5 months ago I ordered my Defender and only 1 more month left for it to arrive. They just called me telling me that I won’t be able to get the raised air intake I requested because it is no longer available.
I googled the issue and saw the recall. Anyone else having the same issue of refusal to instal the intake on a new car?
what are my options if I still want it? Will there be new product I can order later and request for instal from dealership after getting the car ?

thanks for advice

 

Strange that they told you it is no longer available. Air intakes flying off is a known issue, and I am glad they have issued a recall on this. I believe the statement of air intakes not being available anymore needs further investigation. Land Rover is still using these air intakes.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if the RAI is not available at the moment. Technically it isn't a JLR problem, but a Mergon (the supplier that makes the RAI) problem. It is customary for manufacturers to not install/sell accessories that are under an active recall. I'm sure once they get everything fixed and/or come up with a redesign, you will be able to get the RAI.

 

It is very much not. The original recall report I posted in the OP didn't have any numbers, but when I saw the JLR one my jaw dropped to the floor. Consider this:

Violation of this requirement by a retailer/authorized repairer, in the USA only, could result in a maximum civil penalty of up to the equivalent of $27,168.00 USD per violation and the equivalent of $135,828,178.00 USD for a related series of violations.

I'd say this is a pretty convincing deterrent.

What surprises me is why it took five years for this to pop up. Bad batch? Material fatigue that eventually caught up and hit the bathtub curve? Also, given the steep penalties, I would not be surprised to find out [possibly much] later that a RAI that flew off killed or maimed someone and caused a massive settlement the recurrence of which they're trying to avoid.

 

Oodles of identical product available from alibamazon at a fraction of the cost. Just get it installed or install it yourself (better) and enjoy the zero benefits and all the hassles an RAI confers.

LR accessories are not anything special. Go aftermarket and save a ton. A lesson I have learned to my cost.

 

I have a big bag of popcorn ready for the moment I look at my air filters after a desert run The Jeep didn't like it at all.

 

I should have put and asterisk beside my post as I know you are a fan of the RAI.

*folks like Vadiable, who's daily commute has them crossing deserts on their daily drive, may net some benefits to their air filtration.

 

Not just deserts and dry dusty climates...

During the winter in the north, when the roads have all kinds of salt and sand on them - that stuff gets kicked up and sucked up into your air filter.

Also, anyone whose ever been on a logging road in the dry summer in a convoy where chase lights are required knows that it's not a bad idea to get air from the highest point.

What I'm curious about with the RAI recall is the model years... my '22 is not in the recall yet I come to understand that this airborne RAI phenomenon affects the cornucopia of Defender model years.

 

Not a fan, but considering. Cue the conversation with my neighbors that I had shortly before the vehicle arrived, they did some offroading on their own, and when I mentioned that I'll be putting things on it they asked, sarcastically - "and of course, lights?" I have a habit of answering rhetorical questions as if they aren't, so it was kinda amusing to watch the change of attitude when I said that no, I'll have to see first if I really need them (side note, reverse lights suck here as y'all were saying, that's on a short list).



Hold your horses, I didn't look at the filter yet

Seriously, though, I was replacing the filter after each expedition - it was less hassle than to put something custom on that JKU, and might just end up doing this here as well. I'm sure you saw my research about whether to get the RAI or not, and it was a borderline choice which was convenient since it was coming in a pack with other things I wanted. I take this recall as a God's finger suggesting to reconsider again, and I'll have a fair amount of time to do that - and if it turns out that it is indeed a negligible amount of dust, I might just keep the things as they are (cue the calculation of how many filters I can buy for the price of the RAI with install labor, and subsequent hassle of replacing the windshield when, not if, that time comes). Not the least consideration is the fact that it would've been covered by manufacturer warranty if installed before I took possession of the vehicle, but now it's my hassle when it goes south.

And another factor that comes into place is - the weather becomes drier and drier here, and with tangible population growth it's not going to get easier. The last no rain streak lasted for over 160 days and was ended only technically by a light drizzle that did nothing to suppress the dust, it's making its way into air now and things start looking like Blade Runner 2049 with a lighter tint.

Time will tell. No plans to install aftermarket, and yeah, I saw that Chinese knockoff for half the price (and they knocked off another $100 since: ).

 

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The year is 1999. We're having a party, discussing technological advances, and a friend of mine makes a joke "Kids, get away from appliances, we're gonna reboot the house!" Well... He *thought* he was joking. Look around today.

Likewise - this is the photo of what I was talking about right above. Not my photo, not my location (a state away), but my sky looked just like that yesterday and I also tried to take a photo, but it didn't come out right - but this one did.

Not saying this calls for the snorkel right away (and I'm not sure a traditional one will save against the dust this fine), but this sure makes one wonder about how extreme our daily drives are going to get in a year or two.