2005 Land Rover LR3 Owner Complaints

After a heavy rainstorm in [XXX] , my 2005 Land Rover LR3 experienced catastrophic water intrusion through the A-pillar design flaw documented in Land Rover’s own TSB LA501-007. When I opened the passenger door, ~1.5 inches of water poured out. Immediately afterward, the vehicle developed multiple failures: flickering lights, radio inoperative, driver’s window stuck, ABS warning lights illuminated, “Transmission Fault” error displayed, and the air suspension automatically lowered into its fail-safe mode. This is not wear and tear. Land Rover has acknowledged the defect internally (A-pillar locator holes allowing water ingress into the footwell), but never issued a recall or owner notification. Flooding the footwell shorts the electrical/fuse boxes, causing cascading failures in braking, suspension, powertrain, and electrical systems. This presents a serious safety hazard as the vehicle may lose proper braking, suspension height, or drivetrain function simply from exposure to rain. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11689315

Incident

Sep 20, 2025

Others of same model and year were recalled and mine was not, despite having same issue with airbag fault in steering column

NHTSA ID

11475006

Incident

Jul 1, 2020

SINCE PURCHASING MY SECOND HAND 2005 LAND ROVER LR3 IN 2013, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM. I EXPERIENCE DRIVABILITY CONCERNS SUCH AS HESITATION, MISFIRE, STALLING, ROUGH RUNNING, AND DIFFICULTY IN STARTING, AND THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT IS ALMOST ALWAYS ILLUMINATED. I HAVE BEEN CONCERNED ABOUT THESE ISSUES, AND HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY CHASING THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING EQUIPMENT AND SPENDING A LOT OF TIME IN DOING SO. THE IDENTIFICATION OF THIS ISSUE BEING A RECALL ISSUE FOR 17263 OTHER LAND ROVERS LR3 (NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID 05V376000) NOT DISCOVERED UNTIL I WAS RESEARCHING THE VALUE OF MY VEHICLE IN ORDER TO SELL IT. WHILE ON THE KELLY BLUE BOOK WEBSITE, I WAS ALERTED THERE WERE 2 RECALLS FOR 2005 LAND ROVER LR3. AFTER READING THE FIRST RECALL DESCRIPTION, I REALIZED THAT I HAVE HAD THE IDENTICAL ISSUES WITH MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, AFTER INPUTTING MY VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, THE SITE STATED THAT MY VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL. I FOUND THIS TO BE VERY DISCONCERTING, AS I HAVE THE IDENTICAL ISSUE. I THEN CALLED LAND ROVER TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE MANUFACTURER. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. I STATED THAT SAFETY RECALLS WERE NOT ASSOCIATED WITH WARRANTIES. I WAS THEN ASKED FOR, AND PROVIDED MY VIN. THE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL AND I HAD NO RECOURSE. I ASKED HIM, GIVEN THAT OVER 17,000 2005 LAND ROVER LR3 HAD BEEN RECALLED DUE TO THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, WHAT WERE THE ODDS OF MINE HAVING THE SAME PIECE OF FAULTY EQUIPMENT. HE AGAIN STATED THAT SINCE MY VIN WAS NOT LISTED, IT WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL, AND I HAVE NO RECOURSE. HE THEN DISMISSED ME AND HUNG UP. MY WIFE HAD THE STALL ISSUE OCCUR THIS MORNING ON HER DRIVE TO WORK AT 06:30 AM!

NHTSA ID

11281580

Incident

Nov 20, 2019

Mileage

172,000 mi

THE AIR RIDE SUSPENSION IS TOTALLY DEAD. THERE WAS A RECALL YEARS AGO BUT I DIDNT GET IT DONE. NOW WHEN I SEARCH RECALLS ITS NOT THERE, BECAUSE SOMEONE THINKS THE WORK WAS COMPLETED. THAT IS SIMPLY FALSE. I CAN BARELY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE NOW BECAUSE THE LEFT SIDE DROPPED DUE TO AIR SUSPENSION. THE SERVICE GUY TOLD ME THE SUSPENSION WAS BUILT IMPROPERLY.

NHTSA ID

11142364

Incident

Mar 9, 2016

Mileage

99,000 mi

SHOULDER BRACKET MANUFACTURING DEFECT, ALL YEARS, PROBABLY LR4 AS WELL AS EOROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL MODELS DISCOVERY 3 AND 4, RANGE ROVER SPORT CASTING SPLITS AND CRACKS AT MULTIPLE POINTS AROUND BOLT HOLE OVER TIME. 4 OF 4 UNITS I INSPECTED WITH SIMILARR FAILURE. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT, FRAYED SEATBELT, ORDERED USED REPLACEMENT, THEY WERE AS BAD AS THE ONE ON THE VEHICLE, ALL WERE CRACKED. NO ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLE. FACTORY ORIGINAL AND ONE ADDITIONAL UNIT AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.

NHTSA ID

11105191

Incident

Jul 2, 2018

AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE REVVED UP, ALMOST GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT, HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO KEEP IT FROM TAKING OFF, IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, ENGINE CONTINUED RACING WHILE IN NUETRAL.

NHTSA ID

11076188

Incident

Mar 3, 2018

Mileage

130,531 mi

VEHICLE AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP STATIONARY WITH ENGINE RUNNING IN DRIVE, IE, STOP LIGHT, STOP SIGN, AND PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO GAS PEDAL THE VEHCLE FAILS TO MOVE FORWARD FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, MORE PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO GAS PEDAL TO ELICIT RESPONSE FROM VEHICLE AND SUDDENLY EVERYTHING SEEMS TO 'KICK' IN RESULTING IN A VIOLENT JOLT AS VEHICLE SUDDENLY REVS UP AND BEGINS TO MOVE. DELAY BETWEEN FORWARD MOVEMET AND APPLIED GAS PEDAL IS SEVERAL SECONDS AND HAPPENS OFTEN. VEHICHLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO VISIBLE ISSUES AND NO ERROR CODES BELIEVE TO BE PRESENT. WHEN READING ON THE ONLINE LAND ROVER FORUMS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND HAS RESULTED IN WHAT IS LIKELY TO BE SEVERAL THOUSAND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS BEFORE 85,000 MILES AND IS NOT SAFE. CONTINUES TO TAKE PLACE SINCE VEHICLE PURCAHSE. I HAVE REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT MY OWN COST AND DEFECT CONTINUES TO TAKE PLACE!

NHTSA ID

11004757

Incident

Jan 5, 2016

Mileage

84,000 mi

THIS DESCRIPTION WAS BLANK.

NHTSA ID

10985886

Incident

Apr 9, 2017

DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATBELT SHOULDER ANCHORS HAVE NUMEROUS CRACKS IN THEM. I DISCOVERED THIS WHILE REMOVING INTERNAL BODY PANELS TO DIAGNOSE RAIN WATER LEAKS/INGRESS.

NHTSA ID

10956803

Incident

Feb 18, 2017

Mileage

171,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LAND ROVER LR3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY AFTER 10 TO 15 MILES OF DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V376000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 111,000.

NHTSA ID

10910787

Incident

Mar 24, 2016

Mileage

111,000 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON DASH. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID AIRBAG AND CLOCK SPRING ARE BAD BECAUSE THE WIRING INSIDE THE AIRBAG AND CLOCK SPRING ARE BAD AND I NEED TO PAY TO REPLACE OTHERWISE MY AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IF NEEDED. I ASKED THEM ABOUT RECALL 08V248000 (LAND ROVER IS RECALLING OVER 37,000 LR3 AND RANGE ROVER SPORT VEHICLES. THE RELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL HUB AND/OR STEERING COLUMN COWL WITH THE CLOCKSPRING, WHICH CONTAINS AIR BAG CIRCUITRY, COULD CAUSE A FRACTURE IN THE DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG WIRING CONNECTION.) AND THEY SAID NOPE NOT COVERED. I BELIEVE THIS RECALL SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN EVALUATING MY AIRBAG.

NHTSA ID

10907314

Incident

Sep 14, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LAND ROVER LR3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE BRAKES WOULD INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATE. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY, AND THE ROTOR WAS BRIGHT RED. THE CONTACT MERGED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS ELECTRICAL RELATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

10906029

Incident

Sep 9, 2016

Mileage

70,000 mi

FRONT DIFFERENTIAL ROARING AND FEELS LIKE MAJOR DRAG ANYTIME YOU ARE NOT APPLYING GAS PETAL. HAD FRONT DIFFERENTIAL SERVICE DONE AND FLUID WAS FULL OF DEBRIS.THIS TRUCKS SUFFERED FROM A FAULTY COATING ON THE INSIDE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING FROM THE FACTORY BUT LANDROVER NEVER ISSUED A RECALL AND EXPECTS SOMEONE TO SPEND 4000 TO REPLACE THE PART. THEY DO NOT SELL ANY TYPE OF REBUILD KIT OR PARTS. I HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE MY LR3 AND IT DECREASED THE FUEL ECONOMY NOT TO MENTION THE ROARING NOISE. THE NOISE IS CONTINUOUS WHEN DRIVING. LANDROVER FORUMS SHOW PAGE AFTER PAGE OF DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEMS BUT LANDROVER WILL DO NOTHING.

NHTSA ID

10854249

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

Mileage

58,000 mi

THE DASH ON PASSENGER SIDE HAS DEVELOPED A STRIGHT LINE CRACK AROUND THE AIRBAG. THIS IS NOT SUN DAMAGE AND THE REST OF THE DASH IS PERFECT. I AM BEGINNING TO WORRY THAT THE AIRBAG COULD DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID

10853932

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

120,455 mi

PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING AROUND AIRBAG. VEHICLE IS NOT KEPT IN THE SUN. THE REST OF THE VEHICLE SHOWS NO WEAR OR CRACKS ONLY THE AIRBAG AREA.

NHTSA ID

10819621

Incident

Oct 16, 2015

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE DASH HAS CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS EVEN WHERE THE AIR BAGS ARE FEEL VERY UNSAFE WITH THE BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY. AT THE TIME OF AN ACCIDENT

NHTSA ID

10817763

Incident

Jan 4, 2016

FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHINING RESULTING IN NEEDING TO REPLACE

NHTSA ID

10794517

Incident

Nov 17, 2015

Mileage

157,016 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LANDROVER LR3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT FLASHED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED. WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FUEL WAS LOWER THAN A QUARTER OF A TANK, THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY STALLED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07V011000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 05V376000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE DEALER DID NOT NOTIFY THE CONTACT OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V248000 (STEERING), WHICH WAS NOT COMPLETED BEFORE THE CONTACT OWNED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,060.

NHTSA ID

10789543

Incident

Oct 23, 2015

Mileage

80,060 mi

THE DASH COVERING HAS CRACKED AROUND THE PASSENGER AIR BAG, I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD EFFECT THE DEPLOYMENT OF SAID AIR BAG

NHTSA ID

10690983

Incident

Feb 26, 2015

THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH WHERE THE AIRBAG IS INSTALLED HAS A SUDDEN STRAIGHT LINE CRACK IN THE DASH AT THE BOTTOM OF WHERE THE AIRBAG IS INSTALLED IN THE DASH AND A STRAIGHT LINE CRACK ON THE LEFT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE DASH. THESE ARE PERFECTLY STRAIGHT LINES AND NOT SOMETHING THE SUN DID. THE VEHICLE IS KEPT IN A GARAGE WHEN NOT IN USE. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN LEFT IN THE SUN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THESE CRACKS WERE SUDDEN - NOT THERE ONE DAY AND THERE THE NEXT DAY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10650254

Incident

Oct 6, 2014

Mileage

100,000 mi

AIR SUSPENSION FAULT CANT GO OVER 35 MILES PER HOUR BAD COMPRESSOR DEALER SAYS. NOW I'M HEARING THIS THE NUMBER 1 PROBLEM AND COMPLAINT OF MY MODEL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10630270

Incident

Feb 13, 2013

Mileage

104,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LAND ROVER LR3. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED OVER THE AIR BAG AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS CONFIRMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10582981

Incident

Apr 15, 2009

Mileage

45,000 mi

PLEASE MAKE FORMAL NOTE THAT THE 2005 LAND ROVER LR-3 I PURCHASED NEW IN 2005 (VIN # BELOW) FROM THE DEALER AT LAND ROVER NORTH SCOTTSDALE HAS AN ENDEMIC AND SYSTEMATIC DOOR LOCK SAFETY FAULT PROBLEM. SINCE MY PURCHASE OF MY LR-3 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER DOOR [2 TIMES], REAR PASSENGER DOOR, REAR DRIVER DOOR, AND NOW THE DRIVER DOOR LOCK HAS FAILED. THESE DOORS FAIL TO LOCK WHEN ENGAGED. THEY CLICK AS IF LOCKING, BUT ARE OPEN IF HANDLE IS PULLED WITH MINIMAL FORCE FROM INSIDE OR OUT. THIS HAS PROVEN A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN PASSENGERS ARE INSIDE AND ASSUME THE DOORS ARE LOCKED, OR WHEN A CHILD IS INSIDE AND THE DRIVER ASSUMES CHILD LOCKS, AND OR LOCKS ARE ENGAGED AND THEY ACTUALLY ARE NOT CAUSING A RISK OF FALL OR DEATH FROM THE VEHICLE. FURTHER, WE BECAME AWARE OF THE FINAL OF 4 DOOR LOCK FAILURES WHEN AN UNINVITED PANHANDLER PULLED THE "LOCKED" DRIVER DOOR OPEN. LUCKILY NO INCIDENT OR INJURIES WERE OCCURRED. NONE THE LESS THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE WHEN ALL 4 DOORS FAIL. I HAVE A FRIEND WITH A 2008 LR-3 AND THE SAME HAS HAPPENED TO 2 OF HIS DOORS. THIS HAS BEEN A MAJOR, MAJOR EXPENSE TO REPAIR THESE LOCKS YET LAND ROVER HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT A PROBLEM EVER EXISTED. STATISTICALLY SPEAKING 4 OUT OF 4 DOORS IS A 100% FAILURE RATE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IMMEDIATELY, AND CHECK FOR ANY DEATHS OR HARM THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED DUE TO LAND ROVERS FAILURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR FAULTY LOCK SYSTEM IN THESE VEHICLES. I HAVE RECORDS SHOWING ALL THE REPLACEMENTS AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO TESTIFY AND PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10578921

Incident

Apr 19, 2007

Mileage

50,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS FROM EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR TO CRUISE CONTROL NOT SHUTTING OFF WHEN DEPRESSING THE CONTROL BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL. NOW THERE IS A EXCESSIVE WATER LEAK THAT HAS CAUSED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS PARKING BRAKE MALFUNCTION, WINDSHIELD WASHER TO FAIL, NUMEROUS WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON. THIS ALL CAUSES ME TO NOT USE THE VEHICLE, UNTIL IT DRIES OUT, FOR FEAR THAT THE LEAK FROM THE SUNROOF WILL CAUSE ELECTRICAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. ALSO THE WIRING IS PROBABLY BECOMING VERY CORRODED AND COULD SHORT OUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD OF THIS VEHICLE IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO GET LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA TO ACKNOWLEDGE ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS OTHER THAN THEY WERE UNIQUE TO THIS VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10542047

Incident

Aug 24, 2013

Mileage

90,355 mi

THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON... *TR

NHTSA ID

10514410

Incident

May 25, 2013

Mileage

100,000 mi