Jaguar issues urgent warning of electric car battery fires as owners told to ‘park and charge outside’
Jaguar has issued an urgent warning to motorists of certain models to park away from structures over fears the cars could catch on fire.
The British brand has issued a voluntary recall notice for certain 2019 Jaguar I-Pace vehicles in the United States, according to the documents from the National Highways Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
In total, Jaguar Land Rover North America will be recalling 2,760 I-Pace vehicles manufactured at the Graz Vehicle Assembly Plant in Austria.
The recall states that vehicles experienced “thermal overload” which showed as smoke or fire from the underside of the vehicle where the high voltage traction battery is located.
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A previous diagnostic software update has been identified as providing an appropriate level of protection for vehicles in the United States.
The documents add that the investigation is ongoing, as the supplier is still inspecting factors which may have contributed to the risk of thermal overload.
The vehicle thermal overload condition could cause “occupant injury and/or injury to persons outside the vehicle, as well as property damage”.
As a result, JLR has advised motorists: “Park away from structures for 30 days after the update. Where possible, vehicles should be charged outside.”
Recalled vehicles will receive a software update that will alter the maximum state of charge of the battery to 80 per cent while a permanent remedy is under development.
JLR said there had not been any reported accidents or injuries as a result of the issue, although it was aware of a “small number” of thermal overloads following the previous software update.
Owners of the impacted vehicles will be notified of when the permanent remedy is ready “in due course”. They will also avoid any charges for the repairs.
It highlighted how customers who have paid for a repair of this defect out of warranty will be reimbursed by the JLR reimbursement plan, subject to the usual terms and conditions.
This included three fires in the United States this year relating to the 2019 models on January 10, July 4, and July 5.
Notification letters will be sent to dealers on September 6, 2024, while these will be distributed on or before October 18, 2024.
The NHTSA documents state that the I-Pace batteries were made in Poland by LG Energy Solution, which is already under investigation by the motoring organisation.
The Graz Vehicle Assembly Plant in Styria, Austria, still manufactures the I-Pace and E-Pace electric vehicles, as well as the BMW Z4 and Mercedes-BNenz G-Class.
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GB News has contacted Jaguar USA for a comment.