Land Rover DPF Issues & Oil Dilution

Various Jaguar Land Rover owner’s blogs and commentators have long reported customer issues and dissatisfaction with the diesel particulate filter with affected vehicles including 2015-2017 Evoque, Discovery, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport. F Type, XF. XE and XJ and their complaints from dealers and finance companies.

However, customers are no longer prepared to be appeased with “goodwill” oil services and DPF replacements, giving rise to an exponential increase in mis-selling, misrepresentation and consumer rights claims for rejection, compensation or both.

The case against Jaguar Land Rover, its dealers and finance company is that the diesel particulate filter (“the DPF”) or perhaps more accurately the DPF system, fitted to the above vehicles, is defective.

What is a DPF?

The DPF is designed to collect and reduce soot and exhaust particles entering the atmosphere as part of the EU emissions regulations and is a legal requirement.

When the DPF becomes full to a certain level or partially blocked it regenerates by “burning the soot off” by increasing the temperature. This happens either when the vehicle reaches a certain speed for over a certain time or the fuel supply is increased electronically.

The Problem

However, in affected vehicles this doesn’t happen properly, resulting in partial regeneration and oil dilution as a result of excess fuel.

This leads to increased oil servicing to in some cases to 4 times the published service frequency intervals, DPF regeneration at the dealership, replacement DPF and in extreme cases premature engine failure.

The manufacturer and the dealer network know about the problem and offer free oil services, DPF regenerations and DPF replacements on affected vehicles up to 50,000 miles.

Mis-selling Claim

Many customers feel this is tantamount to treating the symptoms rather than the cause and they should have been made aware of these issues before buying an affected vehicle, and had they been they would not have bought the vehicle.

In short, customers feel the vehicles are not of satisfactory quality and not fit for the purpose intended, namely being driven in urban conditions. If you have purchased a used Land Rover vehicle affected by DPF issues and oil dilution, it is important to know your consumer rights for used car purchases. You may have a short-term right to reject the vehicle if it is not of satisfactory quality or fit for purpose.

Customers believe the publicity around this issue has had the effect of blighting their vehicles, resulting in a precipitous loss in value and saleability, yet dealers and finance companies remain intransigent, with the view that the problem is with the driver and not the vehicle. While driving style can impact Land Rover vehicles, it does not account for the DPF issues and oil dilution affecting many owners. If you have been affected, our free advice line can provide guidance on pursuing rejection, refund, and reduction in value claims.

This issue has gained increased momentum following the class-action lawsuit issued in Australia against Toyota, seemingly arising from similar circumstances relating to the DPF. Our motor trade law resources cover various topics related to Land Rover DPF issues and oil dilution. If you have been affected, our free advice line can provide guidance on pursuing rejection, refund, and reduction in value claims under our fixed fee tariff.

Taking Action

With many customers being left without any remedy, having been fobbed off by the supplying dealer, we have been advising vehicle owners on our free advice line and taking instructions to pursue rejection, refund and reduction in value claims on their behalf. If you have been affected by Land Rover DPF issues and oil dilution, our free advice line can provide legal advice for car sales to help you pursue rejection, refund, and reduction in value claims. Cases numbers have gone from a handful a month to a handful a week. Most have been raised against finance companies and then onto the Financial Ombudsman Service which we can handle under our fixed fee tariff.

If you have leased, bought or financed an affected Land Rover call for initial free advice on 0333 700 7676 or get in touch by email.