158 of the 1,307 complaints filed about the Land Rover Range Rover are about the engine — 12% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1996.
158
Complaints
12%
Share of all complaints
5
Crashes
18
Fires
ENGINE
The vehicle out of nowhere began to make a werid clacking noise (possibly the lifters so we thought) my husband immediately pulled off the freeway the car sputtered; The engine immediately SEIZED, BEGAN TO SMOKE, and CAUGHT FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #11753427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
While Driving the car shuts off without warning. Then a check engine light comes on.
NHTSA complaint #11752139 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
My car has approximately 65000 miles on it. I purchased the car in December 2021 for about $120,000. The car has only been serviced by Land Rover. The car needs a new engine which is $46,000. I owe $12,700 on the car. The dealership told me an animal had chewed. They told me this for 2 weeks. Now they are saying there was no animal involved. The Geico inspector has not seen the car.
NHTSA complaint #11747156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
After coming to a complete stop at an intersection, I looked left-right-left before proceeding across the intersection. At the time I began to cross the intersection my vehicle seemingly did not accelerate as normal, causing my vehicle to be hit on the right driver side panel, spun around, and ripping the entire front end of my car off. Injuries were sustained and the vehicle may be a total loss.
NHTSA complaint #11745341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
On [XXX], my 2017 Land Rover Range Rover HSE Td6 diesel (VIN: [XXX] ) suffered a complete, catastrophic engine failure without warning at approximately 70 mph on [XXX] . My wife and our two infant sons (ages [XXX] and [XXX] ) were passengers. There were no prior warning lights or symptoms. The engine stopped instantaneously, eliminating power steering and power brakes while I was overtaking a semi-truck in the passing lane. We narrowly reached the shoulder safely. The odometer read 79,018 miles — inside both limits of the federally mandated 8-year/80,000-mile emissions warranty under 40 CFR §85.2103. The vehicle was 7 years old at time of failure. Hoehn Land Rover Carlsbad diagnosed complete engine failure caused by timing chain guide failure — a known defect pattern in the Ingenium diesel engine. The service manager stated failures like this "aren't that rare" with these engines. Repair estimate: $28,000–$30,000. Jaguar Land Rover North America (Case #[XXX]) denied the warranty claim entirely, offering $800, without ever evaluating the claim under the active federal emissions warranty. Their denial cited only the expired extended CPO warranty and a maintenance gap — neither of which constitutes valid grounds for denying an emissions warranty claim under 40 CFR §85.2103(d), as the manufacturer cannot demonstrate the maintenance gap caused a documented design defect. This failure pattern is documented in JLR Technical Service Bulletins LTB00735 and SSM74184. Land Rover Korea issued a recall for the same timing chain failure in 2020. No equivalent recall was issued in the United States for identical vehicles with identical engines. JLR has refused all requests for review or reconsideration for 24 months. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11739888 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2020 Land Rover Range rover 3.0. The contact stated while driving on the highway heard loud bang, no warning lights illuminated, continued to drive. white grayish Smoke coming from underneath the vehicle and a burning oil smell. There was also a lot of oil spots visible underneath the vehicle. Pulled off the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure caused by timing components. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
NHTSA complaint #11736390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2023 Land Rover Range Rover. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the lost motive power and inadvertently shifted to park (P). Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The transmission failed to shift out of park (P). The contact stated that the failure occurred twice. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer replaced the overlay PWM circuit. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
NHTSA complaint #11735137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
Known Recall Issue: The failure pattern aligns with known manufacturer defect categories involving: •Engine torque / internal engine failure conditions •Cooling system failure leading to overheating Shortly after I purchased my 2015 Range Rover, I started to have repeated and escalating safety-critical failures involving sudden loss of power, engine malfunction, and vehicle shutdown while driving at highway speeds. The vehicle has experienced multiple incidents of complete or partial power loss while in motion, resulting in near-collision events. Despite repeated repairs by authorized dealerships, the underlying defect has not been resolved. The failure pattern suggests a systemic mechanical defect involving engine performance and cooling system integrity rather than isolated maintenance issues. The primary safety concern is sudden loss of propulsion while driving at highway speeds, which has occurred on more than one occasion. These incidents present a significant risk of: •Rear-end collisions •Loss of vehicle control •Serious injury or fatality TECHNICAL FAILURE PATTERN Observed progression of failure: •Oil leakage / burning smell •Internal engine degradation symptoms •Cooling system failure and overheating •Electrical instability •Final engine shutdown / seizure events This suggests a systemic mechanical defect affecting engine integrity and thermal management systems. REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION I respectfully request NHTSA to: 1.Investigate potential safety defects in this vehicle and model year 2.Evaluate whether similar failures are occurring in other vehicles 3.Assess adequacy of existing recall coverage 4.Review risk associated with sudden engine shutdown while driving 5.Determine whether recall expansion or additional safety action is warranted
NHTSA complaint #11731724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2017 Land Rover Range Rover. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, there was smoke coming from the front of the vehicle. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to Meineke Car Care Center and was diagnosed and determined that the coolant pipe needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact a request for a Goodwill service from the dealer would be sought. The dealer denied the request. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 68,570.
NHTSA complaint #11727996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I am reporting a catastrophic engine failure involving a 2016 Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged 5.0L (VIN: [XXX] ) with approximately 88,000 miles. The vehicle experienced sudden engine failure due to a timing chain malfunction. Timing chain failure in this engine platform can result in immediate engine stall and total loss of propulsion without warning. A sudden engine stall while driving presents a serious safety risk, including loss of power steering assist, reduced braking performance, and increased risk of collision. The 5.0L AJ133 engine used in 2013–2017 Range Rover and Range Rover Sport vehicles has a documented pattern of premature timing chain and timing chain tensioner failures. Numerous owner reports indicate similar failures occurring before expected service life. In my case, the timing chain failure caused catastrophic internal engine damage requiring full engine replacement. The failure occurred despite proper maintenance and without prior warning indicators sufficient to prevent breakdown. This issue represents a potential safety defect because sudden engine failure can occur while the vehicle is in motion, creating hazardous driving conditions. I am requesting that NHTSA review this issue for potential investigation into premature timing chain failure in 2013–2017 Land Rover Range Rover 5.0L Supercharged vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11717277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
I am filing this complaint regarding my 2020 Range Rover Full Size Plug-In Hybrid, which has been inoperable for over three months due to ongoing fault codes and software-related issues. The vehicle has been at an authorized Land Rover dealer for an extended period. The dealer has confirmed they are unable to proceed without direction or software updates from Jaguar Land Rover corporate engineering. For the last 60+ days, the issue has been repeatedly escalated between the dealer and corporate engineering with no actionable resolution, no repair authorization, and no clear timeline provided. I have even reached out customer relationship center file customer compliant which has not been responded to by LRNA/HQ. My case number is CASE:[XXX] Vehicle Background: •Vehicle would not charge beyond 80%. I scheduled an appointment with the local dealers to inspect. LR: Identified a coolant issue within the high voltage system. oRepair: We were able to get covered by LR per a service bulletin; however, the repair process took over a month. •November Subsequent issue: Check engine light appeared along with a “rotten egg” smell after charging. I returned the vehicle to the dealership. oRepair: LR identified power distribution box resistor out of target range with resistance causing over-charging. This took a month and believe a software issue may have caused this as well as cannot happen on non-plug in. oReplacement of both the power distribution box and battery cost $1,471. •December: Picked up the car and parked it for a week while out of town. The first week back I drove to work and the check engine light came on again. I have not yet received the vehicle back and it continues to throw powertrain codes. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11716208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
The contact owns a 2017 Land Rover Range Rover. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds or while the vehicle was idling, there was an abnormal coolant odor inside and outside the vehicle. There was condensation underneath the front of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated, or a message displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the contact was informed that the mechanic would be unable to provide a proper diagnostic result without taking the engine apart. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 67,000.
