Range Rover Sport DC-DC recall with no fix, suspension cracks, air suspension faults? California owners may qualify for a buyback. Free case review.
The 2014-2022 Range Rover Sport was sold as a performance-oriented premium SUV — the sportier sibling of the Range Rover, with the off-road credentials and the interior luxury to match. What a growing number of owners have learned is that the L494 generation has accumulated a serious stack of documented defects across nearly its entire production run. The most urgent, as of 2026: a DC-DC converter that can fail without warning and cut all drive power and exterior lighting — headlights, brake lights — while the vehicle is in motion. NHTSA recall 26V248 covers 61,616 US Range Rover Sport units, and as of June 2026, there is still no repair available. That is not the only open recall. NHTSA 25V514 (July 2025) covers 66,789 Range Rover Sport units from 2014-2017 for front suspension knuckles that can crack and allow the upper control arm to detach — a handling failure that could cause a crash. The camera system that is supposed to help you back safely out of a driveway has been recalled twice (24V023 and the follow-on 24V364) because water gets in and blacks it out. And the air suspension system that makes the Sport ride smoothly has generated multiple Technical Service Bulletins and service actions across the generation, with compressors failing and expansion chambers cracking. On top of all of that, 2019-2022 owners of the P400e PHEV variant face a coolant pump drive belt that can snap and cause an engine fire — NHTSA recall 23V221. Owners of 2014-2016 models also dealt with door latches that failed to hold the door closed while driving — a defect so persistent that JLR had to issue two separate recall campaigns (19V390 and 20V387) because the first one did not fully fix the problem. California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act was built for situations like this. If your Range Rover Sport has been back to the dealer for any of these issues — or if it has sat out of service while parts or remedies were unavailable — you may be entitled to a buyback or replacement.
The issues owners report most, ranked by severity — each one verified against a cited NHTSA source.
Engine overheating warning activates suddenly; coolant temperature spikes; possible burning smell; smoke from engine bay; coolant loss under the vehicle; in severe cases engine fire.
No visible symptom in most cases; in severe cases suspension handling feels vague or pulls to one side; crack may be detected only during inspection. Upper suspension arm can detach in extreme avoidance maneuvers.
Warning lights illuminate suddenly; vehicle loses all drive power while in motion; exterior lights (headlights, brake lights) go dark; vehicle cannot be restarted; stranded on roadway.
Vehicle sits lower than normal or sags on one corner; 'Suspension Fault' or 'Electronic Air Suspension — Fault' warning displayed on instrument cluster; suspension will not raise or lower; harsh ride at all speeds.
Touchscreen freezes on Land Rover logo/oval; system shuts down and restarts repeatedly; audio/navigation/phone controls unresponsive; screen goes blank during driving; radio unable to tune or change bands.
Backup camera image does not appear when reversing; image is blurry, distorted, or shows static; camera failure warning on infotainment screen; may occur intermittently after rain or car wash.
A settled Margarian Law case on this exact model, published with the actual settlement math.
Open any defect for the symptoms and why it matters for a California lemon-law claim. Each is tied to a cited NHTSA source.
No visible symptom in most cases; in severe cases suspension handling feels vague or pulls to one side; crack may be detected only during inspection. Upper suspension arm can detach in extreme avoidance maneuvers.
Safety recall covering 66,789 units; condition impairs vehicle controllability. Prior inspection/repair attempts before recall remedy may support substantial-impairment and reasonable-number-of-repair-attempts arguments.
Inspect both front knuckles; fit retaining bracket if no crack; replace knuckle where crack found. No charge to owner.
Warning lights illuminate suddenly; vehicle loses all drive power while in motion; exterior lights (headlights, brake lights) go dark; vehicle cannot be restarted; stranded on roadway.
Sudden loss of drive and lighting is a catastrophic safety event; with ~6,000 US complaints and no remedy yet available, repeated failures while remedy is outstanding are prime lemon-law grounds. Any owner who has experienced repeat no-start or sudden power-loss events should document each dealer visit carefully.
Replace DC-DC converter. As of June 2026 remedy is still under development; JLR mailing interim owner notification letters.
Vehicle sits lower than normal or sags on one corner; 'Suspension Fault' or 'Electronic Air Suspension — Fault' warning displayed on instrument cluster; suspension will not raise or lower; harsh ride at all speeds.
Multiple TSBs and service actions spanning the full generation indicate a systemic, recurring problem. Owners who have had repeated air suspension repairs during the warranty period — particularly those with the same root cause — may meet the substantial-impairment and repair-attempt thresholds.
