2008 Land Rover LR2 Powertrain (other) Problems

My rear differential failed at 43k. This has been a common problem for LandRover 2008 LR2. The repair is costing me 5k to repair.

NHTSA ID

11703568

Incident

Dec 4, 2025

The contact owns a 2008 Land Rover LR2. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and making either a right or left turn, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the rear differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000. The contact stated the rear differential had to be replaced in the amount of $3400.

NHTSA ID

11512326

Incident

Nov 1, 2022

Mileage

39,000 mi

I have a 2008 Land Rover LR2 in mint condition and regularly maintained by a Land Rover dealer and purchased new from a LR dealer in Pittsburgh. It only has 39K miles and always parked indoors. Last year I noticed a humming, grinding sound coming from the rear wheels.I took it twice to the Fort Myers Florida LR dealer for service but they could not find the problem other than that the differential needed flushing (unusual for 39K miles). Finally took it to LR dealer two weeks ago in Naples, Florida and it was determined that the rear differential needed replacement. It was explained to me by the Asst. Service Mgr. that it was not safe to drive as the wheels could seize and cause an accident. No warning lamps indicated the problem. Land Rover refused to pay for replacement ($10K quoted cost) citing 4 year warranty period was over despite way below 50K mile warranty. Discovered over 30 similar problems reported on LR2 model on "carcomplaints.com".

NHTSA ID

11495871

Incident

Nov 28, 2022

PREMATURE FAILURE OF BEARINGS, RACES AND GEARS IN REAR DIFFERENTIAL.

NHTSA ID

11267199

Incident

Oct 2, 2019

Mileage

135,000 mi

I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH OF 2017 WITH 101,000 MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS 119,000. AS OF 24 JUN 2019, THE REAR END BEGAN MAKING A NOISE WHILE TURNING. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL IMPORT REPAIR SHOP. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH ZIP-TIES. ZIP. TIES. AS I HAVE NEVER HAD WORK DONE ON THE REAR END OF THE CAR, THAT MEANS THAT THE ZIP-TIES WERE PUT ON BEFORE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN BUT THE REAL QUESTION IS THIS: HOW LONG IS A DIFFERENTIAL SUPPOSED TO LAST? THE DIFFERENTIAL IS CURRENTLY LOCKED INTO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ALL THE TIME. THE DIFFERENTIAL ALONE WILL COST $4900. THE FLUIDS WILL COST $40. I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THE NUMBER OF HOURS OF LABOR BUT IT WON'T BE OVER A DAY. SO LET'S SAY A DAY OF LABOR WOULD BE 8 HRS AT A RATE OF $120/HOUR. 4900+40+960 = 5900. RIGHT NOW, MY VEHICLE IS ONLY WORTH 2,200. I OWE NO LOAN BUT I AM UPSIDE-DOWN NONETHELESS. THIS IS NOT WEAR AND TEAR. THIS DIFFERENTIAL WAS POORLY DESIGNED. THE POOR DESIGN WAS EXACERBATED WHEN THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS NOT DEALT WITH. IF NOT REPLACED, THE LOCKED DIFFERENTIAL WILL DESTROY THE TRANSMISSION. THEN WHAT WILL I DO?

NHTSA ID

11223033

Incident

Jun 24, 2019

Mileage

119,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" WHEN MOVING AT LOW OR REGULAR SPEED AND TURNING, THERE IS A RUMBLING STUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS THE ISSUE. ON RESEARCHING THE LAND-ROVER FORUM, I FOUND THAT MY ISSUE WAS NOT PECULIAR TO ME ALONE BUT IT WAS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH OTHER 2008 LR2 OWNERS AND COSTLY TO CHANGE TOO. HOWEVER LAND-ROVER ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN LTB00342 (ISSUE 3) IN AUG 2011) ABOUT THIS. WHY NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAULTY REAR DIFFERENTIAL OR FREE REPLACEMENT OF THE

NHTSA ID

11156366

Incident

Nov 9, 2018

Mileage

165,082 mi

MY WIFE AND I STARTED NOTICING A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE THAT SEEMS TO SLOWLY BE GETTING WORSE. THEN WE STARTED GETTING A TRANSMISSION FAULT ERROR MESSAGE ON THE DASH. STARTED DOING RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS BEFORE THEIR REAR DIFFERENTIAL GOES OUT COMPLETELY. WE ARE DRIVING THE LR2 ACROSS COUNTRY A FEW TIMES THIS NEXT YEAR. IT'S PROBALY GOING TO GO OUT AT SOME POINT. IF THIS IS SUCH A WELL KNOWN ISSUE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HASN'T BEEN ISSUED!

NHTSA ID

11130698

Incident

Jul 15, 2018

Mileage

150,000 mi

LIKE 1000S OF OTHER OWNERS, MY LR2 NEEDS REAR DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED. WHY NHTSA HAS NOT REVIEWED THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE. THE VOLVO'S BUILT WITH SAME DESIGN HAVE PROBLEMS WITH REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILING AS WELL. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR $2400-3000.. HAS THE NHTSA EVEN LOOKED INTO THIS? THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND I'M READING BLOGS WHERE MANY PEOPLE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO THE REPAIRS THEMSELVES N GIVING EACH OTHER 'TRIAL N ERROR' TIPS. OTHERS ARE POSTING ASKING WHAT'S THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN IF THEY DON'T DO THE REPAIRS. WELL, THE TRANSMISSION CAN LOCK UP CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. SO WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR A RECALL TO BE AT LEAST CONSIDERED? THIS SEEMS TO BE VERY SIMILAR TO TOYOTA PRIUS RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO. AND IT TOOK HOW MANY DEATHS BEFORE A RECALL WAS ISSUED?? OR FORD PINTO CASE SAD THING HERE IS... NHTSA SHOULD BE LISTENING TO THE CONSUMERS! YET SEEMS LIKE NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED OR MAYBE FORGOTTEN....

NHTSA ID

11118668

Incident

Aug 5, 2018

Mileage

105,000 mi

REAR DIFFERENTIAL

NHTSA ID

11110254

Incident

Jul 7, 2018

Mileage

130,000 mi

THERE IS A LOUD HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WHEN GOING 25MPH+

NHTSA ID

11102485

Incident

Apr 22, 2018

Mileage

122,076 mi

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND MODEL AFFECTING THE TRANSMISSION AND SAFETY OF ANYONE IN OR AROUND THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11074404

Incident

Feb 22, 2018

Mileage

110,000 mi

I JUST BOUGHT A USED 2008 LAND ROVER LR2 AND I STARTED HEARING NOISES FROM REAR END WENT TO INDEPENDENT SPECIALIST FOR LAND ROVER HE TOLD ME THAT THIS ISSUE IS A COMMON IN THIS CAR...BAD REAR DIFFERENTIAL...HAVE A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT W HIM IN TUESDAY ALSO HE TOLD TO CONTAC THE LAND.ROVER OF AMERICA BUT THEY R NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING BUT IT'S THEIR FAULT! PLEASE NHTSA CAN DO SOMETHING W IT? THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11073392

Incident

Feb 12, 2018

3TIMES NOW FIRST BATTERY LIGHT GOES ON THEN ALL LIGHTS ON PANELS STARTS LIGHTING UP FOR NO REASON ANDCAR STARTS SLOWING DOWN AND THEN DIES WHILE DRIVING. IT HAPPENED ON A HIGHWAY AND ON BUSY RUSH HOUR. ALL SYSTEM SHUTS DOWN. IF WINDOWS ARE OPEN THERE IS NO WAY TO SECURE. IN ONE INSTANCE THE KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION AND WAS NOT ABLE TO RETRIEVE IT THIS IS NOT BEING RECOGNIZED ADDRESSED BY LAND ROVER. CANNOT KEEP ON IGNORING THIS ISSUE. UNFORTUNATELY NOT EVERYONE REPORTS TO THE MANUFACTURER, SOMEONE HAS TO DO SOMETHING THIS PROBLEMS ARE DRAINING THE WALLETS OF CONSUMERS BECAUSE EACH TIME CARS HAVE TO BE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO UNLOCK SYSTEM RELOAD SOFTWARE ONLY TO START A DIAGNOSE. ENDING UP WITH THOUSANDS IN REPAIRS . POLICE HAD TO STOP TO PUT FLARES LAST TIME THE CAR BROKE BECAUSE IT WAS DANGEROUS TO WAIT IN THE DARK FOR TOWING

NHTSA ID

11045233

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE

NHTSA ID

11000782

Incident

May 1, 2016

Mileage

45,000 mi

I OWN A LAND ROVER LR2 2008, AND IT STARTED MAKING A HUMMING NOISE FROM THE BACK END STARTING AROUND 50,000 MILES. THE NOISE HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN LOUDER. AFTER CHANGING TIRES, DIFFERENTIAL FLUIDS, AND BRINGING IT TO A MECHANIC (INDEPENDENT), THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY DIFFERENTIAL SYSTEM. ONLINE RESEARCH CONFIRMS THIS PROBLEM AS COMMON AMONG THIS MAKE MODEL AND YEAR. LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA HAS NOT ISSUED ANY RECALLS FOR THE FAULTY DIFFERENTIAL SYSTEM AND IS NOT CORRELATED TO ANY FAULT OF THE OWNER/DRIVER. THE HUMMING NOISE IS LOUDEST WHEN ACCELERATING OR CRUISING. THE SOUND SOFTENS WHEN DE-ACCELERATING OR WHEN TURNING TO THE "RIGHT". CONTINUED USE OF A FAULTY REAR DIFFERENTIAL WILL RESULT IN THE GEARS LOCKING UP AND POSSIBLY LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. FAULTY DIFFERENTIALS ARE NOT THE RESULT OF DRIVING PATTERNS NOR MAINTENANCE NEGLECT. CURRENT RATES TO FIX REAR DIFFERENTIALS ON THIS MAKE AND MODEL ARE BETWEEN $3K AND $5K AND LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA DOES NOT OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES THIS PROBLEM IS A PATTERN AND A TREND AND LAND ROVER SHOULD ISSUE AN OFFICIAL RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10865656

Incident

May 15, 2012

Mileage

50,000 mi

WITH 20,000 MILES AND 4 YEARS AND NOT UNDER WARRANTE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND REPORTED A LOUD NOISE, AFTER 2 DAYS AT THE SHOP THEY TOLD ME IN MIAMI THAT THE CAR WAS FINE, I REQUESTED THE SERVICE MAN TO DRIVE WITH ME AND SHOWED HIM THE REAR NOISE WAS NOT NORMAL, HE AGREE THEN HE QUOTED ME OVER $3,000 TO REPAIR THE REAR TRANSMISSION, AFTER TWITTING TO LAND ROVER AND FILLING A COMPLAINT THEY CAL THE DEALER AND AGREE TO DO THE REPAIR, THEN THE DEALER ONLY REPLACE A GEAR FOR $300.00 INSTEAD OF THE WORK THEY HAVE QUOTED; SOMEBODY SHOULD GET AN ATTORNEY AND REQUEST A CLASS ACTION TO REPLACE THE REAR TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID

10846326

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

20,000 mi

I HAVE BEEN HEARING A LOUD WHIRRING NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK WHEELS AND KEPT ON GETTING LOUDER. I TOOK IT IN TO AUTO REPAIR AND IT IS THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL THAT HAS GONE OUT. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2008 LR2, AND SHOUD BE ON RECALL!

NHTSA ID

10787818

Incident

Oct 30, 2015

Mileage

68,000 mi

REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE , A SLIGHT MOANING NOISE FROM THE REAR END PROGRESSED INTO GRINDING, RENDERING THE CAR UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THIS ISSUE IS NOT UNCOMMON AND MANY LAND ROVER LR2 OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FROM 45K-60 MILES. I WENT TO LOCAL PLACE TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WILL COST,THEY WANT 3.276,00. ITS TOO MUCH MONEY AND I DRIVE KIDS ALL THE TIME,AND I AM AFRAID SOON I WILL HAVE BIG PROBLEMS OR ACCIDENT. PLEASE HELP ME TO FIX THIS PROBLEM,LAND ROVER SHOULD FIX THIS WITHOUT CHARGE. THANK YOU SO MUCH!! VIEW DETAILS *TR

NHTSA ID

10750094

Incident

Jul 4, 2015

Mileage

165,000 mi

QUOTED BY DEALERSHIP THAT REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR ~$2200. RESEARCH HAS SHOWN MY THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES ON MANY LAND ROVER LR2/3 MODELS. I WOULD LIKE TO ADVOCATE FOR A RECALL, AS EVERY TIME LAND ROVER FIXES THIS KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART, THEY MAKE A BIG PROFIT. OTHERWISE, A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WILL BE INITIATED AGAINST LAND ROVER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10695375

Incident

Mar 19, 2015

Mileage

110,000 mi

I OWN A 2008 LR2 AND JUST RECEIVED CONFIRMATION FROM THE LOCAL DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS FAILED AND IS THE SOURCE OF THE WIDELY REPORTED LOW PITCHED REAR HUM. THIS NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE STARTED AROUND 66,000 MILES (CURRENT MILEAGE 74,600). I WAS NOT AWARE AT THE TIME OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ISSUE WITH THESE CARS, AND GIVEN THAT THE SET OF TIRES ON THE CAR WERE DUE TO BE CHANGED I ATTRIBUTED THE NOISE TO THE TIRE TREAD WEAR. I OPTED TO RUN THE EXISTING TIRES THROUGH THE WINTER AND STRETCH THE MILEAGE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THE NOISE CONTINUED TO GET WORSE, BUT AGAIN, ATTRIBUTED THAT TO THE TIRE TREAD. I SUBSEQUENTLY STARTED SOME RESEARCH INTO OTHER CAUSES OVER THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS AND FOUND MANY, MANY REPORTS OF DIFFERENTIAL FAILURES ON THESE CARS. I REPLACED THE TIRES HOPING THAT WAS THE ROOT CAUSE. IT WAS NOT, SO THE APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER WAS SCHEDULED AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR DIFF IS DEFECTIVE. THE QUOTED PRICE FOR THE REPAIR ' 5 HRS + PARTS, $3,000+. FORTUNATELY I HAD THE DEFECT DIAGNOSED BEFORE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND/OR INJURY TO PASSENGERS. AS I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY DISCOVERED AS I WAS GIVING APPROVAL TO ORDER THE NEW DIFFERENTIAL, THE PART HAS BEEN RE-DESIGNED SIX TIMES. THIS FACT ESSENTIALLY CONFIRMS THAT LAND ROVER HAS RECOGNIZED THE DESIGN FLAWS, BUT IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10693252

Incident

Mar 4, 2015

Mileage

74,600 mi

REAR DIFFERENTIAL NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10671806

Incident

Dec 1, 2014

LIKE OTHERS, OUR LR2 BEGAN TO DEVELOP A WHINING SOUND FROM THE REAR AROUND 85,000 MI (NOW AT 88,000 SOCCER MOM MILES - NEVER OFF ROAD OR ABUSED). THIS CAR IS A MONEY PIT. AC WENT OUT AT 80,000 ($2,000 REPAIR), HOOD LATCH CAUSING FALSE ALARMS ($300), CONSTANTLY NEEDS BRAKES AND ROTORS (EVERY 25 TO 30K MILES), SUNROOF WENT (BUT APPARENTLY WE JUST MISSED THE VIN FOR THE RECALL)($3,000), AND NOW $4,000 FOR REAR DIFFERENTIAL WORK. LAND ROVER WHICH HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE DIFFERENTIAL, SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND ISSUE A RECALL AND REPAIR THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10643318

