In August, Jaguar announced a recall of 668 I-Pace due to a faulty high-voltage coolant heater, which could impede windshield defrosting. Interestingly, Lucid utilized the same heater unit from the same supplier, leading to its own recall.
Lucid initiated an investigation into heater problems in March 2022 but only learned about the common issue with Jaguar EVs after being notified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding the I-Pace recall.
The recall was prompted by a design flaw in the heater produced by Webasto Thermo & Comfort SE. According to Jaguar's documents, the delamination of aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide coatings on the heating elements caused heater failure. This poses a significant issue in electric vehicles since the heater is essential for windshield defrosting, as there is no internal combustion engine to generate heat. Failure could obstruct the driver's view, necessitating a recall.
In Lucid's case, the recall affects 2,042 Air sedans manufactured between November 10, 2021, and June 11, 2023, after which a new heater design was implemented. These vehicles span both the 2022 and 2023 model years.
To address this problem, Lucid has introduced a software update that will alert drivers if their high-voltage coolant heater malfunctions, warning them of potential visibility issues before they arise. Furthermore, Lucid will replace any identified faulty heaters as part of this recall, free of charge, at a Lucid Service Center.
Source: Carscoops
