01:30 26-06-2026

JLR Recalls 250,857 Defenders, Discoverys and Range Rovers: Driver Airbag Connector at Risk

JLR launches a major US recall covering 250,857 Defender, Discovery and Range Rover SUVs. The cause is fretting corrosion on the driver airbag connector. Campaign D120 / NHTSA 26V389.

Jaguar Land Rover is launching a major US recall for the Defender, Discovery and Range Rover — 250,857 vehicles in total. The problem is not in the airbag itself but in the driver-side airbag connector: over time fretting corrosion can build up on the pins, resistance in the circuit rises and the airbag may fail to deploy in a crash. The campaign carries the number D120 at the automaker and 26V389 in the NHTSA registry. JLR had previously halted sales of these models, as 32CARS journalists reported.

The recall covers Range Rover from the 2022–2026 model years, Discovery from 2021–2026 and Defender from 2020–2026. Defender accounts for the largest share with 97,552 units. Discovery adds up to 83,620 vehicles and Range Rover to 69,685. The production windows are wide: Defender from October 16, 2019 to May 28, 2026; Discovery from September 14, 2020 to June 4, 2026; Range Rover from July 8, 2021 to June 3, 2026. Defender and Discovery are assembled at the Slovak plant in Nitra, while Range Rover is built at Solihull in the UK.

The culprit is the driver-side airbag clockspring connector, part number 13N064, supplied by Alps Alpine Europe GmbH in Milton Keynes. JLR’s internal investigation began on August 29, 2025, after a rise in warranty claims for the airbag warning lamp. The issue was hard to reproduce at first, but oxides were later found on the pins of returned connectors, and vibrational rig testing confirmed that normal driving can induce fretting corrosion. On June 5, 2026 the PSCC committee concluded that the risk of airbag non-deployment was enough to warrant a recall.

An interesting detail that 32CARS journalists spotted in the NHTSA report: JLR has received no US reports of actual airbag non-deployment, crashes, injuries or fires caused by this defect. Engineering analysis shows the airbag warning lamp will illuminate at least 300–400 miles before any potential failure. In other words, drivers will usually get advance warning — and ignoring it in this situation is especially dangerous.

The fix is simple and cheap for the manufacturer: dealers will apply a protective lubricant gel to the connector terminals free of charge. No parts will be replaced. On the assembly line the defect has already been cut off the same way — by treating the contact pins during assembly.

One more important point: NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving or to park their vehicles outside — the corresponding fields in the Part 573 Safety Recall Report were left blank. The cars can be driven normally until the dealer visit, which takes the edge off the situation.

For the owner of an expensive SUV it is still an uncomfortable type of recall. The car drives smoothly, without any loss of power or obvious symptoms, but in a crash the key safety system may not respond as designed. That matters especially for Defender and Range Rover, which are often bought for their image of toughness and protection, not only comfort.

Owners will be notified by August 7, 2026, with dealers informed earlier on June 26. The practical takeaway is simple: if the airbag warning lamp lights up on a Defender, Discovery or Range Rover, do not wait for the letter — check the VIN and book a dealer appointment.