JLR's Parts Shortage Leaves Thousands of Cars Stranded

author: FutureCar Staff    

Land Rover and Range Rover owners in the UK are facing a crippling parts shortage that has left thousands of vehicles unable to be repaired. As many as 10,000 JLR vehicles were off the road in October, causing dealers to run out of courtesy cars and storage space for broken vehicles. In an effort to address the backlog, some dealers have allegedly been instructed to use non-genuine parts, while one JLR manager reportedly suggested using used parts.

According to Autocar, the situation became so severe that JLR dealers were resorting to non-genuine parts to keep their workshops operational and clear the long list of cars waiting for repairs. The magazine also reported that a senior JLR manager proposed the use of second-hand parts. Car Dealer Magazine, which initially uncovered the parts shortage, stated that some customers claimed their vehicles had been out of action for up to nine months. However, dealers interviewed by the magazine denied using used parts.

JLR CEO Adrian Mardell acknowledged the company's shortcomings, attributing the problems to the consolidation of its parts supply sites into one warehouse. Mardell expressed the company's dissatisfaction with the situation and assured that it was a top priority for JLR. He revealed that the number of cars awaiting parts had been reduced from 10,000 to 5,000, but he anticipated that a full resolution would not be achieved until early 2024.

The parts shortage has raised questions about whether owners would be willing to have non-genuine or used parts fitted to their vehicles if it meant getting them back on the road sooner. The impact of this issue on JLR's reputation for reliability remains to be seen.

FutureCar Staff