11.05.2011

Land Rover chassis recall

As a follow up to our report on a number of chassis failures on Land Rovers fitted with aerial lifts, the manufacturer has now released a “No charge customer satisfaction programme” for Land Rover Defender 130s built between 2007 and 2011 and fitted with a 13.5 metre platform.

The bulletin highlights a weakness around a hexagonal hole in the chassis behind the cab and calls for substantial chassis reinforcement plates to be installed. The recall is free of charge and is estimated to take seven and a half hours.

If you have one of these platforms and have not heard from the supplier of the platform or a Land Rover dealer then we would recommend you contact your nearest Land Rover dealer and quote Programme number Q135.

Our original report on this subject concerned a number of Gardner Denver platforms on 2009 year Land Rover 130 models. Click here to read the original failure report
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The chassis failure with the rear radius arm fixing to the bottom right.

Vertikal Comment

We tried repeatedly and systematically to speak to someone at both Gardner Denver and Land Rover before and after we published the original report back in February, but in spite of promises that we would be contacted we have to date received no communication from either company.

It now seems that there was a problem with the design and installation approval from Land Rover- given that this recall only applies to units fitted with the 13.5 metre platform.

It is a shame that neither company was able to make a public statement about the situation at the time. However it does at least look as though it is now accepting responsibility and rectifying the error.