No matter what setting I used, nothing seemed to help.

So how long did you allow the defrost to start removing the moisture from the interior, come up to temp and do it's job?

Defrost is not an immediate action. This time of year you have condensation and moisture inside your car from getting in and out, rain collecting on jackets... no clue where in "Canada" you are but snow is likely. That adds to the moisture in your car. You also have the condensation and moisture that forms from hot ducts cooling once you park. In less than a minute the windows fogged up. Again, you have to give the A/C compressor and evap a chance to dry out your car.

 

Thanks, I understand all that, it has happened a few times now, even after driving around for a while. And yes, I am in an area of Canada that gets snow, but none yet thankfully. Whatever is happening is not normal, and has never taken place in any other vehicle I have owned.

 

Also, just found this on another site that seems to address the problem. Tech bulletin issued 1 November:

LTB00693V5
TECHNICAL BULLETIN
01 NOV 2017

 

No idea what that is suppose to be, but if it is a LR TSB then take it to the dealer. Again you not giving enough information to even begin an educated guess.

 

Yes, it is a JLR TSB issued on 1 November that includes the Velar and describes exactly what I am experiencing. TSB states it is a problem with the direct pressure sensor valve that is causing the windows and windshield to fog up.

 

Then visit your dealer. If a TSB has been issued and you have read and you know what the issue is you are but one step away from resolution. You local dealer will be more than happy to take care of this. As the TSB is so new, print it out for their reference. You may very well be the first to bring this in to them.

 

Same problem here. Apparently it's a widespread issue on the Velar, and since there's no official fix via replacement parts from JLR that's available yet (they're still working on it), some dealers have been left to attempt a fix it on their own. But now JLR have been discouraging dealers from performing their own fixes and instead are being advised to provide the affected Velar owners a loaner until it is resolved, because in cold weather, it is most certainly a safety issue, especially during night driving. In my case, it only needs to be under 40ºF for the all side windows to fog up completely, while even the edges of the front windshield that's not covered by heater elements also get foggy. I can only imagine this being an even bigger issue for those without the heated windshield option. I literally cannot see through my side windows at night without rolling them down.

According to my dealer, the TSB issued in early November is not the definitive fix as most Velars that have been "repaired" with this TSB ended up returning to the dealer with the same recurring fogging issue, but even to worse extent.

My Velar has been at the dealer since last tuesday. They are working on the fogging issue, replacing a faulty pano roof seal (unrelated to fogging), and to hopefully sort out all the electronics and infotainment gremlins via a software update (though I'm not holding my breath that it will be real fix to all issues). I was given a discovery sport loaner that's far from an enjoyable drive. Not a fan, but at least the windows don't fog. As problematic as my car has been since the beginning, I do quite enjoy driving it and can't wait to get it back soon.

 

Like you, I really enjoy driving the vehicle but this fogging issue is quite concerning and I agree it is for sure a safety issue that JLR should take seriously. I came back from a three day trip (landed at night) a few days ago and had my car in the airport parking lot, ended up driving home with both side windows open because I could not see anything. I am two months into ownership and the problems are starting to mount. My auto start/stop also has stopped working, my seat heaters work intermittently and as you said the software is turning out to be a whole other nightmare. One of the more irritating things because I see it all the time, whenever I hit a bump in the road, my cup holder cover pops open and then refuses to close. I know these are first world problems but when paying this much for a vehicle my expectations are that things should work as advertised.

 

Masmole,

Any update from your dealer?? I talked with mine today and they told me they have received a fax concerning this issue but no details were shared. I will be stopping by tomorrow for a chat with them and let you know how that goes and if they believe they have a solution.

 

I am new to this forum and am having this exact same issue with my Velar. This mornings commute was over an hour in the vehicle and the windows never defrosted. It was very dangerous and I am dropping mine off at the dealer today. For the price, this issue is extremely concerning to me and I am a long time LR owner and typical fan. I am hoping for a resolution but I have a feeling this is not going to end well.

 

Yes, the car is still at the dealer and the service manager has been calling me every day with updates, which for the most part suggests that Land Rover is still working on a fix and that it may take a few days to possibly even a week or more if newly redesigned replacement parts are to be distributed. I was told that I have every right to take back my Velar at any time even without the repair being completed, but the dealership and JLR strongly recommend not to as it is a safety issue. I’m just surprised that they’re even giving me the option to take the car back with fogging issue not yet addressed. If I were to get in an accident because of it, wouldn’t they be liable to some degree? So as much as I hate this loaner, I will be keeping it until a real fix is available. If it’ll be another week or more, I might request a better loaner like a Range Rover Sport or full sized Disco.

I did get some details as to why the fogging is happening. Apparently there’s some kind of defective hinge to a valve or flap that toggles the recirculation of air in the HVAC system. I was told that this defect may have existed in the affected cars since they were built and rendered the HVAC to be permanently stuck in recirculate mode with hardly any fresh air coming into the car. On a new car this may have been largely undetectable during the warmer months, and only became problematic once the colder months arrived when fogging resulted from lack of fresh air entering the cabin. Now that I think about it, during the warmer months when I first took delivery of the car, I would smell a slightly damp/moldy/mildewy odor from the HVAC system even when the AC was on for a while. I didn’t think much of it at the time because I just figured my car sat at port for an extended period and the system just needed to air out for a while. But if it was stuck in recirculate since day one, it does explain why it would smell like it did even after the AC ran for a while.

 

Masmole, why have you not posted about this previously? This thread is the first anyone on this site has posted... well at least that I have seen. The 405s had a reirc flap issue in the early units. It was fixed with a software update. Unfortunately it did take several weeks to develop the patch once they discovered the flaw.

 

Because I haven’t been on this forum as much recently. Had a lot on my plate between work, getting the flu and family visiting for turkey day, that the multitude of issues on my Velar has taken a back seat in my life. The fogging thing didn’t become an issue until only a little over 2 weeks ago when the temps first dipped into the 30s, at which point I wasn’t able to take it to dealer until I got over the worst of my flu last week. Now that I’m feeling better, I’m much more able to be really pissed over these issues more than ever

And I only learned about the recirculate flap thing yesterday afternoon when the service manager tried to explain it to me on her daily call to update.

 

Had a lot on my plate between work, getting the flu and family visiting for turkey day...

Ugh folks all around me are dropping like flies from this odd flu strain. LMAO about the issues. Now that there are identified issues let's hope a fix is not far off. A fix that does not require gutting the dash!

 

There are folks in the UK reporting the same issue on another forum as well, but no solution seems to be found as of yet.

 

11/28 - Update #2: Service manager called and said that JLR is currently waiting on a parts supplier to provide a new actuator and assembly for this defective recirculating flap and since this apparently affects ALL Velars, they don't anticipate to have enough of these parts readily available until the end of December/early January. Apparently, JLR is advising dealers to perform a temporary "fix" by zip-tying the recirculating flap open so that it is not able to close at all, thus allowing the car to be driven safely in cold weather without the fogging issue, though it renders the car without the ability to set the HVAC on recirculate when needed. I guess the zip-tie "hack" is necessary because if all Velars are affected, the dealerships wouldn't have enough loaners available for everyone in the month or so that it will take to acquire the needed replacement parts. My dealer did say that if I don't find the temporary zip-tie solution acceptable, that I may keep the loaner instead.

Hmmm.... I think I'll take my Velar back for now then.

I guess there are many current Velar owners in the warmer climates that probably have no clue that their HVAC is stuck on recirculate since it doesn't get cold enough outside to have a fogging issue. You guys better have that checked out! Having it stuck on recirculate will eventually cause mold growth, bacteria build-up and foul odors from the HVAC system.

 

Is there anything a zip tie can not fix? ... or duct tape? I wonder how far into the dash they have to go for the hack and then for the fix...

 

I wonder if this same part was going to be used on the other 2018's, and if it is going to delay production for the sport and full size.

 

Same question. I'm new to the LR family so I don't know their standard operating procedures for issues like this. Haven't seen it in my car yet but I've been gone for a month. No problems driving today though with raining hard here in the Pacific NW.

 

RRToadhall - I actually asked about that and they said the problem flap is on the passenger's side and they had to take out the glove box and associated lower trim panel. Replacement of the actuator will entail the same disassembly process and will also require an upcoming software update according to their communication with Land Rover. Yes, zip-ties or duct-tape will fix anything!

 

A technical bulletin was issue when they found the root issue. A Service bulletin will be released when they have a revised part, it's superseding part number and software update. A recall notice will not be issued. Safety issues are things like the L322 flexible brake lines that could rupture. Safety issues are things like the few Land Rover impacted by the Takata air bag issue. This is an annoyance and an inconvenience, not a safety issue.

 

So you don't think not being able to see out the side windows or the windshield is not a safety issue??? It is more than an annoyance or inconvenience as you put it.

 

You don’t think not being able to see from the side windows while driving in cold weather is a safety issue? Right.

While it may not be a safety issue in the literal and technical sense, in terms of functionally operational brakes and standard safety features like air bags, that won’t stop someone out there from driving theirs despite the fogged up windows in winter temps, especially if this was an owner determined enough to get somewhere and the Velar is their only car, putting themselves and others on the road with them at risk.

Also, while Land Rover may not officially classify it a safety issue in terms how they handle its repair protocol, the contact person from Land Rover who advised my dealer certainly calls it a safety issue, my dealer’s service manager calls it a safety issue, the service technician calls it a safety issue, and most importantly I call it a safety issue enough to not want to drive it unless that recirculate flap is disabled with a zip tie.

 

We are not here to banter and bicker. Recalls are either government ordered or voluntary. They are ONLY issued for serious safety concerns. This is not a safety issue requiring a recall. Nobody is likely to immediately be killed by a foggy window. Not arguing, just stating facts on what it takes for a safety recall. Faulty equipment or not it is the driver's responsibility to ensure visibility when operating a vehicle. If that means pulling over and wiping your windows with a towel, so be it. If this is serious for a particular person, then they should park it until this is taken care of.

Before anyone starts in with the obligatory "but I paid....." or "Where is quality control" or "Why can;t they fix this faster". Relax. these are first run cars of a new model with no real world time. This is a minor failure of a part supplied by a third party company. What ever company supplied the part that is failing will either provide an updated part at their expense or LR will change vendors. This is not a Land Rover only instance. ALL car companies occasionally have issues with supply chain vendors. ALL car companies deal with service bulletins, software glitches, required updates... This just happens to be Velars first model glitch. It'll get worked out. First editions and early examples will get fixed and future production will have the redesigned part.

Please folks, keep things in perspective. Your cars are not catching fire, blowing up engines, no failing brakes, no wheels falling of. It's a bit of window fogging.

 

That's the reason why I'm surprised new owners order their rig with heated windshield delete. This will take care of the issue quickly.

 

Absolutely. Heck, even my beater 91 Cadillac series 60 had a heated windscreen. My 500 and 600 had them. Every Range Rover I've owned since my LWB have had heated screens. I;ve never understood not having them if available.

 

All First Edition Velars come with the heated windshield, in my experience it has been of little help when the windshield fogs up, perhaps that isn't working either.