1994 LAND ROVER DEFENDER 110 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

COMPRISES A STANDARD SOLID BEAM AXLE WITH A FLANGE WELDED ONTO END OF THE AXLE TUBE ,TO SUPPORT THE BACKING PLATE, ROTOR, HUB, INNER AXLE SHAFT, WHEEL AND TIRE. THE FLANGE ON RIGHT HAND SIDE SEPARATED FROM THE AXLE TUBE AT THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL WELD SEAM BETWEEN FLANGE AND AXLE TUBE. OF THE 12+ INCHES OF SEAM, THERE WERE ONLY ABOUT 1" OF SPOT WELDING AND LITTLE WELD PENETRATION AT THAT. IN LOOKING AT THE SEPARATED FLANGE, IT HAD TO HAVE BEEN DIVINE INTERVENTION THAT IT DIDN'T SEPARATE WHILE ROLLING IT OUT OF THE SHOWROOM 8 YEARS AGO. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD BROUGHT ON BY CRIMINALLY NEGLIGENT WORKMANSHIP. THE WERE APPROX 6000 DEFENDER 90'S SHIPPED TO THIS COUNTRY, AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS DISCOVERY AND RANGE ROVER MODELS, ALL AXLES BEING EITHER SIMILAR OF MANUFACTURE OR NEAR SIMILAR IN DESIGN, BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, BUILT AT THE SAME PLANT IN ENGLAND USING THE SAME TECHNIQUES. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELLING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN THE FLANGE SEPARATED, THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CRASHED TO THE GROUND, NO DOUBT LOSING CONTROL, PROBABLY ROLLING OVER, PROBABLY BEEN KILLED, PROBABLY INNOCENT BYSTANDERS BEEN KILLED; THERE IS NO TELLING WHAT A DISASTER THIS COULD HAVE BEEN. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS TO SEND TO YOU OF THE MAIN AXLE CASE AND THE FLANGE, CLEARLY SHOWING THAT THERE WAS A CLEAN SEPARATION AT THE SEAM. I HAVE MY LETTER TO LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA. I ALSO HAVE THE ACTUAL AXLE AND FLANGE THAT I AM WILLING TO SEND TO YOU IF YOU WOULD LIKE. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I HAVE PUT THE VEHICLE UP FOR SALE. IT IS BETTER THAN LIVING IN FEAR THAT THE SAME WILL HAPPEN TO THE NEW AXLE I HAVE INSTALLED, OR THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO THE FRONT AXLE NEXT.HEEL AND TIRE.*AK