NHTSA Complaint #11161339 — 2009 JAGUAR XF

2009 JAGUAR XF SUPERCHARGED DASHBOARD GLARE & VISIBILITY OBSTRUCTION THE LEATHER DASHBOARD ON MY 2009 JAGUAR XF SUPERCHARGED HAS BEGUN TO SEPARATE, RIPPLE, & BUBBLE. RESULTING IN A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE RIPPLING (LOOKS SIMILAR TO WAVES) CAUSES THE SUN TO REFLECT / GLARE DIRECTLY TO THE WINDSHIELD & INTO THE OPERATORS EYES. THE RESULT, UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCE (HIGH NOON, VERY SUNNY DAYS, DUSK/DAWN), IS COMPLETE VISION IMPAIRMENT. THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM A DEFECTIVE GLUE / BONDING AGENT APPLIED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. ONCE SEPARATION BEGINS IT PROGRESSES AND SPREADS LIKE CANCER. THE UNACCEPTABLE REPAIR ESTIMATE PROVIDED BY JAGUAR, $3,500.00 TO $4,500.00, TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE DASH. UNNECESSARY AS THE DEFECT IS THE BONDING AGENT, NOT THE HARDWARE. JAGUAR & OFFICIAL OEM FORUMS SUGGEST A... "COST EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE." THE REMEDY VIA THIRD PARTIES: REMOVE THE DASHBOARD, SEPARATE THE LEATHER, CLEAN, APPLY A NEW BONDING AGENT, CURE, AND REINSTALL. BECAUSE THE DASHBOARD IS NO LONGER FLAT, ON SUNNY DAYS & ESPECIALLY AT DUSK AND DAWN, THE LARGE BUBBLES & WAVES CAUSE LIGHT TO REFLECT DIRECTLY TO THE WINDSHIELD & THE OPERATORS EYES. THE RESULTING REFLECTION / GLARE RENDERS THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO OPERATE DURING THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED CONDITIONS. SAFETY IS IMPORTANT & JAGUAR SHOULD ADDRESS THIS ISSUE VIA RECALL & NOT LEAVE THE COSTLY REMEDY FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT TO THE CONSUMER & POTENTIALLY UNQUALIFIED THIRD PARTY REPAIR FACILITIES. THIS KNOWN PROBLEM EFFECTS A MAJORITY OF 2009-2011 XF MODELS. JAGUAR ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE AS EARLY 2009. YET CONTINUED TO USE A MANUFACTURING PROCESS KNOWN TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE KNOWN DEFECT CAN CAUSE TEMPORARY BLINDNESS WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE CONSEQUENCES OF DRIVING WHILE BLIND ARE OBVIOUS. JAGUAR, SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REMEDY THE DEFECT.