If you are considering buying a used Land Rover Range Rover, these are the common problems worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 2 known faults for this model, 2 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Check a Land Rover Range Rover advert (free) →The Land Rover Range Rover has 2 known faults in our database, 2 of them rated high severity. The most serious are electrics (extreme vulnerability to keyless relay theft) and suspension (air suspension compressor failure, leaking air struts, and faulty ride height sensors). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
That is a count of the faults we hold, not a reliability score. Popular cars get written about more, and a newer generation has had less time to show its faults.
No year is a write-off on its own. What matters is which serious faults a given year and engine can have, and whether the car in front of you has had them fixed.
Each one is set out in full below, with the symptoms, the typical mileage and a rough repair cost.
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 5 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Land Rover Range Rover advert and we check it in seconds.
Check an advert now (free) →Recall work is done by the manufacturer, and GOV.UK says you will not usually have to pay for it. These are the 55 DVSA recalls for the Range Rover, newest first. They do not tell you whether this particular car has had the work: for that, put the registration into the free GOV.UK MOT history check, which shows a recall status where the manufacturer shares it, or ask a franchised dealer to check the VIN.
For affected vehicles the repair procedure for a prior safety recall was incorrect. As a result the front suspension knuckles have been replaced with those of an incorrect specification.
Put right by: Vehicles will have both front suspension knuckles replaced.
A concern has been identified on certain AJ20-D6 engines where the Front End Auxiliary Drive (FEAD) belt idler pulley may over-rotate following a high torsion input and lead to a clash with and damage to the oil pressure and temperature sensor. A damaged oil pressure and temperature sensor can lead to an oil leak from the engine which can result in a slip hazard for following road users particularly two-wheeled vehicles.
Put right by: Vehicles will have the Front-End Auxiliary Drive (FEAD) idler pulley replaced.
A concern has been identified where the connector to the driver's airbag at the clockspring may experience fretting corrosion over time. This can lead to an increased resistance in the driver's airbag circuit potentially resulting in the airbag failing to deploy when requested to do so. An airbag which fails to deploy as-intended will increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Put right by: Vehicles will have a protective lubricant gel applied to the driver's airbag connector terminals.
A concern has been identified on certain 2026 model year Range Rover Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Velar vehicles where the audio amplifiers may have been subject to water damage and may not provide any audio output including no seat belt reminder audible warnings to the driver. A seat belt reminder audible warning chime that does not alert of an unlatched seat belt can increase the risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.
Put right by: Affected vehicles will have the audio amplifier replaced.
The manufacturer has identified a concern on certain Range Rover and Range Rover Sport vehicles where the adhesion process used to re-attach the panoramic roof side finishers during vehicle quality rework operations in the assembly plant may not have been sufficient. An inadequately adhered panoramic roof side finisher could over time come partially or completely loose. This could result in distraction to the driver or other road users or in the event of complete detachment harm to other road users particularly pedestrians or two-wheeled vehicles and increase the risk of injury or a crash.
Put right by: Vehicles will have the panoramic roof side finisher removed and securely attached.
The manufacturer has identified a concern on certain Range Rover and Range Rover Sport plug-in hybrid vehicles where due to inadequate penetration of welding between the cells the battery's capacity and therefore the vehicle's electric range may be depleted below the design intent condition. A below-specification electric range will not meet the as-certified value for the vehicle and is therefore non-compliant to emissions legislation.
Put right by: Vehicles will have the hybrid battery/modules replaced.
A concern has been identified on certain Range Rover & Range Rover Sport PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) vehicles containing high-voltage batteries with cells manufactured between 11th and 12th April 2018. Cathode damage introduced during the cell folding process can lead to high time-in-service cell degradation.
Put right by: Data will be extracted from vehicles then the high voltage traction battery pack will be replaced.
On Affected vehicles it is possible that moisture has entered the Gear Shift Module (GSM) during the assembly process. Under certain conditions there is a risk that this moisture could result in non-illumination of the Light Emitting Diode (LED) indicating the selected gear. Non-illumination of the LED gear indicator adjacent to the shifter would not conform to regulated requirements for automatic transmission control position indicator illumination.
Put right by: Affected vehicles will have the Gear Shift Module replaced.
The manufacturer identified that on a small number of vehicles the JLR N759 safety recall repair procedure had not been carried out correctly. The suspension knuckles had not been replaced in all cases where the repair instruction directed a replacement leaving the defect present on the vehicles.
Put right by: Both front suspension knuckles will be inspected for the presence of any cracks. Where no crack is present and where available a retaining bracket will be fitted to the joint. Where cracks are found or a bracket is not available the front suspension knuckle will be replaced.
Jaguar Land Rover in conjunction with law enforcement and insurance bodies is aware of the increase in thefts of vehicles in specific geographical locations within the United Kingdom. there is no fault with Jaguar Land Rover's security systems and they continue to meet stringent automotive legislation. Jaguar Land Rover is offering owners guidance on how to maximise vehicle security and protect against theft.
Put right by: Vehicle registered keepers will be sent a security guidance letter only - there is no repair action.
On affected vehicles the second-row centre seat belt buckle may have been manufactured incorrectly. An internal obstruction to the seat belt tongue can prevent correct latching. In the event of a crash an insecurely latched seat belt buckle could increase the risk of personal injury.
Put right by: Vehicles will have the centre seat belt buckle and buckle retaining bolt replaced.
For affected vehicles the manufacturer has developed a software enhancement to further increase vehicle security.
Put right by: The software enhancement will deploy this update and reduce the theft risk.
On affected vehicles the 48V cable could become too close to an underbody cross-brace and rub against the metal cross-brace exposing the cable core resulting in a short circuit and risk of fire.
Put right by: Inspect harness and as needed reposition the routing bracket as necessary.
For affected vehicles the clutch plates within the hybrid transmission may have been manufactured with a flatness out of tolerance to the engineering specification.
Put right by: Diagnostic test to determine whether the clutch packs within the transmission are operating as expected. Any transmissions which fail the test will be replaced.
On affected vehicles the incorrect specification of plastic was used to manufacture the oil filter housing. This housing may over time and with vehicle use crack. This could result in oil under pressure leaking and coming into contact with hot components of the engine which may result in a fire. Additionally oil may leak onto the road surface posing a skid hazard.
Put right by: Replace the oil filter housing complete with filter and associated O-rings.
For the affected vehicle a concern has been identified where the there is an inadequate depth of weld (penetration) between the busbar and the anode in the module of the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) battery.
Put right by: Replacement of the traction battery.
A concern has been identified where the clamps used to secure the fuel injectors into the cylinder head on certain AJ20-D6 engines may crack allowing the injector to come loose. This loose injector could become unseated allowing fuel to be pushed past the injector seal from the combustion chamber or the fuel feed system.
Put right by: A fuel leak in this area could result in fuel spill onto hot engine components which may result in a fire.
For affected vehicles the manufacturer has developed a software enhancement to further increase vehicle security.
Put right by: The software enhancement will deploy this update and reduce the theft risk.
For affected vehicles the manufacturer has developed a software enhancement to further increase vehicle security.
Put right by: The software enhancement will deploy this update and reduce the theft risk.
On affected vehicles there is concern that the structural adhesive applied to the bodyshell has been mis-applied.
Put right by: Install two rivets and seal with approved sealant.
On affected Range Rover vehicles fitted with V8 Gasoline NC11 engines the fixings used to secure the engine mounted oil cooler hoses have been found to have inadequate thread engagement.
Put right by: Vehicles will have the engine oil cooler pipe fixings inspected and replaced if required.
For certain vehicles the bolt connecting the busbar to the traction battery module connector has not achieved the required clamp force. Arcing at the joint and excessive heat generation cannot be ruled out with the consequence that this may lead to a vehicle fire.
Put right by: Replacement of the High Voltage battery
On certain 2014 - 2016 Model Year Land Rover Range Rover vehicles the front suspension upper knuckle joint could develop a crack. In extreme cases where a crack in the front suspension knuckle has developed this may lead to detachment of the upper suspension arm.
Put right by: Carry out an inspection of the front suspension knuckles and replace parts if required.
On affected 2022 - 2023 Model Year Land Rover Range Rover vehicles the external rear lamp mounted in the body could partially or permanently fail to operate resulting in one or more of the light sources not working.
Put right by: Affected vehicles will have the foam block mounted in the bodyshell removed. The rear lamp mounted in the body and rear tail lamp link lead wiring will be checked for their condition. Where the lamp and wiring are qualified OK no further remedy is required. Where the lamp or wiring are qualified Not OK the lamp will be replaced.
On affected vehicles the second row 60% seat frame may have a latch installed with a defective weld. In vehicles that have a defective weld on the second row 60% seat frame latch the seat may not be correctly secured.
Put right by: The rear seat base latch will be inspected. Where the inspection reveals a not OK condition the rear seat 60% frame and associated components will be replaced.
For certain 2023 Model Year 3.0L AJ20-P6 Land Rover Range Rover Range Rover Sport Range Rover Velar Discovery and Defender vehicles a small number of engines the cam carrier oil gallery hasnt been fully drilled. As a result the oil channel could be blocked leading to accumulation of oil against the pressure control valve rubber membrane and subsequently an external oil leak or increased oil carryover into the air intake system.
Put right by: The engine cam carrier will be inspected and where an incorrectly machined cam carrier is found replace it with a correctly machined component. Depending on mileage and engine conditions further associated components may require replacement.
On affected vehicles there is a risk where the water pump pully drive belt can become damaged leading to detachment or destruction. Where water pump pully drive is lost this leads to a loss coolant flow in the engine.
Put right by: Affected vehicles will have the engine coolant elbow replaced. In addition a turbocharger feed coolant pipe will be replaced.
Some of the hot end exhaust bracket fixings may not have been fastened or not have been fastened to the required torque.
Put right by: Check for the presence of the exhaust bracket fixings and where necessary install new fixings or tighten existing fixings to the specified torque.
The front crash sensor fixings may not have been installed to the specified level of torque.
Put right by: Check and tighten the front crash sensor fixing to the specified level of torque.
The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) crossover pipe may have been manufactured away from specification.
Put right by: Check and repair the vehicle with a part manufactured to the correct specification.
The routing of the electrical harness within the steering column assembly has insufficient clearance.
Put right by: Inspect the steering column electrical harness apply further protective material and repair damaged wiring where required.
The crankshaft pulley retaining bolt may fracture due to a production specification error.
Put right by: Replace the crankshaft pulley centre retaining bolt with one that has been manufactured to the correct specification.
The directional indicators may fail to operate.
Put right by: Update the vehicle with the latest software on affected vehicles.
Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) feature will not be available.
Put right by: On affected vehicles download the latest software to the vehicle.
On certain 2018 and 2019 Model Year Land Rover Range Rover and Range Rover Sport PHEV vehicles where the indicated fuel level on the fuel gauge shows approximately 30% the fuel tank is empty resulting in an engine stall. The vehicle will enter into reduced performance mode and if the customer continues to drive the vehicle will continue to run for circa 8 miles/13Km. The vehicle engine will then cut out without warning. If the traction battery charge status is at least 10% or greater the electric motor will take up drive until such time as traction battery power is depleted. Where the traction battery charge status is below 10% drive from the electric motor is not possible and the vehicle will cut out whilst in motion. All 12 volt powered electrical functions such as power assisted steering exterior lighting and brake assistance will continue to operate as designed. Engine cut out with minimal warning to the driver may lead to an increased risk of an accident.
Put right by: Fit a new revised fuel level sensor float to the vehicle.
The brazing of the fuel rail end caps is inconsistent and may not correctly seal the fuel rail ends. Fuel vapour and liquid fuel leaks can occur over time. This can lead to a liquid fuel leak into the engine bay.
Put right by: On affected vehicles replace the fuel rail with a correctly manufactured version.
Due to a software issue the Instrument cluster may intermittently go blank.
Put right by: Affected vehicles will be recalled to have the latest software installed/downloaded.
The Emergency Locking Retractor in the front passenger safety belt assembly may not function correctly. The Emergency Locking Retractors are equipped with a vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism and a webbing-sensitive locking mechanism. The vehicle-sensitive locking mechanism may not lock as designed. In the event of a pre-crash brake event where the passenger airbag deploys front passenger seat forward facing child seat occupants may sustain more severe injuries.
Put right by: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the left hand front seat belt assembly.
The front passenger airbag may not function properly due to a deviation in generant mix ratio. In the event of a crash of sufficient severity the front passenger airbag may not deploy when required. Failure to deploy can lead to increased injuries to the passenger seat occupant.
Put right by: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the front passenger airbag.
It has been identified by the seat belt Pre-Tensioner manufacturer that the pre-tensioner initiator generant mix ratio does not meet specification. This can therefore result in the initiator not functioning correctly which can lead to none activation of the pre-tensioner.
Put right by: Recall all affected vehicles to check the pre-tentioner and if required replace it with a new quality assured component.
It has been identified by the air-bag manufacturer that the air-bag initiator generant mix ratio does not meet specification. This can therefore result in the initiator not functioning correctly which can lead to non-deployment of the air-bag. Should a collision occur then there is an increased risk of injury to the passenger.
Put right by: Recall all affected vehicles to replace the air-bag with a new quality assured component.
An incorrectly manufactured crank position sensor may cause the engine to unexpectedly cut out or not to start.
Put right by: On recalled vehicles the engine serial number will be checked and if within the affected range the crank position sensor will be replaced.
The second row seat backrest on vehicles with the manual recline second row seat system may not latch robustly in position. It is possible the seat belt may not correctly restrain the occupant in the event of a collision.
Put right by: On affected vehicles inspect the second row seat mechanism and if necessary fit the correct specification components.
The door could be unlatched when in the closed position and no indication provided of an unlatched condition. Vehicle doors not latched in either the primary of secondary state may during driving open. This can increase the risk of a vehicle crash and/or compromise the safety of vehicle occupants and other road users.
Put right by: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and download the latest level of software. A limited number of vehicles may also require a Remote Function Actuator module to be fitted.
On affected vehicles the road wheel nuts may not have been manufactured to the correct specification. These wheel nuts may crackwhen subject to shock loads and detach from the stud. This may lead to insecurity and possible detachment of a road wheel.
Put right by: Recall affected vehicles and replace wheel nuts. Locking wheel nuts are not affected.
The ground wiring for the air conditioning blower within the cockpit harness may not be to specification. This can lead to the wire getting hot and melting the plastic insulation and associated burning smell. If ignored and the loom gets significantly damaged there is a possibility of fire.
Put right by: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace the earth wire. Where other wiring/insulation is affected necessary repairs will be carried out using the correct repair procedures.
On affected vehicles the servo vacuum hose may have been incorrectly routed and can chafe against the auxiliary drive pulley. This can lead to failure of the hose and a loss of brake servo assistance.
Put right by: On affected vehicles check brake servo hose. If in good condition correctly reroute and secure hose. If hose is damaged replace hose and correctly route and secure.
It is possible that one or both of the front brake hoses could rupture allowing brake fluid to leak. A warning lamp and message will appear on the dash board when the fluid depletes to a certain level. Braking capability will be retained by the rear brake circuit pedal feel will be degraded and pedal travel extended. Stopping distances will increase.
Put right by: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace both front brake hoses.
An internal fault can create a short circuit within the fan control module which may lead to overheating of the insulation and ultimately fire within the engine bay. This may happen with the engine switched off and possibly when the vehicle is unattended..
