Land Rover Class Action: Windshield Defect Alleged in Defender Models

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit has been filed against Jaguar Land Rover North America, alleging a defect in the windshields of certain Land Rover Defender models.

Consumers Affected: Owners of 2020-2022 Land Rover Defender vehicles.

Court: U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC is facing a class action lawsuit alleging a defect in the windshields of its 2020-2022 Land Rover Defender vehicles. 

Filed by Stephen Sieber, Chris Robinson, and Pamela Hughes in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, the lawsuit asserts that the windshields are prone to cracking, chipping, and fracturing, even under normal driving conditions. This raises concerns about the safety of the vehicles for drivers, passengers, and others on the road.

The plaintiffs claim that Land Rover knew about this alleged defect as early as 2019 but failed to take proper action to address it. They allege that the company continued to manufacture and sell the vehicles with the allegedly defective windshields without adequately informing consumers of the problem.

Claims of Defective Windshields and Warranty Violations

The lawsuit asserts that the windshields in the affected Land Rover Defender models are either made with deficient materials or have a structural deficiency that makes them more susceptible to damage. Many owners have reported their windshields cracking or shattering for no apparent reason or due to minor impacts that would not typically damage a non-defective windshield.

Online discussions among Land Rover Defender owners on platforms like Reddit have also raised concerns about the frequency of windshield damage in these vehicles. While some owners attribute the issue to the upright design of the windshield, others argue that the rate of windshield failure is unusually high compared to other vehicles, including older Land Rover models.

The plaintiffs also allege that Land Rover has refused to repair or replace the windshields under warranty, forcing owners to pay for costly repairs out of pocket. They further claim that even the replacement windshields provided by Land Rover are defective, leading to repeated windshield failures and more expenses for owners.

Safety Concerns and Demands for Relief

The lawsuit describes the safety hazards posed by the alleged windshield defect, stating that a spontaneously shattering or cracking windshield can obstruct the driver's view, cause distractions, and result in dislodged glass that can injure those inside and outside the vehicle.

This is not the first time Land Rover has faced legal action over alleged windshield defects in its Defender vehicles. A similar lawsuit was filed and reportedly dismissed in 2022.

In July, a similar class action lawsuit was also filed in New Jersey federal court by a group of six plaintiffs, alleging Land Rover knew or should have known about the windshield defect in its 2020-2022 Defender vehicles. but failed to disclose it to consumers or rectify the issue.

In this recent Land Rover defective windshield class action lawsuit, the plaintiffs seek monetary relief to cover actual damages, including the cost of windshield repairs and replacements. They also seek an order requiring Land Rover to replace the allegedly defective vehicles with new vehicles or to repair the affected vehicles at the company's expense. 

Additionally, they are requesting a recall of the affected Land Rover Defender models to address the alleged windshield defect.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Seiber et al. v Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC
• Case Number: 2:24-cv-09194
• Court: U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Sergei Lemberg (Lemberg Law, LLC) 

Have you experienced issues with the windshield in your Land Rover Defender? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.