Jaguar’s I-Pace is the subject of another recall, this time due to a “fire risk.” Close to 2,300 of the electric vehicles are affected by the recall, which affects the high-voltage battery pack.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued the recall notice, which claims that the battery packs have a risk of thermal overload, which can result in “increased risk of occupant injury and/or injury to persons outside the vehicle, as well as property damage.”
For now, a permanent solution to the problem hasn’t been developed. Instead, there’s a temporary fix that comes in the form of a software patch, which is either installed by a dealer or applied via an over-the-air update. The update caps the max charge at 90% of the battery’s capacity.
Until the update is applied, owners of affected vehicles are advised to:
• Only charge their vehicle to a maximum of 90% state of charge
• Park away from structures
• Charge outside
The recall notice also notes that: “For 2021 model year vehicles, this repair will be administered under JLR campaign code H571, and for earlier vehicles the repair will be administered under JLR campaign code H570. The permanent remedy for all vehicles is expected to be launched under JLR campaign code H572.”
Obviously, depriving I-Pace owners of 10% of their battery capacity isn’t a long-term solution, especially when some earlier versions of the vehicle have a somewhat limited 220-mile range to start with. So a more permanent fix is coming, according to the NHTSA. While the current “fix” is just a software update, any permanent fix involving the swapping of parts, including batteries, will have to take place at a dealership. As with most recalls, there is no charge for any of these fixes.
While many Jaguar I-Paces were sold to the public, several businesses bought the EVs in large numbers. This includes rideshare service Waymo, which has suffered from its own recent problems, and the likes of United Airlines, which uses the I-Pace to shuttle high-status passengers at certain airports.
The Jaguar I-Pace has a pretty tragic history, and the recall doesn’t help
Before the new logos, the weird commercials, or the concept cars that look like a Chrysler 300 had some kind of weird tryst with a HVAC system, the I-Pace was very much Jaguar’s future. An electric SUV that blends a sleek, sporty profile with practicality and performance. Something that could stand out in a crowded and savagely competitive market. The vehicle that could just see Jaguar become financially independent – and not reliant on picking Land Rover’s pocket for survival.
But it wasn’t that. It was an absolute disaster. We’ve had very few truly bad vehicles in the last few years, but the I-Pace is arguably the worst of the bunch. It was pretty good when it worked, but working was somewhat of a rarity.
Instead, the vehicle was plagued with software glitches, electrical bugs, battery issues, HVAC issues, and even when it was working, the infotainment system tended to lag frustratingly. To cap it all off, dealers weren’t really equipped to solve these issues, so long-suffering I-Pace owners faced unacceptably lengthy wait times. Over-the-air updates helped a little, but couldn’t fix all of the problems.
In addition to the minor stuff, there have been multiple serious safety recalls since the I-Pace launched in 2018. Jaguar doesn’t make the I-Pace, or indeed make anything at the moment. But it’s still haunted by its flagship electric crossover.
