I too am having the DRL dimming on the driver's side. It did just pass state inspection though so the Jag dealer didn't think it was bad enough to fail inspection.

 

Is this affecting the latest generation as well? It really is insane the way they have stuck customers with this sort of setup. It's wild. The true cost of these things is probably so low.

 

In an ideal world the manufacturer should be paying to replace their defective headlamp assemblies. Unfortunately, Jaguar is too poor and small to absorb the expense. And who knows what the legal and logistical repercussions would be if Jaguar terminated the contract with the manufacturer and found another?

 

It does not affect the latest gen. To my knowledge its only 2018 through 2020 but dont quote me on that

 

My left side headlamp was replaced under warranty for this reason. Now, the new unit has failed, but the vehicle is out of warranty. When a component is replaced under warranty the owner is satisfied, the dealer is satisfied and there is no incentive to determine the cause of the problem. Now that here are others who, like me, have this failure out of warranty is there any person or company who is investigating the cause? If, as one person suggested, it is caused by an alignment problem internally can it be dismantled and realigned? Is it a connection problem or, perhaps, a control problem with a module? The latter is unlikely since the problem seems to be (temporarily) resolved by replacing the headlight but all avenues need to be explored.

 

The technician at my dealership checked the module on both headlamps as well as all connections only to conclude that the left headlamp needed to be replaced.

If replacement OEM headlamps continue to fail there is recourse. In the USA some states require dealers to provide a 1-year warranty on any work performed. The invoice should state the terms of a dealer's warranty. Failing that and Jaguar North America, one can complain to the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection. I and others have had some success in non-automotive matters by simply threatening to call the Bureau of Consumer Protection. Lastly, one can contact NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) which regulates safety features. That is the US agency that crash tests vehicles and institutes safety recalls. Think back to when Ralph Nader managed to get Chevrolet to stop producing the Corvair and, later, the Ford Pinto. However, if a vehicle owner provides the part (e.g. headlamp) - OEM or not - there probably isn't any recourse.

 

Are DLRs required in the USA, these days? If not I doubt a failure out of warranty would result in a free replacement, even if you complained to "the authorities". Nobody knows if there is a way to disconnect the other side????.

Again, other manufacturers who are using LEDs as lights have had the same (dim) issues.

 

Perhaps, there should be a F-Type group complaint filed with the appropriate Federal Dept of Transportation in the U.S. for starters. The DRL is intregal with the turn signal, which in itself is a mandated safety feature in states that require testing. The consistant failure rate indicated in multiple threads on this and other forums (and experienced by myself also) probably approaches a capacity to demand a recall, replacement under a substantially extended warranty, a class-action lawsuit, or all of the above. This failing issue will also drive down the resale value of the 2018-2020 F-Types because it is a serious problem that only affects this model.

I was the victim of relatively minor fender-bender a year ago by an idiot driver that caused the breakage of my driver's headlamp and the cracking of the passemger lamp. Everything else was repairable. The insurance company invoked the used-part clause and spent $5000 on two used headlamps of which one, the DRL subsequently failed. I hadn't noticed it initially, but the dealer did when it was in for warranty service and replaced it with new at a factory backcharge of over $6,000.00 U.S. Now, the F-type that my 77-year old *** had planned on keeping as my last sports car is out of warranty and I am looking at the probable expense of up to $12K to replace both headlamps again. WTF!

 

NHTSA is an administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation. NHTSA is the appropriate federal agency for anyone to submit recall requests.

Consumer Reports is another avenue.

I just don't hold out much hope of getting relief. Jaguar isn't a Toyota, GM, Ford, or VW. Jaguar isn't even as big as Land Rover. Arguably, trying to squeeze money out of a boutique manufacturer that is already shutting down production seems like a long shot to me. Then again, what do I know?

 

The UK forum has a long thread about the failure - the "meat" starts around page 9, link here:
https://www.ftypeforums.co.uk/viewto...=6411&start=80

 

Thank you SCM, that is most interesting. Unfortunately, it doesn't have information about respiring the fault(s) or of the source of alternate brand units. My replacement unit lasted less than 2 years. I have been a Jaguar enthusiast for several decades but I have to question if I can afford to continue to own this vehicle.

 

The Fact that this same part also controls the Turn signal and will cause state safety inspection failures is the bad part. So ultimately you will have to replace it if you want to drive your car legally on the road.

 

SCM,Thankyou, and thomasag, please note! The UK F-Type forum was a good referral point for more victims. As I read deeply through the UK forum, I discovered that there is a F-Type owner Here in the States that started a Facebook page about this issue and is moving forward with a lot of investigation and starting to deal with JLR and the like. I would urge EVERYONE that has had this issue sign up for that page and be part of the possible solution. The Facebook messenger site is "F-Type Dim DRL". They are cataloging the complaints by year, side and other pertinent info so that the documentation is large and valid enough to possibly file a NHTSA complaint that is meaninful.

 

I can definitely understand this sentiment. It certainly becomes a bit of a ridiculous and practical problem to have this sort of unbounded financial exposure. It doesn’t matter how passionate one might be for a vehicle. This sort of garbage could definitely threaten the love affair.

I truly cannot get over the price of these headlights. I know these are “luxury” vehicles, but still…It’s lunacy really,

If I have any other nicer brand car out there and the headlights fail, I assume replacing their headlights would be similar in cost?

 

It was 69 years ago when I fell in love with Jaguars (if one can love an inanimate object). Yes, that 's not a typing error. I have owned many through my life and consider the F-Type to be the best. However, unless someone can resolve the headlight issue satisfactorily the costs involved with this issue will be ridiculous. That will then be followed by complete unavailability of new or used units, leading to failure of the annual state inspection and making the vehicle unusable. Do I gamble that a solution will be found? Not being a gambler my present thinking is no.

 

Isn't situations like this typically how a class action lawsuit is initiated on behalf of the complaintants. Class action lawsuit against Jaguar Land Rover ?!?!!??

 

If people are left with glorified paper weights in their garage yes. But Jag will just continue to produce the 4-6K per unit headlights so they can keep making money.

 

Based on my experience of Jaguar and their attitude to spares for older models I think that it is unlikely that they will continue to provide a comprehensive list of spares in the future. They have already ceased manufacture of I.C. engined vehicles and are committed to the production of electric ones, a decision which other manufacturers made and from which some of them are now retreating as the reality of the market forces become more apparent. There have been no indications, of which I am aware, that Jaguar are retreating from their stated position and I believe that they will largely abandon the I.C. owners. For some time Jaguar dealers have refused to provide repairs or service for vehicles which are over 10 years old. Owners of older vehicles have been able to use independent specialist repair shops and they have been able to obtain parts from a variety of sources. The F-Type headlights, however, are for only one model of car and, indeed, for only certain years. No aftermarket manufacturer will make replacements and there are no other units from other vehicles which can be substituted. Unless some person or company is able to determine the reason for the failures and that failure can then be corrected we will be left with machines which are unusable.

 

Hi Guys,
First of all, I am in the new home construction business, specifically I'm in the natural stone business. I know only basic automotive 101 knowledge.

Here's my question, many are saying the driver's side daytime running light becomes very dim over time. The letter j shaped lighting is defective and it becomes less bright with the passing of time.
I'm guessing that it's nothing more than speculation that maybe possibly the intense brightness of the daytime running light causes it to burn out, so what if the driver turns on the actual headlights for the majority of the time even in daylight conditions, making the J shaped lighting less bright and the saving that defective headlight from getting burnt out and becoming very dim and weak. If this is done do you guys think you would prolong the life of the daytime running light?
Thank you.

 

I think the DRL has the same brightness regardless of if the headlight is on. Anyhow keeping the headlight on may be a good thing if you're annoyed by the weak DRL because it makes the issue a bit less visible.