— Land Rover Range Rover Evoque vacuum pump and power brake problems are under federal investigation after drivers complained about losing brake power assist.
The 30,000 model year 2012-2014 vehicles are equipped with 2-liter gasoline turbocharged direct injection (GTDI) engines that use single-vane engine-powered rotary vacuum pumps as the only source of vacuum to the brake boosters.
The vacuum pumps, attached to the rear of the engines and driven by the intake camshafts, need a constant supply of engine oil for lubrication, cooling and for sealing.
According to the government, a Range Rover Evoque driver says he was driving in New Jersey when he lost the brakes with his wife and two kids in the vehicle. Only after shifting into NEUTRAL was he able to get the vehicle stopped on the shoulder.
The Range Rover was towed to a repair shop and it was determined the vacuum pump had failed.
Another Range Rover Evoque owner says he was driving 35 mph when the vehicle failed to respond when the driver hit the brake pedal. The vehicle crashed into another vehicle, but no injuries were reported. The driver says he noticed fluid coming from the front driver-side wheel.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says problems with engine oil supply to the pumps can cause the pumps to fail, resulting in a loss of brake booster vacuum. Drivers will experience problems using the brake pedals that will result in longer stopping distances, if the vehicles can be stopped at all.
NHTSA says it is unaware of any crashes or injuries caused by failures of the vacuum pumps.
The opening of the Land Rover investigation means safety investigators will try to determine exactly what is causing the problems and if the automaker would be best served by ordering a recall.
CarComplaints.com will update our website with results of the Range Rover Evoque vacuum pump investigation.