Ineos Automotive, the car manufacturer owned by Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, has issued a recall for more than 7,000 of its sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in the United States.
The company stated that “in a small number of cases,” the doors of its Grenadier SUVs have been opening while the vehicles are in motion, thereby “increasing the risk of injury to passengers inside the vehicle.”
“Due to insufficient application of grease, an exterior door release button may remain in the depressed position, preventing the door from closing securely,” a spokesperson told.
To address the issue, Ineos announced that it will replace all door button assemblies in the affected vehicles at no cost to the owners.
The recall applies to Grenadier SUVs manufactured between 6 July 2023 and 19 April 2024.
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According to a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the door button mechanism on these vehicles may have been assembled without adequate lubrication.
“This may allow the exterior door buttons to remain in the depressed position and prevent the door from fully latching,” the document noted.
A spokesperson for the company stated: “We are undertaking a campaign to replace the door lock mechanisms on all affected vehicles as quickly as possible. Owners of all impacted vehicles are being contacted directly.”
This recall is the latest challenge for Ineos Automotive, which last year had to temporarily halt production due to the insolvency of one of its parts suppliers.
Introduced in 2022, the Grenadier was the first vehicle produced by Ineos Automotive and draws inspiration from the classic Land Rover Defender.
Sir Jim was driven to establish the car company after expressing disappointment with Jaguar Land Rover’s decision to discontinue the Defender.
In 2020, the businessman who had supported the Leave campaign ahead of the 2016 Brexit referendum revealed that production of the Grenadier would take place in France, ending speculation that it might be manufactured in Wales.
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According to Ineos Automotive, there are currently around 20,000 Grenadiers in operation across 50 countries worldwide.
Financial records filed with the UK registry Companies House show that Ineos Automotive reported a pre-tax loss exceeding 1.4 billion euros (£1.1bn, $1.5bn) in 2023.
Sir Jim, one of the wealthiest individuals in the UK, holds a 27.7% ownership stake in Manchester United.