Replace suspension air supply unit / compressor under Service Action Q590; replace expansion chamber (LTB01180); update CHCM software (Service Action N439). Repair costs significant out-of-warranty.
Touchscreen freezes on Land Rover logo/oval; system shuts down and restarts repeatedly; audio/navigation/phone controls unresponsive; screen goes blank during driving; radio unable to tune or change bands.
Repeated infotainment failures that affect navigation, backup camera display, and driver-information systems may constitute a substantial impairment of use/value. If software updates have not resolved the issue across multiple dealer visits, this supports a repair-attempts argument.
Software update via authorized dealer (Service Actions H251, N234, N377, and successive versions); update to InControl Touch Pro version 19B or later.
Backup camera image does not appear when reversing; image is blurry, distorted, or shows static; camera failure warning on infotainment screen; may occur intermittently after rain or car wash.
FMVSS non-compliance recall (rear visibility). Owners whose camera failed multiple times despite N778 remedy may have strong recurrence arguments under the superseding N901 recall. Each failed repair attempt counts toward lemon-law thresholds.
Inspect rearview camera; add new seal or replace camera. No charge to owner. Recall N901 supersedes earlier recall N778.
Engine overheating warning activates suddenly; coolant temperature spikes; possible burning smell; smoke from engine bay; coolant loss under the vehicle; in severe cases engine fire.
Fire-risk recall with confirmed instances of overheating and coolant leaks. Safety-critical; even a single incident of engine overheating or fire is likely sufficient to demonstrate substantial impairment. 1,256 US units affected.
Replace engine coolant elbow and turbocharger coolant inlet pipe. No charge to owner.
Driver or passenger door does not latch after closing; door appears shut but opens unexpectedly while driving; no warning chime or indicator alerts occupant to unlatched condition.
Multi-campaign recall (N336 / 19V390 followed by N476 / 20V387 for vehicles where prior repair was insufficient). Door opening while driving is a direct safety hazard. Owners who had repeat latch failures after the first recall repair have a strong recurrence argument.
Disable Unilatch Keyless Vehicle entry function via software; inspect latch mechanism; replace malfunctioning door latch assembly if required.
12-volt charging warning; 'Stop Safely Electrical Fault Detected' or similar dashboard message; sudden loss of drive power while driving; exterior lights go out; vehicle fails to keep 12-volt system charged at start-up
Open recall with no final remedy: a mild-hybrid vehicle that can lose all drive power and exterior lighting without warning presents a strong substantial-impairment argument under Song-Beverly. Because this is the second DC-DC converter campaign on this vehicle line in five months (26V248 in April 2026, 26V599 in September 2026), a California owner with prior converter or 12-volt charging complaints, repeat dealer visits, or extended out-of-service time while awaiting a remedy has a well-documented repair-attempt record; each visit for the same power-loss condition counts toward the reasonable-number-of-attempts threshold.
Software update (load balancing, start-up stability fix, protective limp-home mode); final remedy not yet available as of Sep 30, 2026, interim letters expected November 13, 2026
open
The DC-DC converter may malfunction due to an electrical overload during high power demand, and a software error can cause the converter to stop functioning at vehicle start-up. Failure of the DC-DC converter results in loss of 12-volt system charging and can lead to complete loss of drive power and exterior lighting. Companion campaign to 26V248: covers later-specification (phase 2) MHEV DC-DC converters and excludes vehicles already in recalls D126/H575.
open
Internal fault in the DC-DC converter boost control microchip causes failure of the 12V charging system, resulting in complete loss of drive power and exterior lighting.
open
Front suspension knuckle (aluminum) may develop a crack at the upper control arm ball joint pinch-bolt interface due to a manufacturing defect in components sourced from SAI, Taiwan. Crack can propagate and lead to detachment of the upper suspension arm.
open
Water ingress into the rearview camera housing/bezel causes the reversing camera to display a poor image or no image at all. Vehicles fail to comply with FMVSS 111 Rear Visibility requirements.
closed
Coolant pump drive belt can become damaged, snap, or detach on certain PHEV Range Rover Sport vehicles. Loss of coolant pump drive leads to rapid engine overheating and rupture of the engine-mounted plastic cooling elbow, causing coolant leaks.
closed
Spring in the Keyless Vehicle Latching (KV Latch) system may jam between the outside transmission lever and chamfer bush. Trapped spring prevents the latch from returning to the fully latched position; door may appear closed but remain unlatched with no warning provided.
Every item below comes from this vehicle's documented defects. The more you recognize, the more a free case review is worth your time.
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act gives you specific protections when a manufacturer cannot fix a substantial defect after a reasonable number of attempts. For safety defects — such as sudden loss of drive power and exterior lighting, a cracking suspension knuckle, a door that opens while driving, or a fire-risk coolant failure — California law presumes that two repair attempts may be enough. For other substantial defects (air suspension failure, infotainment that repeatedly restarts, a blacked-out backup camera), four attempts or 30 cumulative days out of service during the warranty period trigger the same presumption. If your Range Rover Sport qualifies, you may be entitled to: a full repurchase of the price you paid (minus a mileage offset for miles driven before the first repair attempt), a comparable replacement vehicle, or a negotiated cash settlement. Land Rover — not you — pays your attorney fees if you prevail, which means many California lemon law claims cost the owner nothing out of pocket. For the L494, the DC-DC converter recall (26V248) with no remedy available is particularly significant: owners are stuck with an unresolved safety defect while JLR develops a fix. Every additional month that passes without a remedy is time the defect is affecting your use of the vehicle. The above is general information only and is not legal advice; every case turns on its specific facts, dates, and repair history.
“Could not duplicate” doesn't mean the defect isn't real. Here's exactly what to do to protect a potential California lemon-law claim.
Document the moment it happens. Photos, video, and screenshots of any warning lights — with the date and the mileage.
Get a repair order every visit — even “found nothing.” That paperwork is the foundation of a claim.
Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Note any recall that has no available remedy yet.
Track your out-of-service days. California law counts the cumulative days your vehicle spends in the shop.
Keep loaner & rental records. Alternate-transport paperwork during long repairs matters.
Save everything in one place. Symptoms, dates, repair orders, and every repeat visit — the intermittent ones especially.
Range Rover Sport dealers frequently close repair orders with 'unable to duplicate' (UTD) or 'no fault found' for intermittent issues — especially air suspension faults that clear on their own, infotainment restarts that stop by the time the car arrives at the dealership, and camera failures that only occur after rain. Here is what to do if that happens: 1. Capture evidence before the visit. Photograph every warning light on the cluster the moment it appears. If the camera fails, note the exact conditions (recent rain, car wash, ambient temperature). If the suspension sags, photograph the car from the side. Video of the touchscreen cycling through restarts is compelling evidence. 2. Note exact warning messages word-for-word. 'Suspension Fault' and 'Electronic Air Suspension — Fault' are not the same — the exact language often matches a specific TSB. 3. Request all stored and historical Diagnostic Trouble Codes, not just active ones. Intermittent faults leave footprints. Ask whether the technician read the fault history from the suspension CHCM and infotainment modules. 4. Ask the dealer about applicable TSBs. For air suspension: Service Action Q590, LTB01180NAS2 (expansion chamber), and Service Action N439 (CHCM software). For infotainment: TSBs H251, N234, N377, and Service Action SB-10106424. For the DC-DC converter on 2019-2022 MHEV: TSB MC-10173439. If the dealer did not reference these bulletins, they may have missed the documented diagnosis path. 5. Ask about open recalls on your VIN. Recall 25V514 (suspension), 26V248 (DC-DC converter — no remedy yet), and 24V364 (camera) may be open on your vehicle. A dealer's failure to address an open recall is itself a repair failure. 6. Keep every repair order, including UTD visits. Under California law, a UTD shop visit still counts as a repair attempt toward lemon law thresholds.
The L494 Range Rover Sport generation has accumulated a remarkable number of documented failures over its nine-year production run. The DC-DC converter recall (26V248) covering 61,616 US units — with no repair available as of mid-2026, after approximately 6,000 US field reports — is one of the largest unresolved safety recalls in JLR's recent history. Owners of 2019-2022 MHEV Range Rover Sports are driving vehicles with a known risk of complete electrical failure and no fix on the horizon. Meanwhile, 2014-2017 owners are dealing with a suspension recall that had 14 US field reports before it was filed, and the two-campaign door latch recalls for 2014-2016 demonstrated that JLR's first attempt to fix a basic safety defect was insufficient. If your Range Rover Sport has been back to the dealer for any of these issues, we encourage you to review your repair records. The pattern of multi-year recurring defects across this generation is well-documented.
— The Margarian Law team
Has your Range Rover Sport lost all power suddenly, had its air suspension fail repeatedly, or sat at the dealer waiting for a recall remedy that has not arrived? If your vehicle is within the 2019-2022 MHEV population covered by recall 26V248 — or if you have had multiple visits for suspension, infotainment, or camera failures under warranty — your repair record may already qualify you for a buyback under California's lemon law. The consultation is free. Find out where you stand.
