RoadVitals

2003 Land Rover New Range Rover Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
31
Latest Oct 21, 2018
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Land Rover New Range Rover, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Suspension38.8%
  • Driver assistance12.9%
  • Body & structure12.9%
  • Tires & wheels12.9%
  • Other / unspecified12.9%
  • Brakes12.9%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

26
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 65-70 MILES AN HOUR MY TRUCK SUDDENLY MADE A LOUD NOISE AND IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND MELT GRINDING SOUNDS. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE.

NHTSA ID 11141695 · filed Oct 21, 2018

DRIVING UP A HILL AND STARTED TO LOSE POWER. EVENTUALLY LOST ALL POWER ON HIGHWAY AND HAD TO PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK TO COME.

NHTSA ID 10731618 · filed Jul 1, 2015
All 26 reports naming powertrain (other)

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

IN OCTOBER 2013 WHILE I TOOK MY CAR TO A PRIVATE GARAGE FOR OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRAME ON MY VEHICLE WAS ROTTED OUT . HE CALLED ME INTO THE GARAGE AND SHOWED ME THE PROBLEM. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE LAND ROVER DEALERSHIP WERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THE SERVICE ON THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS NEW . I INFORMED THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE ISSUE AND I QUESTIONED THE FACT THAT NO ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP EVER MENTIONED THE RUST ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER ASKED ME TO DRIVE UP TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT. ONCE AT THE DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE MANAGER PUT UP THE CAR ON THE LIFT AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW BAD THINGS WERE. HE TOOK PICTURES OF THE FRAME AND CONTACTED LAND ROVER MAIN OFFICE AND SENT THEM THE PICTURES. LAND ROVER MAIN OFFICE CONTACTED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE BUT THEY MADE THE DECISION NOT TO COVER FIXING THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE . MY CONCERN IS THAT ONE DAY THIS CAR IS GOING TO BREAK IN HALF AND A MAJOR ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR BECAUSE OF IT. I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID 10568995 · filed Mar 13, 2014

THE RANGE ROVER IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC CROSS LINKED AIR SUSPENSION (WITH VARIABLE RIDE HEIGHT). VARIABLE HEIGHT SUSPENSION SYSTEM SWITCHES FROM LOW TO HIGH ON ITS OWN AND CREATES A GREATER RISK FOR ROLL OVER. WHEN THE CAR IS OPERATING ON THE HIGH MODE, WITHOUT THE DRIVER BEING AWARE BECAUSE IT SWITCHES ON IT'S OWN, IT MEANS THAT THE CAR IS IN GEAR FOR OFF ROAD AND PUTS ROAD TURNS MORE DANGEROUS, WITH HIGH POSSIBILITY OF A ROLL OVER. THE VEHICLE ON A NORMAL TURN AROUND 20 MILES AN HOUR SPEED ALMOST LOST CONTROL DUE TO SYSTEM SWITCHING TO HIGHER SUSPENSION SETTING ON ITS OWN WITHOUT MY CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID 10515921 · filed Jun 9, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVING UP A HILL AND STARTED TO LOSE POWER. EVENTUALLY LOST ALL POWER ON HIGHWAY AND HAD TO PULL OVER AND WAIT FOR A TOW TRUCK TO COME.

NHTSA ID 10731618 · filed Jul 1, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

IN OCTOBER 2013 WHILE I TOOK MY CAR TO A PRIVATE GARAGE FOR OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE FRAME ON MY VEHICLE WAS ROTTED OUT . HE CALLED ME INTO THE GARAGE AND SHOWED ME THE PROBLEM. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE LAND ROVER DEALERSHIP WERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THE SERVICE ON THE VEHICLE SINCE IT WAS NEW . I INFORMED THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE ISSUE AND I QUESTIONED THE FACT THAT NO ONE AT THE DEALERSHIP EVER MENTIONED THE RUST ISSUE ON MY VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER ASKED ME TO DRIVE UP TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY CAN TAKE A LOOK AT IT. ONCE AT THE DEALERSHIP THE SERVICE MANAGER PUT UP THE CAR ON THE LIFT AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE HOW BAD THINGS WERE. HE TOOK PICTURES OF THE FRAME AND CONTACTED LAND ROVER MAIN OFFICE AND SENT THEM THE PICTURES. LAND ROVER MAIN OFFICE CONTACTED ME AND TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE BUT THEY MADE THE DECISION NOT TO COVER FIXING THE PROBLEM ALTHOUGH IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE . MY CONCERN IS THAT ONE DAY THIS CAR IS GOING TO BREAK IN HALF AND A MAJOR ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR BECAUSE OF IT. I REALLY NEED YOUR HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID 10568995 · filed Mar 13, 2014

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 RANGE ROVER. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEALERS LOT TO MY HOME, I DECIDED TO TAKE MY FIANCE FOR A DRIVE. I DROVE DOWN A FAIRLY BUSY HIGHWAY WHICH IS LESS THAN ONE MILE FROM MY HOME. AS I PROCEEDED DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND BECAME IMMOBILE. LUCKILY, TRAFFIC WAS NOT EXTREMELY HEAVY AND OTHER DRIVERS ALLOWED ME TO DRIFT INTO THE MEDIAN. ONCE IN THE MEDIAN, I PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND ATTEMPTED TO PLACE IT IN GEAR SO THAT I COULD DRIVE AGAIN BUT IT CONTINUED TO MAKE THIS GRINDING NOISE AND WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. THE POLICE SHOWED UP AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK SO THAT I COULD GET OFF OF THE BUSY HIGHWAY. I CALLED THE CAR DEALERSHIP AND THEY WERE CONCERNED THAT I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL EUROPEAN MECHANIC SHOP AND THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS SHOCKED AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED, SINCE THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND THE DEALER IS A REPUTABLE BUSINESS. THE QUOTE FOR THIS WORK IS $5000 AND I WAS ASKED BY THE DEALER IF I COULD COME UP WITH A PORTION COST FOR THE REPAIRS. SINCE THE INCIDENT, I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS VEHICLE AND THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON INCIDENT AMONG OTHER RANGE ROVER OWNERS OF MODELS 2002 THROUGH 2006. IN MY FINDINGS, THIS APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW AND MECHANICAL ISSUE, NOT TO MENTION A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. I WOULD LIKE THIS COMPLAINT TO BE FILED WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS IN HOPES THAT A VEHICLE RECALL OR INSPECTION IS PROMPTED. *JB

NHTSA ID 10159787 · filed Jun 14, 2006

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

2-9-05-DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. VEICHLE SHUT DOWN ON MOTORWAY, VEHICLE MAKING LOUD GRINDING NOISE WILL NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. HAD TO WAIT TO BE TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP. IT WAS A FAULTY FRONT FIF ASSEMBY.REPLACE FRONT FIFF AND ALIGN. REPLACE DRIVE SHAFT. 8-23-07-DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. VEICLE MAKING GRINDING NOISE WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY. HAD TO PULL OVER THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. CAR WAS TOWED INTO SHOP AFTER 4 HOURS OF WAITING ON THE HIGHWAY AND BEING TOWED. FRONT DIFF AND DRIVE SHAFT SPLINES STRIPPED. REPLCED FRONT DIFF AND DRIVESHAFT

NHTSA ID 10201298 · filed Aug 30, 2007

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CAR IS A 2003 RANGE ROVER HSE AND HAS ONLY 41K MILES ON IT. WHEN MY HUSBAND STOPPED AT THE CORNER TO TAKE A RIGHT TURN, THERE WAS A HORRIBLE METAL-ON-METAL GRINDING SOUND. THE CAR WAS INOPERABLE AND HAD TO BE TOWED.

NHTSA ID 10193067 · filed Jun 12, 2007

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .