FaultScore

Land Rover LR4 engine problems

37 of the 195 complaints filed about the Land Rover LR4 are about the engine — 19% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2016.

37

Complaints

19%

Share of all complaints

2

Crashes

8

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

2010 LR4 4 10.8%

Median failure at 1,250 miles

2011 LR4 4 10.8%

Median failure at 115,500 miles

2012 LR4 4 10.8%

Median failure at 125,500 miles

2013 LR4 1 2.7%

Median failure at 62,000 miles

2014 LR4 6 16.2%

Median failure at 60,500 miles

2015 LR4 4 10.8%

Median failure at 900 miles

2016 LR4 14 37.8%

Median failure at 33,000 miles

What owners said

2010 Land Rover LR4 Plymouth, MI Crash Fire 1 injured

ENGINE

Recall caused full engine failure which caused 75mph to abrupt stop on Highway. Violently shaking and leaked gas inside vehicle. I was confused because I had no collision and liberty mutual denied my claims, but I was hurt from a recall - dealer frequently recorded as fixed during a scam that caused me to lose my full savings and be stuck with a unfixed covered car. (Dealer tried to say they were helping me buy not charging $2500 and said they were sending my car to an impound.) causing me to pay $16k (full savings) towards 18k to clear the loan....the manager said I did not have a deal and that my impounded car would be $4k a month. (Way back confirms recall being fixed on records as I refused unsafe gas recall to be fixed. They sent the car back in pieces) I had to recover it from an abandoned nearby neighborhood and store it for years trying to get help - I am now 100% TBI and believe this gas leak and impact caused me injuries.

NHTSA complaint #11758742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Land Rover LR4 Dallas, TX

ENGINE

I have a 2015 LR4 with 103k miles. Out of nowhere, engine started making a loud clicking noise. No warning lights, car up to this point had been driving perfectly. Then low coolant and oil signals came on the next day, but no signs of leaking. Added some oil and coolant to get it to a mechanic ( stopped driving it once the noise started). Upon next start up, plume of white smoke. Final verdict was an overheated engine and that it was done. I had pumps replaced 2 years ago, regular service and maintenance.

NHTSA complaint #11676955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Land Rover LR4 Fredericksburg, VA

ENGINE

am writing to formally request reimbursement in the amount of $18,397.76 for engine damage sustained by my 2016 Land Rover LR4 HSE LUX (VIN: [XXX] ), caused by a known defect in the factory-installed plastic outlet pipe. This defect directly led to catastrophic engine failure, leaving me stranded on the highway and incurring substantial repair costs. I purchased this LR4 as a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicle with an extended warranty in July 2019 from Land Rover Richmond, VA. From that time until the failure in October 2023, I drove the vehicle only 18,670 miles, the majority of which were accumulated during highway commutes from Virginia to Maryland for culinary classes between August and October 2023.The issue stems from a design flaw in the plastic outlet pipe used in many Land Rover and Jaguar models from 2013 through at least 2017. This pipe is prone to leaking and breaking at the seam due to its inability to withstand engine heat and pressure. As a result, it leads to coolant loss, engine overheating, and ultimately, engine failure. In my case, initial repairs to replace the pipe cost $4,228.54, but subsequent diagnosis revealed damaged cylinders and a failed engine, requiring full engine replacement at a cost of $14,169.22. I retained the damaged parts removed during the repair, including the failed plastic outlet pipe, and I have taken detailed photographs clearly showing the break at the seam where the leak occurred. These parts and images serve as physical evidence of the defect and support my claim that this failure was due to poor material design and not owner negligence. What is particularly troubling is that Land Rover North America was aware of this defect. A Technical Bulletin (JTB00566NAS4) was issued on May 23, 2018, detailing this exact problem—but only for Jaguar vehicles, despite the issue being identical in affected Land Rover models. Remaining letter attached as I ran out of characters. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11663083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Land Rover LR4 at 133,000 miles Salisbury, NC

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2012 Land Rover LR4. The contact stated that after refueling, the vehicle started leaking fuel. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V635000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there was rust on it and declined to repair the vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11656714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Land Rover LR4 at 125,000 miles Tampa, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2011 Land Rover LR4. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the low coolant warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed due to coolant intrusion into the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed to the dealer, the vehicle lost motive power with the low coolant warning light illuminated. The contact was informed that coolant was leaking into the engine and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

NHTSA complaint #11613872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Land Rover LR4 Vista, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2015 Land Rover LR4. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The driver was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the connecting rod bolts resulting in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V069000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11611588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Land Rover LR4 San Antonio, TX

ENGINE

I took my 2016 LR4 (55k miles) in to the dealer in San Antonio a few days ago. As part of the review of my vehicle, they suggested that I should replace the cylinder block coolant outlet pipe, even though there is no current issue with or damage to it, for a cost of $2,042.13. They said that this part is "known for catastrophic failure around this mileage." That statement (about being known for catastrophic failure) is made not only in the repair estimate option selector portal but also somewhat emphatically by the technician in the walk-around video of my vehicle, and it was reiterated by the service representative ("We try to give people the option to replace the parts with the updated design since we see them fail so often."). If there is a part in the LR4 that, at 55k miles - on a well maintained vehicle with no apparent issue associated the part - is expected by the dealer to break and cause "catastrophic damage," that seems pretty clearly a safety defect that Land Rover should address, not me. I did not have the work done because, as stated, there is nothing presently wrong with the part other than that the dealer believes based on what they have seen that it is likely to break and cause catastrophic damage. But I am nonetheless very concerned that this part is going to break in the near future, presumably rupturing and releasing all of the engine's coolant, and cause some sort of serious incident and/or accident. I am attaching the estimate - let me know if you would also like the walk around video by the technician (it is very helpful but I am having a hard time getting it off my iphone, because of the size, even after editing the clip).

NHTSA complaint #11578419 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Land Rover LR4 Fredericksburg, VA

ENGINE

I found out that vehicles from 2013-2017 and beyond were equipped with faulty plastic outlet pipes and risks engine damage and failures. This pipe was because of a design flaw that Land Rover was aware of. The plastic coolant pipe will leak and break at the seam in the pipe as it is not strong enough to withstand the heat and pressure. The Land Rover vehicle owners will see low coolant and engine warning lights when the plastic outlet pipes leak coolant. In this case the Land Rover LR4 suffered engine failure and left me on the side of the highway and will cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair. The initial cost was $4,228.54 to fix the coolant pipe but was then told that 2 of my cylinders were bad and that I will need a new engine at a cost of approximately $20,000. What makes this problematic is that Land Rover North America and the dealership knew about the outlet pipe problems that caused coolant leaks. This pipe was reengineered to eliminate the seam in the pipe and then reengineered it again from plastic to metal. The bottom line is that Land Rover makes more profit by concealing the outlet pipe problems to avoid paying for engine repairs, replacements, and recalls. Land Rover North America put out a Technical Bulletin, JTB00566NAS4 - Coolant Leak From The Engine Compartment on 23 May 2018 with the same exact problem but it was for the Jaguar vehicle and not any of the Land Rover Vehicles even though it was the exact same problem. The technical bulletin states that an an 'engine overheat' message may be displayed on the Instrument Cluster and that coolant may be leaking from engine compartment area. This may be caused by weakness in the plastic weld process of the coolant pipes. It states that the coolant pipe along with other parts need to be replaced. Land Rover knew about this issue with the Jaguar but did not put out any technical bulletins for the Land Rover even though it was the exact same issue. I was not able to write everything.

