Jaguar Land Rover North America has issued a significant safety recall affecting nearly 21,000 Range Rover Evoque SUVs due to a critical airbag defect that could put passenger safety at serious risk. The recall covers 20,999 Range Rover Evoques from the 2021-2025 model years due to passenger airbag issues where the airbag can tear during deployment.
Understanding the Airbag Defect
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) discovered abnormal airbag deployments during testing, which sparked an investigation in May 2023. The core issue lies in the manufacturing process where a potentially defective passenger airbag may have been folded incorrectly during assembly, increasing the likelihood of a tear during deployment.
What Makes This Defect Dangerous
When an airbag tears during deployment, it compromises the fundamental safety protection that drivers and passengers rely on during crashes. The tearing could allow hot gases to escape, potentially burning someone and increasing the risk of injury. This transforms what should be a life-saving device into a potential source of additional harm during already dangerous situations.
The investigation process revealed fascinating technical details about how airbag manufacturing can go wrong. By June 2025, physical inspections of unused airbag modules finally revealed differences in the folding of the airbag fabric – something that could explain inconsistent test results and abnormal deployments. This discovery demonstrates how subtle manufacturing variations can create significant safety risks.
Manufacturing and Timeline Details
The affected vehicles were produced between July 10, 2020, and October 7, 2024, at Jaguar’s Halewood plant in the United Kingdom. The problematic airbags themselves were manufactured by Joyson Safety Systems Hungary, a key global supplier.
Interestingly, Joyson Safety Systems has a complex corporate history, having been known as Key Safety Systems until 2018, when it became Joyson Safety Systems after acquiring Takata. This acquisition history becomes relevant when considering automotive safety, given Takata’s infamous airbag recall crisis that affected millions of vehicles worldwide.
Investigation Timeline and Decision Process
The path to this recall demonstrates how automotive safety investigations unfold over extended periods. The joint-effort investigation, which included Jaguar Land Rover as well as two suppliers, initially found no defects or risks to safety. However, the investigation continued and eventually discovered a “variability in the folds of the airbag”.
From Discovery to Recall Decision
On June 30, 2025, Jaguar Land Rover’s Recall Determination Committee ruled the defect a safety risk, triggering a full-scale voluntary recall under NHTSA campaign number 25V454. The decision came after extensive testing and analysis showed that the variability in airbag folds was determined to be a “likely contribution” to the abnormal airbag deployments and deemed an “unreasonable safety risk”.
This timeline illustrates how modern automotive safety investigations balance thoroughness with urgency. While the initial investigation took nearly two years, this extended timeframe allowed engineers to identify subtle manufacturing defects that might have been missed in a rushed analysis.
Affected Vehicles and Specifications
Model Coverage
The recall encompasses Range Rover Evoque SUVs from model years 2021-2025, specifically covering all 2021-24 models and certain 2025 Range Rover Evoques. Notably, 100% of all units produced within the set dates are affected by the defect, making this a comprehensive recall rather than a selective one.
The current Range Rover Evoque represents the smallest member of the Range Rover family worldwide, redesigned from the ground up in November 2018. Only available as a five-door sport utility vehicle, the second-generation Evoque is twinned with the Land Rover Discovery Sport and Jaguar E-Pace.
Vehicle Pricing and Market Position
The Evoque is available in S and SE flavors, priced at $49,900 and $55,100 respectively, excluding destination freight charges. Both variants feature an Ingenium turbocharged 2.0-liter I4 gasoline engine that produces 246 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque.
Repair Process and Customer Impact
The Solution
The fix is relatively straightforward as dealers will replace the passenger airbag module and associated components. Owners and lessees will have the suspect airbag modules replaced at no charge by Land Rover dealers nationwide.
Customer Notification Timeline
Owners of affected Evoque models will start receiving official recall notices on August 29, 2025. This provides a clear timeline for affected vehicle owners to expect communication from Jaguar Land Rover about scheduling repairs.
Cost Coverage and Reimbursement
The manufacturer is taking full financial responsibility for this safety issue. If customers have already paid for a related repair out of warranty, they may be eligible for reimbursement. This retroactive coverage demonstrates the company’s commitment to addressing the safety concern comprehensively.
Safety Record and Industry Context
No Reported Injuries
Jaguar Land Rover isn’t aware of any injuries or accidents related to the issue, and thankfully for both customers and JLR’s legal team, no reported injuries have resulted from this concern. This proactive recall approach reflects lessons learned from previous automotive safety crises where manufacturers waited until after accidents occurred.
Warning System Limitations
Until the repair is completed, there won’t be any dashboard warnings to alert owners. This means affected vehicle owners cannot rely on their vehicle’s diagnostic systems to warn them about this particular safety issue, making the recall notification process even more critical.
Recall Information Table
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Recall Campaign Number | NHTSA 25V454 |
| Vehicles Affected | 20,999 Range Rover Evoques |
| Model Years | 2021-2025 |
| Manufacturing Dates | July 10, 2020 – October 7, 2024 |
| Defective Component | Passenger airbag module (Part #541123545) |
| Supplier | Joyson Safety Systems Hungary |
| Owner Notification Date | August 29, 2025 |
| Repair Cost | Free of charge |
| Estimated Repair Time | Not specified |
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I know if my Range Rover Evoque is affected by this recall? A: Check if your vehicle is a 2021-2025 model year Evoque manufactured between July 10, 2020, and October 7, 2024. Official recall notices will be mailed starting August 29, 2025.
Q: Is it safe to drive my Evoque before the repair? A: While no injuries have been reported, the airbag defect poses a safety risk during crashes. Contact your dealer to schedule the free repair as soon as possible.
Q: Will I be reimbursed if I already paid for airbag repairs? A: Yes, if you’ve already paid for related repairs out of warranty, you may be eligible for reimbursement from Jaguar Land Rover.