Yes. NHTSA recall 26V248 (issued April 17, 2026) covers 61,616 US Range Rover Sport units from model years 2019-2022 (MHEV mild-hybrid variants: P300, P360, P400 petrol MHEV). A manufacturing defect in the DC-DC converter's boost control microchip causes the converter to fail, cutting 12V power to the entire vehicle. Within approximately ten seconds, you lose driver assistance features, the vehicle shifts to neutral, the engine shuts off, and exterior lighting — including headlights and brake lights — fails. As of June 2026, Jaguar Land Rover has not yet released a repair remedy; owners are receiving interim notification letters. If you have experienced this event — or multiple no-start or sudden power-loss events — document every dealer visit carefully. With no fix available and a defect that disables both drive and lighting, your repair record may already support a lemon law claim in California.
If you own a 2014-2017 Range Rover Sport, your vehicle may be covered by NHTSA recall 25V514 (issued July 2025, JLR global recall N955), which affects 66,789 US Range Rover Sport units. The front suspension knuckle — an aluminum component at the upper control arm ball joint — may have a manufacturing crack from supplier SAI in Taiwan. The crack can propagate and allow the upper suspension arm to detach under extreme load, compromising vehicle controllability. The remedy is an inspection at no charge: where no crack is found and a reinforcing bracket is available, the bracket is installed; where a crack is found, the knuckle is replaced. You can verify whether your VIN is covered by entering it at nhtsa.gov. Owner notification letters are being mailed; contact your dealer if you have not received notice.
Yes, and it is well-documented across the entire 2014-2022 L494 generation. JLR has issued multiple TSBs and service actions for air suspension failures: Service Action Q590 covered compressor exhaust valve failure (the system could not pressurize); TSB LTB01180NAS2 addressed cracking and leaking of the air supply unit expansion chamber; and Service Action N439 covered software faults in the Chassis Height Control Module (CHCM) that triggered false suspension warnings. If the same root cause has recurred — for example, a replacement compressor failing again, or the expansion chamber leaking after a first repair — that repetition is exactly what California's lemon law looks for. Multiple TSBs for the same system over many years indicate a systemic defect. Ask your dealer specifically which service actions and TSBs have been applied to your vehicle, and request documentation of each repair.
You may be, and the recall structure is specifically designed for this situation. NHTSA recall 24V023 (January 2024, JLR global action N778) was issued for 2018-2022 Range Rover Sport vehicles whose rearview camera fails due to water ingress — causing a blank, blurry, or distorted image that violates the federal rear-visibility standard. A follow-on recall, 24V364 (JLR N901), explicitly supersedes N778 to address vehicles where the first repair was inadequate. In other words, JLR acknowledged that some prior repairs failed. If your camera was replaced or resealed under N778 and has failed again, the superseding N901 recall may apply to your vehicle. Each camera failure and repair visit counts toward lemon law repair-attempt thresholds in California.
Yes. NHTSA recall 23V221 (May 2023, JLR global action N785) covers 1,256 US Range Rover Sport P400e PHEV vehicles from model years 2019-2022 (built June 16, 2018 through May 11, 2021). A coolant pump drive belt can become damaged, snap, or detach. When it does, the coolant pump stops circulating coolant, the engine overheats rapidly, and the engine-mounted plastic cooling elbow can rupture. Coolant leaking in the presence of an ignition source creates a fire risk. The remedy — replacement of the engine coolant elbow and turbocharger coolant inlet pipe — is available at no charge from dealers. This recall is closed (dealer notifications sent February 2023; owner letters mailed by March 2023). If your vehicle was repaired and you subsequently experienced overheating again, or if the vehicle was not repaired before an overheating event occurred, those facts are relevant to a lemon law evaluation.
It may. California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act presumes a vehicle is a lemon if, during the warranty period, the manufacturer has made two or more repair attempts for a safety defect (such as sudden loss of drive and lighting, a cracking suspension arm, or a door that opens while moving), or four or more attempts for any substantial non-safety defect (such as repeated air suspension failures or an infotainment system that keeps restarting), or if the vehicle has been out of service cumulatively for 30 or more days. For the L494 Range Rover Sport, the DC-DC converter recall (26V248) is particularly compelling: 61,616 units are covered, there is no repair available as of mid-2026, and every month without a remedy is a month the defect remains. If you have experienced multiple no-start or power-loss events, or if multiple recalls are open on your VIN simultaneously, those facts are worth reviewing with a California lemon law attorney. If you prevail, Land Rover pays your attorney fees — there is typically no out-of-pocket cost to you.
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