Luxury electric vehicle manufacturer Lucid has initiated its first recall of 2024, affecting more than 2,000 Air sedans in the United States. The recall is prompted by concerns over the high voltage coolant heater (HVCH) potentially failing, impacting its dual function of providing warm air to the cabin and defrosting the windshield.
Lucid plans to address the recall through an over-the-air (OTA) software update, although replacement of the HVCH may be necessary if it fails. Documents submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveal that a malfunction in the HVCH could lead to a loss of windshield defrosting, posing a safety risk by obstructing the driver’s view.
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Reports of cabin heat loss were first received by Lucid in March 2022, and in January 2023, their supplier informed them about HVCH delamination issues. Lucid claims it was unaware of a similar recall by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) or the associated safety concerns related to HVCH failures. The automaker only became aware of the JLR recall near the end of 2023, following notification from the NHTSA.
Lucid responded by launching an internal investigation in mid-November, leading to the decision to issue a recall. The company aims to address the issue through an OTA software update scheduled for mid-January.
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Once installed, the update will monitor and identify any HVCH failures, alerting the driver with a message on the glass cockpit. If necessary, Lucid will replace the HVCH free of charge. The recall impacts 2,042 Air sedans, with expectations that only 1% or less will require parts replacement.
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