2018 Land Rover Velar Engine Problems

Extreme loss of coolant at 40K miles, no engine fault codes, no visible leak, engine overheated rapidly and did not notify me until it was in the red.

I am submitting this complaint regarding a serious safety and operability issue involving my 2018 Land Rover Range Rover, which has rendered the vehicle inoperable and unsafe to drive. Within approximately four months of purchase, the vehicle experienced repeated mechanical failures, including persistent check engine warnings, limp mode activation, failed compression testing, fuel injector failures across all cylinders, exhaust and turbo-related faults, and a full diesel particulate filter (DPF). The vehicle currently will not perform as designed and is unsafe to operate. The vehicle was repeatedly brought to Jaguar Land Rover South Orlando for service. Despite assurances that diagnostics showed “no issues,” the vehicle rapidly deteriorated and ultimately became inoperable. While in the dealership’s custody, additional concerns arose, including unauthorized third-party access to my vehicle without my consent and delays in releasing the vehicle for towing. Additionally, when the vehicle was finally released, the battery was fully depleted despite the vehicle being in the dealership’s possession and not operated by me, raising further concerns about improper handling. The dealership has quoted repair costs exceeding $13,500 and has refused to assist, citing “as-is” sale status, despite the vehicle failing shortly after purchase and exhibiting severe engine-related defects. These failures pose a potential safety risk due to loss of power, limp mode activation, and inability to safely operate the vehicle. I am concerned that these issues may reflect a broader defect pattern in this model year. I am requesting that NHTSA document this complaint and evaluate whether these engine, fuel system, and emissions-related failures present a safety defect warranting further investigation.

1. The components that failed were part of the coolant system, specifically the coolant pipes. JLR used plastic coolant pipes which over time deteriorate and lead to massive coolant leaks, and in my car it got so bad that even with the engine off the coolant would just pour out in a couple seconds. 2. This leads to severe overheating issues. While I was regularly driving home, the vehicle started smoking which prompted me to pull over. If I had kept going, there is a chance a catastrophic failure could have happened and put my life and others at risk since I was traveling on a high speed road. 3. This problem has been reproduced and reported by many owners, since the plastic coolant pipes have been used in many vehicles. The dealership also said they were aware of this issue and explained how the part deteriorates over time. 4. My car has not been inspected by the manufacturer, but has been by the dealership. 5. I did notice that the coolant was dropping a few weeks prior (it was significantly under MIN but no warning lights). I took it to the dealership and they conducted a pressure test but found no leaks. Then a few weeks later, as I was driving regularly, the vehicle started smoking and the low coolant light appeared. This was the first time the light appeared, and the coolant level was extremely low. I have videos/pictures of most things including the coolant level that prompted me to initially take the vehicle to the dealership, inspection report from the dealer, also the smoke and coolant level of the car during the breakdown, and the repair documents the dealer provided with the broken parts.

The contact owns a 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Velar. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the turbo, resulting in damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that in the months prior to the failure, there was a foul odor entering the cabin of the vehicle through the vents. The dealer was notified of the issue but offered no assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 86,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Velar. The contact stated that while driving 40 MPH, smoke was detected coming from the engine. The driver opened the hood and noticed that fluid was leaking from the engine. The low-coolant level warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, who determined that the engine had overheated, the expansion test hose was cracked, and coolant fluid was leaking. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine warning light illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under a warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 69,447.

Engine malfunction at low mileage level less than 55,000 miles. Timing chain tensioner , timing chain guide. These are reported ongoing problems with Land Rover Range Rover Velars that are just beyond warranty . Can cause severe engine failure

Timing chain failure at low miles. Land Rover knows that thousands of these cars have issues with the timing chain failing yet refuses to do anything to correct the problem.

The contact owns a 2018 Land Rover Range Rover Velar. The contact stated that coolant was leaking on the ground underneath the vehicle. The low coolant level warning light was illuminated. There was oil in the oil pan. There was smoke under the hood. The contact was adding coolant daily. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT 65 MILES PER HOUR ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF WARNING INDICATORS SHOWING THAT THE VEHICLE'S CHARGING SYSTEM WAS NOT FUNCTIONING, THE CAR BEGAN TO JOLT AND LOOSE POWER. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WITHIN A MINUTE. FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. HAZARD LIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAILED PULLEY, REQUIRING THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED.