April 28 - The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced on Tuesday that it has escalated its examination of Jaguar Land Rover vehicles to an engineering analysis in response to reports that front aluminum steering knuckles may fracture.
The agency said the scope of the investigation encompasses 331,559 vehicles and specifically includes Range Rover and Range Rover Sport models from the 2014 through 2022 model years.
NHTSA initially opened a preliminary evaluation last year after receiving reports describing fractures at the joint where the steering knuckle connects to the upper control arm ball joint. According to the regulator, a fracture of the front suspension knuckle can permit detachment of the upper suspension arm. That detachment can lead to a driver’s inability to control the vehicle, which in turn raises the risk of a crash.
With the investigation now at the engineering analysis stage, NHTSA said it intends to examine the design of the component, assess the potential safety risk posed by the reported fractures, and evaluate possible recall remedies that might address the problem.
The vehicles under review are produced by Jaguar Land Rover, which is headquartered in the United Kingdom and is a wholly owned subsidiary of India’s Tata Motors. The agency statement did not add further details about the reported incidents, possible causes, or a timeline for any subsequent decisions.
Investigation focus
The engineering analysis will look at the steering knuckle component design and the junction where the knuckle attaches to the upper control arm ball joint. The agency will also assess how the reported fractures translate into operational safety risk and what corrective actions, including recalls, would be appropriate based on its findings.
Scope and affected models
NHTSA has identified 331,559 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport vehicles across model years 2014-2022 as part of the probe. The agency did not provide a breakdown by year or production batch in the announcement.
Corporate note
Jaguar Land Rover is a U.K.-based automaker and a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Motors of India. The regulator statement referenced the corporate relationship but did not provide comment from the company in the announcement.
As the engineering analysis proceeds, NHTSA will determine whether the reported fractures warrant mandated remedies such as a recall and will publish its findings following completion of that evaluation.