NHTSA Complaint #11584203 — 2023 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY

Dear NHTSA, I am writing to report a safety issue with my 2023 Land Rover Discovery Metropolitan that occurred on April [XXX] 2024. VIN: [XXX] The issue involved the steering wheel locking unexpectedly. After parking the car overnight for 15 hours, I returned to find a message indicating lane departure assist wasn't working, and the steering wheel was completely locked and inoperable. I attempted various troubleshooting steps, including changing driving modes, restarting the car, and checking for software updates, but none resolved the problem. While the car functioned normally in terms of forward and backward movement, the locked steering wheel prevented any turning ability. There were also no warning lights or error messages displayed on the dashboard. The only solution I found was to perform a hard reset by disconnecting the negative battery cable for 3 minutes and then reconnecting it. It's concerning that a similar issue appears to be reported by other Land Rover owners online, particularly with Defender models. [XXX] My primary concern is the possibility of this malfunction occurring while driving, which could lead to a serious accident. There seems to be no guarantee that this isn't a potential risk. I will be in contact with the Land Rover dealership locally and urge NHTSA to investigate this potential safety concern with Land Rover vehicles. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)