Land Rover InControl Computer Scrutinized in Class Action Lawsuit

Jaguar’s North American division faces a class action lawsuit claiming they know about a vehicle defect in the Land Rover InControl system but continue installing it anyway.

Named lead plaintiff, Blake George from Michigan, alleges the computerized display in his 2019 Range Rover started to glitch out 2,000 miles after he starting driving it.

The high-tech feature, known as the Land Rover InControl system, controls the radio, media, Bluetooth connections, navigation, and temperature levels in the vehicles in which it’s installed. 

What’s Happening With Land Rover InControl?

Specifically, according to George, the screen regularly freezes and the system itself refuses to start up. Sometimes, only a black screen renders. The class action lawsuit explains how the InControl system goes through “crash loops” leaving many of the features inoperable. 

George says the Land Rover InControl defect jeopardizes road safety, especially when it leaves him unable to make hand-free calls and disables the reverse camera. 

George further claims Jaguar knows about the defect but continues to leave it unfixed and does not inform buyers that it exists. 

Jaguar Allegedly Knew About InControl Issues

He cites in the class action lawsuit multiple sources and instances throughout the design and production process as evidence there were problems with the Land Rover InControl system. 

The automaker touts a “strict 165-point inspection” process, George says in the complaint, that should have caught the glitch. 

Furthermore, George says the data that Jaguar collects on warranty claims should have shown an “abnormally large spike in infotainment system failures” when the line of vehicles was released for sale. 

Documented Land Rover InControl Complaints

Complaints were made not only to Jaguar but to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and details nine specific issues regarding the Land Rover InControl feature. 

Jaguar itself sent four technical service bulletins on the InControl display. The first notice was sent in August 2018. The latest was issued last year in November. 

All of the complaints gathered by George describe the same issue he experienced: blacked out screens, frozen features, cameras not working, unworkable Bluetooth connections. 

“There is always another surprise waiting when I get in the car,” one complaint stated. 

Another Land Rover driver reported her windshield going foggy on the road, leaving her unable to see and with no way to get the defrost working. 

“The fact that so many customers made similar complaints indicates that the complaints were not the result of user error or anomalous incidents, but instead a systemic problem with the Class Vehicles,” George said in the complaint. 

Fixing the Land Rover InControl System

Jaguar created a troubleshooting program and began to track complaints on Land Rover InControl, the complaint contends, but did not come up with a fix.

Instead, according to George, drivers with a glitchy Land Rover InControl system were told they can pull over when it happens and restart the car until the software update is released. 

Even still, some drivers had the “parts replaced with equally defective parts” leaving them in a “cycle of use, malfunction, and replacement,’ George said in the class action lawsuit. 

“To this day, even after numerous updates and a service on November 10, 2020, the InControl Defect occurs almost every time Plaintiff George’s vehicle is started,” according to the complaint.

Despite the known issues, Jaguar doesn’t disclose these problems to buyers and continues to sell vehicles with the faulty system installed.

“Plaintiff and Class [M]embers were not told about the InControl Defect at the time of sale, no advertisements disclosed the InControl Defect, and the Monroney Labels did not disclose the InControl Defect,” George said in the class action lawsuit. 

George has since joined a community of disgruntled Jaguar owners frustrated over the Land Rover InControl feature. The class action lawsuit describes internet forums, YouTube content, and other messaging reflecting the shared issues. 

One account in particular has been dedicated solely to the topic.  The “Land Rover – Range Rover Problems & Issues” channel has since racked up more than 40,000 views and has 174 subscribers.