NHTSA complaint #11562153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Land Rover LR4 Plymouth, MI Crash Fire

ENGINE

while driving at approximately 70 mph on the highway, I encountered a severe issue that jeopardized my safety and the safety of others on the road.The problem manifested as a fuel leak, resulting in fumes inside the vehicle that caused impairment to my ability to operate the vehicle safely. This impairment led to the vehicle entering a gated mode and initiating aggressive braking, almost causing a collision.This incident is deeply alarming, and I believe it poses a serious risk to the well-being of drivers and passengers. I am reaching out to request an immediate investigation into this matter and to seek information on any safety recalls or issues related to the fuel system of the 2010 Land Rover LR4. Fuel tank flange failure caused complex problems for engine replacement needed. Not covered by land rover and was not repaired as reported

NHTSA complaint #11559318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Land Rover LR4 at 61,000 miles Whittier, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2016 Land Rover LR4. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the low coolant warning light illuminated, prompting the contact to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway. After a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the contact observed coolant covering the entire engine compartment. The check engine warning light was also illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure; however, the engine and peripherals were replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that a failure with the cooling fan wiring harness caused the viscous fan clutch to seize, resulting in the viscous fan clutch puncturing the radiator. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 61,000.

NHTSA complaint #11559161 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Land Rover LR4 Carthage, NC Fire

ENGINE

• Ask the customer (and document verbatim) what occurred or what the alleged defect is? I attempted multiple times to have Land Rover complete Safety Recall N623 – NHTSA Recall Number 21V-635 on my 2016 Land Rover LR4 -Gasoline Fuel Tank Flange Assembly Crack. A number of the Land Rover dealerships stated that no recall existed. After multiple attempts to confirm this recall was required for my vehicle, I was able to schedule the repair at Land Rover Cary. I reduced driving the vehicle to only minimal driving requirements while I was awaiting the recall requirement. The recall repair was canceled twice after I drove to Cary from Pinehurst, NC due to a lack of service technicians. I was driving to the dealership this third time for the repair when the fire occurred in the vehicle. I was driving to the dealership, for this recall repair, when a number of warnings flashed on the driving display. Smoke began to bellow out of the vehicle. I put on my hazards and pulled off the main highway and onto the shoulder. I turned the ignition off, exited the vehicle, and opened the hood to observe the engine bay. There were flames shooting out of the engine compartment. I went to grab my extinguisher and called 911. The flames died down rapidly. I could see that the fire melted a number of components on the bottom of the engine causing oil to spray all over. I would like to add that the driveway to my home sits at about a 30-degree incline and I typically park with the vehicle pointing down towards the nose. I wonder if the slow gas leak traveled down the vehicle towards the engine and saturated the parts with gasoline causing this issue.

NHTSA complaint #11555274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Land Rover LR4 Fleming Island, FL

ENGINE

The diagnosis on the LR4 was found to have jumped time. When this happened it also damaged the cylinder heads as this is an interference engine.

NHTSA complaint #11537421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Land Rover LR4 Canyon Country, CA

ENGINE

I had done a safety recall repair 'RECALL N623 FUEL TANK' on my 2016 Land Rover LR4 Landmark edition (32,051 miles) on 6-19-2022 at LAND ROVER PASADENA, 3485 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107. Few days after they did the free recall fix I got the below error code 'P0442, Evaporative Emission system leak' that the dealership claims is not related to the recall fix that they did and wants to charge me $250 just to evaluate the issue. But I'm 100% certain this leak is some thing they didn't seal properly at the time of the recall. I'm very unhappy of the outcome and hope I can get this issue fixed without spending any money as before the recall I had no errors what so ever in this car and all started after the free recall fix.

NHTSA complaint #11534663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Land Rover LR4 Old Westbury, NY Fire

ENGINE

When I was driving this car, I smelled gasoline very badly, so suddenly the car slammed, and then the car broke down, and there was a lot of white gas or smoke under the hood, I couldn't be sure, so I called The fire alarm was dealt with, then I towed the vehicle to the dealer, contacted my insurance, and the dealer told me there was a recall, but my engine was dead and it wasn't covered by their warranty, but I checked the recall , the reason for the recall may be that the fuel gauge cannot display accurate fuel pressure, which causes the engine to run at high temperature, and the oil cannot cool down, which eventually causes the oil pump body to burst and cause the engine to break down. If I did not contact the fire alarm, this would be a serious event. Fire is even a direct safety accident in driving. I request to report the accident and ask the dealer to bear the repair costs and all losses caused by the accident damage.

NHTSA complaint #11513959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Land Rover LR4 North Canton, OH Fire

ENGINE

2015 LAND ROVER LR4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO VEHICLE FIRE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WANTS TO KNOW HOW THIS RECALL IS ASSOCIATED WITH AFTER THE INITIAL REPORTING PERIOD.

NHTSA complaint #11491785 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Land Rover LR4 Lincoln, MA

ENGINE

My 2012 LR4 engine completely seized on the highway in July 2022 while I was traveling at 75mph. I was incredibly lucky to be in the right hand lane (after passing 2 large trucks) when I heard and felt the extremely abrupt "clunk" come from the engine. The red engine light came on and my LR4 no longer worked. I had to veer off the highway and coast onto the grass. Had I been in the left hand lane still when this happened, the outcome for me and multiple others on the highway that day would not have been good. My Land Rover dealer (where my car was towed back to) confirmed engine failure. They found a torn oil filter and lots of metal shavings in the filter. They also found a damaged piston with indents and grooves on the piston in cylinder 3 and recommended a new engine. In July 2022 (a week prior to the engine failure) I had my car serviced at the Land Rover dealer. After service I noticed a small leak, a clicking noise in my engine at 30-35mph and a feeling of reduced acceleration. I returned to the dealer 4 days after my service visit to check on these 3 things. I was told I had a very small rack in pinion steering leak and that it'd be okay to drive but to bring the car back when I returned from my trip. That is when my engine seized on the highway. I now know that there is a settled lawsuit on timing chain and tensioner issues with the 2012 LR4 (and other vehicles) and that Jaguar Land Rover USA issued a Technical Service Bulletin to dealers in 2015 stating that if a customer had concern of a clicking noise coming from the engine to follow timing chain/tensioners steps. I don't know why my engine concerns weren't handled more seriously. I have pictures of the engine parts and the engine parts available for inspection upon request. HOW IS THIS NOT A RECALL ISSUE? How is this a known issue and yet consumers aren't protected? I was lucky that day. It's important to me that the safety of others driving these vehicles be both protected and prioritized.

NHTSA complaint #11489101 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Land Rover LR4 Pinecrest, FL

ENGINE

According to dealer, the connecting rod became dislodged and forced itself through the engine block rendering the entire engine and all related components (e.g. supercharger) inoperable and requiring replacement.

NHTSA complaint #11485448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Land Rover LR4 Windsor, WI

ENGINE

Driving on the belt line in Madison and car muffled and just shut down in gear. No warning, nothing. Could have caused a major accident. Coasted down the nearest exit and tried to restart. Would not turn . Timing chain malfunction according to Land Rover Madison wi. I need a whole new engine. I paid for a new engine, but now they put it on indefinite back order. I can’t get an engine because it’s on back order.

NHTSA complaint #11479977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Land Rover LR4 Windsor, WI

ENGINE

Driving on the belt line in Madison, Wisconsin on Mother’s Day and the engine just completely lost power and shut off. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR, no warning lights, nothing. Had to coast down an off ramp where a cop sat behind us and just waited for the tow truck to arrive. Engine was locked in gear and would not even try to start, we are lucky we were close to an exit or we would have caused an accident for sure. The car could not be placed in neutral. Attached is a recall that is exactly what happened to my vehicle.

NHTSA complaint #11465641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Land Rover LR4 Katy, TX

ENGINE

Unknown

NHTSA complaint #11465573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Land Rover LR4 problems