29 of the
259 complaints filed about the Land Rover LR3
are about the electrical system —
11% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
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 complaint #11689315 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UPON STOPPING QUICKLY OR SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE STALLS CREATING VERY DANGEROUS CONDITIONS FOR DRIVER. HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY AND INTERSECTION TO DATE AND NEARLY CREATED TWO SERIOUS ACCIDENTS SURELY WOULD HAVE BEEN FATAL HAD THEY OCCURRED
NHTSA complaint #11025373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 LAND ROVER LR3. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE "VEHICLE FAULT SYSTEM SHUTTING DOWN" INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL CODES COULD BE SEEN USING A DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER (LAND ROVER OF NEW ORLEANS 4032 VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD METAIRIE, LA, 70002); HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VARIOUS INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LAND ROVER DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #10993417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAULT WITH SUNROOF DRAIN TUBES. TUBES BECOME EITHER BLOCKED OR ERODED, AND WATER LEAKING INTO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER FLOORBOARD. UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE FLOOR ARE MANY ELECTRICAL WIRES. AS A RESULT OF WATER ACCUMULATING UNDER FLOOR, ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS OF CAR MIGHT FAIL SUCH AS NAVIGATION FAILURE, VOICE COMMAND, KEYLESS ENTRY. CAR ALSO FAILED TO MOVE FROM PARKED POSITION AS A RESULT OF THE WATER DESTROYING SENSORS. COST OVER $800.00 TO REPLACE THE SENSOR.
NHTSA complaint #10882501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED A REMOTE KEY FAILURE ISSUE WITH MY LAND ROVER THAT APPEARS TO BE A RESULT FROM WIRING CORROSION (FRONT PASSENGER PANEL). THIS CORROSION CAUSES THE WIRING HARNESSES TO BECOME DAMAGED AND WIRING BREAKS AND EXPOSED TO BARE METAL AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE FIRE. THIS IS CAUSED BY THE DRAIN TUBES MANUFACTURING.
NHTSA complaint #10807605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 complaint #10789543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY IN SLOW TRAFFIC, ELECTRONIC PARK BRAKE FAILURE FIRST WARNING FLASHED AND ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER ALL LIGHTS THEN GRADUALLY APPEARING WITH A TRANSMISSION WARNING NEXT ETC ETC. LUCKILY I WAS NEAR AN EXIT WHERE I WAITED ON A TOW. I THEN WHILE WAITING NOTICED THAT MY TRANS SELECTOR CAN MOVE OUT OF PARK WITH THE KEY IN MY HAND. MY COMPLAINT IS PRINCIPALLY THAT LAND ROVER WILL NOT SYMPATHIZE WITH ME ON THE FACT THAT BECAUSE OF SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD THAT THEIR RELEVANT RECALLS SHOULD EXTEND UNTIL THE SYSTEM IS FIXED PROPERLY AND NOT JUST UNTIL THE WARENTEE IS OVER.
NHTSA complaint #10715322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVING, THEN DEFAULT SUSPENSION LIGHT TURNS ON. THEN HYDRAULICS COMPLETELY STOP WORKING . BACK SEAT SEATBELT NOT WORKING PROPERLY. PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT TURNS ON. TRANSMISSION PULLS IMPROPERLY. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, RADIO, CLOCK, CD PLAYER STOPS WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #10680278 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LANDROVER LR 3 HAVE A KNOWN PROBLEM OF HAVING WATER COLLECT IN THE SUNROOF AREA DUE TO BLOCKAGE IN SOME DRAINAGE TUBE FROM DEBRIS. CLEANING OF THESE TUBES IS NOT A REGULAR PART OF MAINTENANCE IF YOU TAKE YOUR VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE OR SERVICE. THE WATER COLLECT AND LEAKS INTO THE CABIN DIRECTLY OVER THE RADIO AND MIDDLE CONSOLE. IT ALSO LEAKS OVER THE DASHBOARD NEAR THE PASSENGER HEAT REGISTER AND IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DASHBOARD AREA OVER THE HEAT REGISTER. WATER SEEPS INTO THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM (THE MAIN BCM) THAT CONTROLS MANY IMPORTANT FUNCTIONS OF THE VEHICLE OPERATION. SO FAR I HAVE A SHORT IN THE RADIO. MANY OF THE LANDROVER FORUMS ONLINE HAVE SEVERAL CUSTOMERS AND OWNERS OF LANDROVER LR3 THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THIS DEFECT IN THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM FOR THE SUNROOF COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE / SHORTING OUT OF THE BCM THAT CONTROLS THE ENTIRE VEHICLE. PLEASE SEE SIMILAR ADDITIONAL COMPLAINTS AT: HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2005/LAND_ROVER/LR3/ELECTRICAL_SYSTEM/PROBLEM.ASPX HTTP://WWW.BUSINESSWEEK.COM/THE_THREAD/THE_THREAD/BLOGSPOTTING/ARCHIVES/2005/07/BLOGGER_TAKES_O.HTML HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/LAND_ROVER.HTML?PAGE=3 HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/LAND-ROVER/LR3/2006/CONSUMER-DISCUSSIONS.HTML HTTP://WWW.LANDROVERSONLY.COM/FORUMS/F40/SUNROOF-LEAK-NOT-TUBES-24066/ HTTP://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/URL?SA=T&RCT=J&Q=&ESRC=S&SOURCE=WEB&CD=1&VED=0CCYQFJAA&URL=HTTP%3A%2F%2FWWW.LANDROVERWORLD.ORG%2FFORUMS%2FSHOWTHREAD.PHP%3FT%3D17938&EI=V0H0UVM4W-BJAECMGMAF&USG=AFQJCNHJV4ENQ7OZ8B8S2ILGC_YE8HVLXG&BVM=BV.60983673,D.AWC HTTP://FORUMS.LANDROVERGROUP.COM/TOPIC/1124-PROBLEMS-WITH-THE-LR3/PAGE__ST__30.
NHTSA complaint #10563323 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10542047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM THAT ALLOWS WATER TO LEAK THROUGH THE SUN ROOF SEAL AND FRONT WINDSHIELD SEAL. THE WATER SEEPAGE IS CAUSING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH CERTAIN VEHICLE FUNCTIONS; NAMELY THE INABILITY TO USE THE KEY FOB REMOTE TO LOCK AND UNLOCK THE VEHICLE. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AT THIS POINT APPEAR TO BE INTERMITTENT AND RESOLVE THEMSELVES SEVERAL DAYS LATER, PRESUMABLY AFTER THE WATER HAS EVAPORATED. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AFTER IT HAS BEEN RAINED ON, THE TRAPPED WATER WITHIN THE CEILING OF THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO ESCAPE AND FALL THROUGH THE AIRBAG PORTS ON THE A-PILLAR AND FROM THE INTERIOR LIGHT CONSOLE. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL WHEN READING VARIOUS REPORTS ON THE INTERNET.
NHTSA complaint #10458562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
JUST AS EXPERIENCED BY OTHERS, MY 2005 LAND ROVER LR3 EXPERIENCED WATER BUILD UP INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE (APPROX 3 IN. DEEP OF WATER BOTH IN DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER AREA AFTER HEAVY RAIN). ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, WATER DRIPPED ALONG THE FRAME ON WHICH THE WINDSHIELD IS MOUNTED AFTER A HEAVY RAIN AND FLOODED THE INSIDE. THIS WAS APPARENTLY DUE TO CLOGGED DRAINAGE TUBES. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE PARKING BRAKE FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE WARNING LIGHT FOR THE SYSTEM CAME ON. THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NEVER REPAIRED / IS STILL NOT OPERABLE. ALTHOUGH THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE TUBES WERE FIXED, THIS FLOODING OCCURRENCE HAS HAPPENED 4 MORE TIMES. NO RECOMMENDATIONS WERE GIVEN TO AVOID FUTURE OCCURRENCES, OR GUARANTEES GIVEN THAT ADDITIONAL SYSTEMS AFFECTED BY WATER DAMAGE (INCLUDING ONES VITAL TO SUPPORTING THE VEHICLE IN MOTION) WILL NOT FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #10430172 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS WE WERE DRIVING, THE SUSPENSION FAULT LIGHT CAME ON AND IMMEDIATELY WENT OFF. WE THOUGHT IT MAY BE DUE TO THE ROAD CONDITIONS. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER, WE STOPPED TO GAS UP AND WHEN WE WERE BACK ON THE ROAD, THE RADIO WOULD NOT WORK. NO SOUND BUT A CRACKING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE RADIO. AFTER A HOUR, THE RADIO CAME BACK ON. LAST WEEK, I WAS DRIVING AND THE SUSPENSION LIGHT WAS CAME ON AND OFF EVERY 5 OR 10 MINUTES, IT SEEMED. THEN A LOUD CHIME WITH A SUSPENSION FAULT IN RED LETTERS. AT A STOP LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WAS GOING UP AND DOWN LIKE IT HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN. KINDLY OF SPOOKY. OF COURSE, OUR 2006 LR3 IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I CALLED THE DEALER AND IT WILL COST $125 FOR A DIAGNOSIS BUT IT WILL GO TOWARD THE COST OF THE SERVICE WHATEVER IS NEEDED. ALL I SEE IS MAJOR DOLLARS SIGNS DUE TO OUR LAST EXPERIENCE. THE DEALER QUOTED US A COST OF $250 FOR A PROBLEM MY HUSBAND FIXED WITH A $12 FUSE. SO MY HUSBAND WILL NOT TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER NOT UNLESS IT IS A MUST.
NHTSA complaint #10420592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I JUST BOUGHT A 2005 LAND ROVER LR3 SE. TWO DAYS LATER AFTER A RAIN, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE FLOOR WAS WET. THE NEXT DAY THE REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY STOPPED WORKING. AFTER LOOKING ONLINE, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE SUNROOF DRAINS POURING WATER INTO THE FLOOR AND CAUSING CORROSION OF THE WIRING.
NHTSA complaint #10365112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 2005 LAND ROVER LR 3. BOTH REMOTE CONTROLS STOPPED WORKING AT THE SAME TIME. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL I CHECKED VARIOUS BLOGS AND I DISCOVERED HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SUNROOF DRAINAGE LEADING TO WIRE CORROSION AND RESULTING IN SHORT CIRCUIT AND KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTES NOT WORKING. DEALERS ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT THEY SAY THIS IS NOT A REASON FOR A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10344883 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A 2005 LAND ROVER LR3 EXPERIENCED WATER INTRUSION INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AREA. WATER DRIPPED ALONG THE FRAME ON WHICH THE WINDSHIELD IS MOUNTED AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF HEAVY RAIN. A FEW DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE'S REMOTE LOCK/UNLOCK SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE. INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BY LAND ROVER SERVICE PERSONNEL REVEALED CLOGGED "DRAIN TUBES" LEADING FROM THE SUNROOF ALONG THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT FRAMES, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY ALLOWED WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE THROUGH AN UNDERTERMINED ENTRY POINT. ELECTRICAL WIRING FOR THE REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM WAS RENDERED INOPERABLE. OTHER CABLING AND INTERIOR CARPETING WERE ALSO WATER-DAMAGED. LAND ROVER SERVICE PERSONNEL REPLACED EXISTING DRAIN TUBES WITH LARGER DIAMETER ONES. THE FAULTY REMOTE SYSTEM WAS REPAIRED. OTHER SYSTEMS WHOSE CABLING WAS EXPOSED TO LIQUID WERE NOT TRACED OUT OR REPLACED. NO RECOMMENDATIONS WERE GIVEN TO AVOID FUTURE OCCURRENCES, OR GUARANTEES GIVEN THAT ADDITIONAL SYSTEMS AFFECTED BY WATER DAMAGE (INCLUDING ONES VITAL TO SUPPORTING THE VEHICLE IN MOTION) WILL NOT FAIL.
NHTSA complaint #10340531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 2005 LAND ROVER LR3 HAS SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS, VARIES FROM BRAKE TO SUSPENSION WHICH USUALLY CLEARS ITSELF AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE. LAST WEEK THE AMBER LIGHT ON THE SUSPENSION HEIGHTS IS ON AGAIN WITH CHIMES EACH TIME THE ENGINE STARTS. 3 DAYS AGO, I WAS DRIVING TO A SUPERMARKET WHEN THE AMBER LIGHT TURNED RED, THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM FAILED, THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO A LOW STANCE AND VERY BOUNCY. IT MADE STRANGE NOISE FROM THE LEFT REAR SIDE, I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE MORE THAN 25 MILES PER HOUR, AS IT WILL BOUNCE WILDLY. THE CAR IS NOW STILL STUCK IN A LOW LEVEL SUSPENSION, PARKED IN THE A PARKING SPACE NEAR MY HOUSE. LUCKY IT HAPPENS NOT MORE THAN 10 MILES AWAY FROM MY HOUSE, SO I DROVE IT VERY SLOWLY. IF THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS IN A FREEWAY, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10304028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.