Elijah Ntongai, an editor at TUKO.co.ke, has over four years of financial, business, and technology research and reporting experience, providing insights into Kenyan, African, and global trends.

Jaguar Land Rover has issued a recall for nearly 21,000 Range Rover Evoque SUVs due to a potentially dangerous defect in the front passenger airbag that could cause it to rupture and fail during deployment.

The airbag, if torn during inflation, might not protect passengers as intended and could also release hot gas, posing an additional risk of burns.

"Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Jaguar) is recalling certain 2021–2025 Range Rover Evoque vehicles. The passenger airbag may tear during deployment," the NHTSA said.

The recall affects 20,999 Range Rover Evoques manufactured between July 10, 2020, and October 7, 2024, at JLR's Halewood plant in the UK.

The impacted models span the 2021 through 2025 model years.

The fault was first identified in May 2023 during testing, when abnormal airbag deployments were observed.

A subsequent months-long investigation traced the issue to inconsistencies in the way the airbags were folded during assembly, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Jaguar Land Rover officially confirmed the safety defect on June 30 and promptly submitted documentation to the NHTSA.

Although no accidents or injuries have been reported so far, JLR is urging affected vehicle owners to visit their dealers for a free airbag module replacement.

"Dealers will replace the passenger airbag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 29, 2025," NHTSA said.

Customers can confirm whether their vehicle is subject to the recall by entering the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the NHTSA’s recall website or via Jaguar Land Rover’s official site.

This latest recall adds to the British automaker’s growing list of safety concerns in the U.S.

In late June, the NHTSA also launched a separate investigation into more than 90,000 Jaguar Land Rover vehicles over potential steering knuckle failures that could result in wheel separation.

The recall also follows a similar move by Ford last week, which warned of engine issues that could lead to stalling, highlighting an industry-wide spotlight on automotive safety and quality control.

Ford has also announced a massive recall of over 850,000 vehicles globally, more than 844,000 of them in the US, due to a faulty low-pressure fuel pump that could cause engine stalls while driving, posing a serious safety risk.

The recall affects several popular models, including the F-150, Bronco, Explorer, Mustang, and various Lincoln SUVs produced between 2021 and 2023.

Some of the affected Ford models and the manufacture years include:

Ford Bronco – 2021 and 2022

Ford Expedition – 2022

Ford Explorer – 2021 and 2022

Ford F-150 – 2021 and 2022

Ford F-250 Super Duty – 2021 to 2023

Ford F-350 Super Duty – 2021 to 2023

Ford F-450 Super Duty – 2021 to 2023

Ford F-550 Super Duty – 2021 to 2023

Ford Mustang – 2021 and 2022

Ford Police Interceptor Utility – 2021 and 2022

Lincoln Navigator – 2021 and 2022

Lincoln Aviator – 2021 to 2023

The company has not yet provided a solution, but it said it will notify affected owners starting July 14, followed by a second letter once a solution is identified.

Ford said the spike in recalls reflects its strategy to quickly detect and resolve both hardware and software issues.

In other news, Kenyan businessman Kennedy Rapudo purchased a luxurious 2019 Range Rover Vogue valued at approximately KSh 18 million.

The new vehicle features a sleek silver-grey exterior, LED lights, a panoramic sunroof, and a premium white interior with heated and cooled electric seats.

Rapudo proudly showcased the vehicle on social media alongside his family, attracting admiration from fans and friends.

A Nairobi car dealer described the model as a powerful yet elegant ride popular among elite buyers.

Source: TUKO.co.ke