2020 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER VELAR — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

Backup camera failure. Camera fault detected error message. Possibly caused by water intrusion

Summary: Remote start causes repeated, predictable failure of critical safety systems including traction control, hill descent control, and automatic emergency braking. Description of Problem: When the vehicle is started using the factory app for phones, the lower infotainment screen (the climate/drive assist panel) frequently fails to initialize properly. As a result, the icons and functions for Traction Control, Hill Descent Control do not illuminate or activate. The vehicle then displays warnings such as “Hill Descent Control Not Available” and “Automatic Braking Not Available.” This failure occurs approximately 99% of the time when using remote start. If I begin driving with the vehicle in this state, all of these systems remain deactivated. These features are essential for safe driving especially in winter conditions yet the malfunction leaves the vehicle without stability control, hill descent functionality, and automatic braking assistance. Safety Concern: This issue creates a dangerous situation where the vehicle behaves unpredictably and lacks core safety features required for traction, stability, and controlled braking. This is particularly unsafe in cold, icy, or low-visibility environments where remote start is most likely to be used. Reproducibility: The issue occurs consistently after remote start. If the vehicle is parked, fully shut down, locked, and left undisturbed for 10–15 minutes, the systems return to normal. The malfunction clears before the dealership can inspect it, leaving no fault codes stored. Dealer Response: The dealership has been unable to diagnose the issue because the fault resets itself before technicians can observe it. They report “no codes stored,” yet the problem persists daily and is easily reproducible by any owner using remote start. Why This Needs Investigation: This is not an isolated glitch. It disables multiple federally-regulated safety systems. A potential software or integration failure is affecting the control module

Summary: Remote start causes repeated, predictable failure of critical safety systems including traction control, hill descent control, and automatic emergency braking. Description of Problem: When the vehicle is started using the factory app for phones, the lower infotainment screen (the climate/drive assist panel) frequently fails to initialize properly. As a result, the icons and functions for Traction Control, Hill Descent Control do not illuminate or activate. The vehicle then displays warnings such as “Hill Descent Control Not Available” and “Automatic Braking Not Available.” This failure occurs approximately 99% of the time when using remote start. If I begin driving with the vehicle in this state, all of these systems remain deactivated. These features are essential for safe driving especially in winter conditions yet the malfunction leaves the vehicle without stability control, hill descent functionality, and automatic braking assistance. Safety Concern: This issue creates a dangerous situation where the vehicle behaves unpredictably and lacks core safety features required for traction, stability, and controlled braking. This is particularly unsafe in cold, icy, or low-visibility environments where remote start is most likely to be used. Reproducibility: The issue occurs consistently after remote start. If the vehicle is parked, fully shut down, locked, and left undisturbed for 10–15 minutes, the systems return to normal. The malfunction clears before the dealership can inspect it, leaving no fault codes stored. Dealer Response: The dealership has been unable to diagnose the issue because the fault resets itself before technicians can observe it. They report “no codes stored,” yet the problem persists daily and is easily reproducible by any owner using remote start. Why This Needs Investigation: This is not an isolated glitch. It disables multiple federally-regulated safety systems. A potential software or integration failure is affecting the control module

Summary: Remote start causes repeated, predictable failure of critical safety systems including traction control, hill descent control, and automatic emergency braking. Description of Problem: When the vehicle is started using the factory app for phones, the lower infotainment screen (the climate/drive assist panel) frequently fails to initialize properly. As a result, the icons and functions for Traction Control, Hill Descent Control do not illuminate or activate. The vehicle then displays warnings such as “Hill Descent Control Not Available” and “Automatic Braking Not Available.” This failure occurs approximately 99% of the time when using remote start. If I begin driving with the vehicle in this state, all of these systems remain deactivated. These features are essential for safe driving especially in winter conditions yet the malfunction leaves the vehicle without stability control, hill descent functionality, and automatic braking assistance. Safety Concern: This issue creates a dangerous situation where the vehicle behaves unpredictably and lacks core safety features required for traction, stability, and controlled braking. This is particularly unsafe in cold, icy, or low-visibility environments where remote start is most likely to be used. Reproducibility: The issue occurs consistently after remote start. If the vehicle is parked, fully shut down, locked, and left undisturbed for 10–15 minutes, the systems return to normal. The malfunction clears before the dealership can inspect it, leaving no fault codes stored. Dealer Response: The dealership has been unable to diagnose the issue because the fault resets itself before technicians can observe it. They report “no codes stored,” yet the problem persists daily and is easily reproducible by any owner using remote start. Why This Needs Investigation: This is not an isolated glitch. It disables multiple federally-regulated safety systems. A potential software or integration failure is affecting the control module

At approximately 39,000 miles, my 2020 Land Rover Range Rover Velar developed a coolant leak from the front lower crossover in the engine valley. A repair facility confirmed the issue and recommended replacement of the front upper and lower crossovers, water pump, and hoses. The repair estimate is $2,727. This problem is a known defect in other Jaguar Land Rover vehicles (crossover/elbow coolant leaks) that were subject to recalls and lawsuits, but my VIN is not currently included. The defect creates a serious safety risk: coolant leaks can cause sudden engine overheating, loss of power, or engine failure while driving, putting occupants and other drivers at risk. The issue has been diagnosed and confirmed by a service center. Prior to the diagnosis, I observed low coolant levels and warning messages. I believe this is part of a widespread defect affecting the 3.0L supercharged engine, and I urge NHTSA to investigate whether 2020 Velar vehicles should be included in recall coverage.