Father Demands Ban on 'Temu Range Rover' After Car Failure with Son
A father from Birmingham is calling for a ban on so-called 'Temu Range Rovers' after his brand-new car stopped suddenly while he was driving on a 60mph road with his four-year-old son. Alan Lee, a 37-year-old head of operations, purchased a Jaecoo 7 PHEX Luxury for £35,000 after reading rave reviews about the vehicle, which has been nicknamed the 'Temu Range Rover' due to its affordable luxury features.
Sudden Failure on Busy Road
Disaster struck just weeks after Mr Lee took delivery of the car on March 18, 2026. While driving his son to nursery, the vehicle 'completely stopped' on a 60mph A road as he approached a roundabout. 'I was on a busy road, and the car just died, completely shut down,' Mr Lee recounted. 'I had pulled up at the lights, as I entered the roundabout, it stopped, and I got 20 different warning lights flashing up on the car. It was flashing every error possible. I couldn't go into drive or reverse.'
His immediate priority was to ensure the safety of himself and his young son. He promptly called 999, and police arrived to close off the lane before the car was towed to a police recovery compound, where it remains today.
Earlier Warning Signs Ignored
Mr Lee had noticed troubling signs in the days leading up to the incident. He reported that the headlights would flicker when he turned corners, which he described as 'weird' but initially dismissed. 'For the first time, I noticed the headlights flicker when I turned a corner. I didn't think much of it at the time,' he said.
The Jaecoo 7 model has faced scrutiny before. Earlier this year, the UK Government recalled approximately 7,500 Jaecoo 7 petrol models due to a faulty electronic control unit wiring harness clip that could cause unexpected stalling. Mr Lee is now demanding that his plug-in hybrid model be included in a recall, arguing that these vehicles are 'not fit for the road.'
Consumer Outrage and Calls for Regulation
'I am a real-life example of how they do not care about their customers,' Mr Lee stated emphatically. 'It is a Temu Range Rover; people need to be aware of what is happening with these cars. I think there needs to be more regulation and checks on these new cars. Some Jaecoo models have already been recalled; clearly, my model and others are not fit for the road.'
Mr Lee had been driving a Volkswagen Tiguan but decided to switch after seeing online articles touting the Jaecoo 7 as the UK's best-selling car in November. 'I am a family man, I liked an SUV, and I saw a lot of good reviews on this car,' he explained. 'It was the highest-selling car in November, everything was pointing towards giving this car a go and being an early adopter. For the price point, it matched other vehicles in that range, but this one came with a lot more tech.'
Ongoing Dispute with Manufacturer
Since the incident, Mr Lee has contacted Jaecoo, who have promised to resolve the issue. However, he claims that despite being offered a courtesy car, he has not received one. 'I called Jaecoo to tell them I need a courtesy car, and I still don't have one,' he said. 'I do not want another vehicle from them. I will not be buying from them again. They clearly have no idea what they are selling.'
In response, a spokesperson for Jaecoo UK stated: 'Jaecoo UK can confirm that it takes aftersales service seriously, and has provided the customer with a Jaecoo courtesy car. It also believes that the customer is kept well updated via the leasing and / or finance company involved.'
This incident highlights growing concerns about vehicle safety and consumer protection in the automotive market, particularly for new models entering the UK from international brands.
