If you have a NAS Defender X, watch this
Overlanding
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 22
Likes: 10
The "fix"" won't come from the factory.
It will go through the dealers, and that is where they will be fixed. Is not just JLR is a common practice with automakers, EVEN when they know there is an issue.
Why ? Cheap.
Do you think they would put those vehicles back on the line, have robots reporgramed, and create a new line just for "fixes"? Never.
To give you an example: Mercedes has completely removed their quality control on OEM parts, 100%. Testing on a bench or some sort of testing or the parts they produce.
Why, because is cheaper for them to have you fix it, or even have it replaced, than for them to test it before it goes out the door. A study showed that they can save as much as 19-21 % in costs by doing so. For such a large company that is a LOT of money. Cost of replacing the bad parts coming back ? Less than 5%.
Back to JLR - for example, mine does not have this issue, although is an X 2021 model. Probably there are a lot of other owners in my situation.
If anyone is technically inclined, can fix this issue for under 2 $, inserting 2 diodes in line, and voila ... no reverse power to the computer.
Is it normal to do that ? Absolutely not. Then again, is a JLR and we would not have it any other way
!
It will go through the dealers, and that is where they will be fixed. Is not just JLR is a common practice with automakers, EVEN when they know there is an issue.
Why ? Cheap.
Do you think they would put those vehicles back on the line, have robots reporgramed, and create a new line just for "fixes"? Never.
To give you an example: Mercedes has completely removed their quality control on OEM parts, 100%. Testing on a bench or some sort of testing or the parts they produce.
Why, because is cheaper for them to have you fix it, or even have it replaced, than for them to test it before it goes out the door. A study showed that they can save as much as 19-21 % in costs by doing so. For such a large company that is a LOT of money. Cost of replacing the bad parts coming back ? Less than 5%.
Back to JLR - for example, mine does not have this issue, although is an X 2021 model. Probably there are a lot of other owners in my situation.
If anyone is technically inclined, can fix this issue for under 2 $, inserting 2 diodes in line, and voila ... no reverse power to the computer.
Is it normal to do that ? Absolutely not. Then again, is a JLR and we would not have it any other way
!
4wd Low
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
From: Denver, CO
We just put a deposit down on a 2021 X in NJ after another person canceled their order due to the recall (or so we were told). The sales person said they expect it to be fixed in 1-2 weeks for what it's worth. Waiting a few weeks for us was far better than the 4-6 month wait our local dealer had. Our VIN is showing up on NHSTA website for the darkened tail light recall. The build date was 4/8/21.
Rock Crawling
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 497
Likes: 234
From: DFW
Fix
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 25
Likes: 14
From: Gulf Breeze FL & Asheville NC
We just put a deposit down on a 2021 X in NJ after another person canceled their order due to the recall (or so we were told). The sales person said they expect it to be fixed in 1-2 weeks for what it's worth. Waiting a few weeks for us was far better than the 4-6 month wait our local dealer had. Our VIN is showing up on NHSTA website for the darkened tail light recall. The build date was 4/8/21.
My 2022 X has been sitting on the dealers lot since June 12th. The GM of the dealership has stated to me last week that they have not yet received anything written from LR as to a fix.
I figure I’ll be waiting another month at a minimum before this debacle is resolved.
Thread Starter
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Winching
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 545
Likes: 565
From: San Gabriel, CA USA
I was able to make the red taillights of my 2020 Defender HSE (built exactly a year ago, so this is obviously not a "new" problem) fail as well in my garage, using just my camping headlamp, although it took some work and there were a couple of interesting wrinkles (apparently, the taillights of the Defender are also able to remote control the power switch of my headlamp?!? Insert "Head exploding" emoji here.) I am sure someone way smarter than me has a logical explanation for all this, but let's say that Land Rover may have a bigger issue in its hands than we thought. Obviously, in the real world nobody is going to shine a flashlight into my Defender's taillamps at such a close range, but could a well placed flash of a car's high beams at night cause the same issue to occur? Who knows for sure. We only heard of this from X owners, so perhaps the red lenses are less prone to this type of malfunction than the smoked ones, although they don't appear to be immune from it.
Quick video below. As always, apologies for the shaking and general quality of the video while juggling phone in one hand and flashlight in the other - not to mention the embarrassingly thick Italian accent.
Quick video below. As always, apologies for the shaking and general quality of the video while juggling phone in one hand and flashlight in the other - not to mention the embarrassingly thick Italian accent.
Last edited by umbertob; Jul 6, 2021 at 08:37 PM.
Mudding
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 201
Likes: 165
From: Dallas, Texas
I think some of us are overthinking this problem a little. Given the inverse-square law, shining a bright light at point blank range is probably creating an unrealistic corner case that can only lead to paranoia.
Sblvro's test looks like the way to do it. Although, I think his neighbors will be giving him funny looks now, given his bizarre nigh time antics!
Sblvro's test looks like the way to do it. Although, I think his neighbors will be giving him funny looks now, given his bizarre nigh time antics!
Mudding
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 135
Likes: 78
From: Southern California
Okay, I tested both our 2021 Defender 110 SE's North American Spec and both will shut off when a bright LED flashlight is focused on the upper tail light. However, several points to make. First, I was using a super bright 3600 lumen LED flashlight with a concentrated spot beam and the tail lamps did not turn off until I was extremely close, probably within an inch or so of the lens. Secondly, waving the light from any distance didn't affect the lights at all. I agree with TheMoke above that in the real world, it's likely much less of a problem than we think. Of course, having your rear lights shut down unknowingly when on a dark road could be disastrous, especially if the driver behind you isn't paying attention.