Incident

Sep 1, 2014

Mileage

85,000 mi

THIS IS AN ADDENDUM TO ODI# 10604656 HUMMING/GRINDING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. SPOKE TO THE LAND ROVER USA REPRESENTATIVE TODAY AND THEY OFFERED $500 TOWARD THE TOTAL REPAIR OF $3642. SAID REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THERE IS NO OTHER RECOURSE OTHER THAN CONTACTING THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. BASICALLY, I WAS TOLD TO GO POUND SAND DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY AND I AM FIRST-TIME OWNER. HENCE, I HAVEN'T PROVIDED ENOUGH BUSINESS TO LAND ROVER TO QUALIFY FOR GREATER MONETARY ASSISTANCE. LAND ROVER IS ESSENTIALLY BENEFITING FROM THE COSTLY REPAIR OF THESE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES THAT THEY SOLD TO THEIR CUSTOMERS. THESE DRIVETRAIN ISSUES ARE CLEARLY CAUSED DUE TO DEFECTIVE PARTS AND/OR IMPROPER DRIVETRAIN DESIGN AND THE NHTSA REALLY NEEDS TO SUPPORT CONSUMERS IN GUIDING THE MANUFACTURER TO INITIATE A RECALL, ETC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10604857

Incident

Jun 3, 2014

Mileage

67,000 mi

SERVICE CALL INITIATED DUE TO HUMMING/GRINDING FROM REAR OF THE VEHICLE FOR WHICH THE PITCH CHANGES WITH THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. LAND ROVER DEALER INDICATES THAT THE COUPLING ASSEMBLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3642. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, INCLUDING INVOLVEMENT OF THE PINION BEARING/REAR DIFF WITH YEARS 08-12. RESEARCH REVEALS THAT THIS IS, IN FACT, QUITE COMMON THROUGHOUT THE EARLY YEARS OF THE LR2 PRODUCTION LINE OFTEN WITH LESS MILEAGE WITH SERVICE BULLETINS IN PLACE. SAID VEHICLE HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY CARED FOR AND MAINTAINED. THESE ARE COSTLY REPAIRS WITH THE BURDEN OF SUCH PLACED ON UNSUSPECTING LAND ROVER OWNERS. LAND ROVER SHOULD STAND BY THEIR WORKMANSHIP AND SUPPORT THEIR CUSTOMERS IN THESE REPAIRS BEFORE MORE SERIOUS EVENTS OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10604656

Incident

Jun 3, 2014

Mileage

67,000 mi

NOTICED A HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY LAND ROVER LR2. SO I TOOK IT INTO A LOCAL SHOP AND ASK THEM TO LOOK AT IT. I THEN TOOK THE INFORMATION THAT THEY PROVIDED ME AND CALLED THE NEAREST LAND ROVER DEALER ABOUT 100 MILES AWAY. THEY SAID THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THE PINION GEARS, THAT IT WAS A "KNOWN PROBLEM" AND "VERY COMMON" THEY EXPLAINED THAT THEY HAVE A WAY TO FIX THE ISSUE AND THAT IT WOULD BE AROUND $1,000.00 THEY ALSO DISCOURAGED ME FROM HAVING MY LOCAL SHOP WORK ON IT. SO AT THIS POINT I'M GOING TO CALL THE LAND ROVER DEALER AND SETUP AN APPOINTMENT. THE LOCAL SHOP SUGGESTED THAT I FILL OUT A COMPLAINT. NOW THAT I LOOK AT THE DATABASE IT SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10578089

Incident

Mar 12, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi