Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced a buyback of 2,760 2019 Jaguar I-Pace electric SUVs due to a fire risk that has not been adequately addressed in previous recalls, according to the automaker and safety regulators.
These vehicles, from the first model year of Jaguar’s only electric vehicle, were part of multiple recalls aimed at addressing the potential for overheating battery packs. The most recent recall in late August failed to provide a permanent solution, leading Jaguar to initiate the buyback program.
2019 Jaguar I-Pace S
JLR will repurchase the affected vehicles, with interim precautions still in place until the buyback process is completed. Owners are advised to park and charge their cars outdoors and away from structures, and to have dealers update the battery module control software to limit capacity to 80% free of charge.
Furthermore, a series of recalls have been issued in the past due to fire risk concerns, with a recent recall of 258 2019 models finding a higher risk of short-circuits within the battery cells, leading to pack replacements. Despite these challenges, Jaguar is moving towards an all-electric future with plans to introduce three new EVs based on a new architecture.