Put right by: Replace electric cooling fan assembly on affected vehicles
The right hand rear suspension link arm to knuckle fixings may not be to specification. When subjected to normal use loading one or both of the fixings may fracture. Where one or both of the suspension link arm fixings fracture vehicle stability may be compromised.
Put right by: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and replace both the right hand side rear suspension link arm to knuckle fixings and torque to the correct specification.
In the event of a front direction indictor lamp failure the audible and visual warning (double click/double flash warning) will not function thereby not informing the driver of the failure. This can result in the vehicle not being rectified for a prolonged period which increases the chance of a collision with other road users.
Put right by: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected and update the vehicle with the latest software.
It is possible that a leak can occur between the injector spill rail connection and the plastic fuel return pipe. This can cause leakage of fuel which can either pool on the engine cylinder head and then become deposited onto the road surface where it could cause a skid risk to other motorist or if the fuel comes into contact with extremely hot engine components an exhaust manifold for instance it is possible that an under bonnet fire could ensue.
Put right by: Recall all affected vehicles inspect the fuel spill rail/return pipe and if required replace the spill rail with a new modified rail.
Mounting bolts for the rear brake caliper may not be torqued to the correct specification. This will create noise from the rear of the vehicle whilst it is being driven and during braking and should warn the driver of the issue. However if the vehicle continues to be driven it is possible the bolts can work loose thus allowing the brake caliper to detach. This will result in the caliper contacting the road wheel which can cause brake failure or sudden deflation of the tyre with subsequent loss of control of the vehicle.
Put right by: Recall affected vehicles to check the mounting bolts and re-torque them.
The steering rack mounting bolts may not be fully tight. If the steering gear fixings are below the required torque the driver will experience abnormal noise and feedback through the steering wheel during low speed manoeuvring and at higher speeds some easily corrected minor over steer. If the driver ignores the warning signs both fixings could become sufficiently loose to detach from the vehicle making directional control of the vehicle difficult.
Put right by: Recall the vehicles that are likely to be affected to inspect the steering gear and check the steering gear mounting fixings are tightened to the correct torque.
The affected vehicles windshield may not be fully bonded in to the aperture. Where the windshield is not bonded water ingress might occur and there may be reports of increased wind noise. Furthermore this concern may also be a non-compliance with the regulatory requirements of FMVSS 212 or FMVSS 216 Windshield Mounting.
Put right by: Approved Service Centre will remove and replace the windscreen with the correct bonding agent in line with existing service repair procedures.
Recall data published by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence v3.0. A recall listed here may not apply to every car of this model: the build dates and the registration check are what decide it.
No Land Rover Range Rover year is a write-off, but the L322 / L405 / D3 / D4 (2002 to 2022) carries the most serious faults: electrics and suspension. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.
Ask the seller about the electrics and suspension faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for car stolen off driveway overnight without keys and 'Suspension Fault' warning on dash. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against its known faults before you travel. Check a Land Rover Range Rover advert →
The DVSA lists 55 safety recalls for the Land Rover Range Rover issued between 2012 and 2026. The most recent, from August 2026, is "Range Rover (L405) Front Suspension Knuckle Crack - Incorrect Repair". Recall work is done by the manufacturer, and GOV.UK says you will not usually have to pay for it. This list is by model, so it cannot tell you whether one particular car has had the work: the free GOV.UK MOT history check shows a recall status from the registration where the manufacturer shares it, and a franchised dealer can check the VIN.
Owners report 26.5 mpg on average across the Land Rover Range Rover engines with data, about 90% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 413 owner submissions. Land Rover Range Rover Real MPG by engine →
Looking at a Land Rover Range Rover right now? Check the advert before you go and see it.
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Land Rover Range Rover owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
CarAdCheck is not affiliated with Honest John or Volkswagen Financial Services. What happened to Honest John, and where each feature lives now.
Knowing what a Land Rover Range Rover goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.