NHTSA Complaint #11113150 — 2013 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER

DRIVING ON PHOENIX CITY STREET 51ST AVENUE GOING SOUTH AT 5:00 PM IN AFTERNOON. FAILURE OF A ENGINE/COOLING SYSTEM OUTLET PIPE LED TO EXPULSION OF ALL COOLANT, OVERHEATING OF THE ENGINE TO ITS SHUTDOWN WITHIN THREE MINUTES, THE ENGINE GOT SO HOT IT RUPTURED A FUEL LINE OVER THE ENGINE SPRAYING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITH GASOLINE. UNAWARE OF THE FUEL LEAK I ATTEMPTED TO RE START THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IT INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. I EVENTUALLY RESTARTED IT AND I LIMPED IT INTO THE PARKING LOT WHERE IT CONTINUED TO LEAK FUEL. THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN FROM THE OVERHEATING AND REQUIRES A COMPLETE REBUILD OR REPLACEMENT AT $15K TO $35K IN COST. THE LANDROVER SERVICE DIRECTOR ROBERT LYLER, CONFIRMED THAT FAILURE OF THE OUTLET PIPE IS COMMON. IT OCCURS RANDOMLY AND WITHOUT NOTICE OR ANY SIGNS OF FATIGUE OR WEAR. IT'S FAILURE IS ALWAYS A MASSIVE RUPTURE, NEVER JUST A LEAK OR SMALL SPRAY. I RECEIVED ONLY A 5 SECOND WARNING THAT THE COOLANT WAS LOW. NO OTHER WARNING LIGHTS APPEARED AND THE TEMPERATURE GUAGE NEVER SHOWED THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OR OVERHEATING. MY FAMILY AND I ARE LUCKY THAT THE ENGINE DID NOT CATCH FIRE AND THE FIRE FOLLOW THE FUEL LINE TO THE GAS TANK ENDING IN AN EXPLOSION. THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT THE LANDROVER NORTH SCOTTSDALE DEALERSHIP. IT HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY REFUSED TO PAY SAYING THAT THE PART WAS A WEAR AND TEAR/MAINTENANCE ITEM AND I HAVE FILED A CLAIM WITH LAND ROVER CORPORATE BUT HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE AS OF THIS CLAIM. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT FOR A MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT.