, we waited almost six months to have it repaired, I will however say that they gave me a loan vehicle because it was still under warranty.”
Lander said he requested a warranty extension due to the manufacturing fault but was denied. After driving 25,000 km post-repair, the car again experienced problems.
“This time around we didn’t get the full drive out of the car and now it was out of warranty.
“The car has been standing at the dealership for three months and the total cost to get a new battery pack is R550,000. This is why I want them to rather buy the car for the purchase price and am engaging with lawyers to get this on paper. However there is currently a holdup with documentation.”
“What I can’t understand is that other countries recalled this car with matching VINs, because there were cases where the car had caught fire in a garage.
“JLR say they have a 8 year/160 000km warranty on the battery, however they do not seem to be willing to honour this.
“Why is this not happening in South Africa? I am not also doing this only for myself but for the next person who might be sitting with the same problem and maybe, just maybe, their warning light does not warn them in time like mine did…”
Jaguar Land Rover has confirmed that there is currently no active recall campaign in South Africa related to Jaguar I-PACE vehicles. “All service actions in relation to this specific vehicle have been complete for some time,” the company said.
The company further stated that it is “committed to the highest safety standards and operates under a rigorous global safety and compliance framework.”
JLR added: “JLR voluntarily conducted a global recall of Jaguar I-PACE vehicles in 2023, which included the vehicle in question, to perform a software update that enhanced traction battery monitoring, delivered via over-the-air download or, where needed, through authorised retailers at no cost to clients.”
“This required action was communicated to all individuals who were recorded on JLR systems as the registered owners of the affected vehicles at the time the voluntary recall was initiated,” the company said.
JLR confirmed: “Should any future action be required, JLR will notify affected clients directly in full accordance with market consumer protection laws.”
tracy-lynn.ruiters@inl.co.za