Jaguar I-Pace Battery Class Action Lawsuit: LG Chem Batteries Again?

The Jaguar I-Tempo is an agile and sporty electrical crossover. Used costs are dramatically falling, and these engaging EVs have gotten fairly inexpensive within the second-hand market. Nevertheless, earlier than going out and shopping for one, potential homeowners would possibly need to take a step again.

The Jaguar I-Tempo makes use of LG Power Answer batteries, the identical producer that produced batteries for the Bolt, Bolt EUV, and Kona Electrical. There have been a number of remoted incidents wherein these automobiles caught hearth, sparking questions in regards to the battery packs.

In November 2020, LG Power Answer initially denied that its battery cells have been the supply of the fires, however agreed to company with the producers. Nevertheless, practically a 12 months later, LG Power Answer agreed to pay GM $1.9 billion and Hyundai around $623 million as a part of a recall.

The origin of those potential battery fires was a folded anode tab, courtesy of the Korean battery provider. Geared up with the identical producer’s battery packs, the I-Tempo hit the information as early as 2021 on account of battery fires. In the summertime of 2022, an proprietor’s 2019 I-Tempo caught fire while charging in his Florida home.

Proprietor Gonzalo Salazar stated JLR hadn’t helped him very a lot and left him with the duty of cleansing up all of the particles left on the highway.

In Might 2023, Jaguar issued a recall for 6,367 I-Paces, affecting automobiles of all mannequin years (2019 to 2024). The recall surrounded the battery packs overheating, which may give rise to a battery hearth. Jaguar says it may possibly full an OTA software program replace for the repair, although it may possibly solely be performed at Jaguar facilities. Furthermore, the producer says it’ll exchange modules or your entire battery, if needed, freed from cost.

However a brand new lawsuit thickens the plot. A girl in California reported that her I-Tempo, already on its second battery (put in in 2021), stalled whereas driving in April 2023. She was “stranded in the midst of a road and blocking folks from exiting their parking areas.” Upset with Jaguar’s dealings of the matter, she sued.

The swimsuit says the British automaker knew in regards to the battery points properly earlier than issuing the recall. Furthermore, many homeowners have reported different battery-related points with the crossover.

Since April of this 12 months, the automotive has persistently had issues! A couple of months in the past, it began turning off instantly!! Sure, instantly even whereas driving! This was very alarming. I took it to the supplier in Cincinnati the place it stayed for nearly a month to be mounted! – Kentucky I-Tempo proprietor

One other proprietor, whose NHTSA report was featured within the lawsuit, expressed outrage over an analogous expertise. 

Was driving car downhill on a small hill in Palm Springs when a number of error messages appeared in speedy succession on the knowledge show, together with ‘traction battery fault – secure to drive with warning’. This was instantly adopted by “pull over and cease the automotive” however earlier than I had the possibility to take action ALL the techniques within the automotive ceased to function and all electrical techniques shut down. The breaks wouldn’t work, the steering wouldn’t work. I used to be nonetheless touring down hill and unable to cease the automotive. The automotive continued for about 1/2 a mile and went by two cease indicators. – California I-Tempo proprietor

However, present I-Tempo homeowners should solely cost their automobiles to round 75% earlier than receiving their updates. Solely time will inform who is actually at fault for the I-Tempo’s quite a few potential points.