NHTSA complaint #11715480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
Subject: URGENT: Global Safety Defect Report – Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and Fuel Pump Driver Module (FPDM) Failure. Description of Defect: I am writing to formally report a critical safety defect affecting Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) vehicles involving the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and the Fuel Pump Driver Module (FPDM). These modules are experiencing spontaneous "reset" or "reboot" events during vehicle operation, leading to a sudden and total loss of propulsion. Safety Hazard: Affected vehicles are experiencing power loss at highway speeds, often resulting in the vehicle stopping abruptly in live lanes of traffic. This defect has directly led to near-misses and reported accidents. The loss of power frequently occurs without warning, rendering the vehicle a "sitting duck" on high-speed roads, creating an extreme risk of rear-end collisions and multi-vehicle pileups. Manufacturer Inaction: Despite internal technical bulletins (e.g., NHTSA TSB MC-10218879-0001) and mounting consumer complaints, JLR has failed to issue a global safety recall or provide a permanent hardware/software resolution. While the Chinese State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has reportedly summoned JLR officials regarding these stalling issues, the manufacturer has yet to implement a verified fix or acknowledge the systemic nature of the failure. Demand for Action: We request that your agency launch an immediate investigation into the frequency and severity of these stalling events to compel Jaguar Land Rover to initiate a safety recall and protect the motoring public.
NHTSA complaint #11712859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
Subject: URGENT: Investigation Request – Systemic Loss of Propulsion in Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Vehicles (2017–2026). 1. Description of Defect I am formally reporting a critical, life-threatening safety defect involving the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and the Fuel Pump Driver Module (FPDM) in Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) vehicles. These modules suffer from spontaneous software "resets" or "reboot" loops during operation. When the PCM resets, it severs communication with the fuel system, causing an immediate and total loss of propulsion (motive power). 2. Safety Hazard and Real-World Impact This defect triggers without warning at highway speeds, resulting in vehicles stopping abruptly in high-speed lanes. This creates a "sitting duck" scenario, rendering the vehicle unable to move to a shoulder and significantly increasing the risk of catastrophic rear-end collisions and multi-vehicle pileups. Reported incidents include near-misses and accidents directly attributed to this sudden stalling. 3. Timeline of Manufacturer Awareness (2017 – Present) JLR has been aware of this specific PCM/FPDM communication failure since at least 2017. Internal documentation, such as NHTSA Technical Bulletin SB-10095121-1020, identified short circuits in the PCM/FPDM line for 2017 F-PACE and XE models. Subsequent bulletins, including MC-10218879-0001, admit that software "flashing" is ineffective and that FPDM hardware replacement is often required. Despite nearly a decade of internal knowledge, JLR has failed to initiate a comprehensive global safety recall for all affected VINs, opting instead for localized "Service Actions" that do not permanently resolve the hardware instability. 4. International Context and Manufacturer Inaction The Chinese State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) has already summoned JLR officials regarding these stalling failures. However, JLR has not provided a verified, permanent solution. 5. Demand for Action We demand an immediate, multi-agency
NHTSA complaint #11712866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
Continuous coolant leak
NHTSA complaint #11705097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
In January 2025 I noticed light ticking/knocking at startup, idle, and while driving. On January 23, 2025 I searched online for how to check the oil level and for an L322 dipstick location (there is none). Only after finding a YouTube video with an undocumented override (double-pressing the “Cancel” button) was I able to see the oil level on January 31, 2025, and it showed zero. I added oil immediately, but the knocking gradually worsened over the following months until very loud clattering began on July 4, 2025. The electronic oil level monitoring and warning system failed. When I followed the owner’s manual procedure to check the oil, the display repeatedly showed “Oil Level Not Available” and never gave any low-oil or no-oil warning, even when the actual oil level was zero. Because this system is the only way to check oil level on this vehicle (there is no dipstick), it prevented me from knowing the engine had no oil. The engine then suffered progressive internal bearing/rod damage and now makes extremely loud clattering. The vehicle and components are still in my possession and are available for inspection upon request. The system’s failure meant I unknowingly drove the vehicle with zero oil, which can cause sudden engine failure, loss of power, and possible engine seizure while driving at highway speed. I used this vehicle on Los Angeles freeways, so a sudden loss of power could have led to an accident or left me stranded in a dangerous location. The vehicle now runs with severe clattering and is unsafe to drive, so I have parked it to avoid a complete failure in traffic. The vehicle has been parked since the severe failure on July 4, 2025 because I have not yet been able to afford towing and diagnostic work. There were no low-oil or oil-pressure warning lamps at any time. Prior to the failure, when I tried to check the oil level using the procedure in the owner’s manual, the display repeatedly showed the message “Oil Level Not Available.”
NHTSA complaint #11701275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2023 Land Rover Range Rover. The contact stated that while driving 60-65 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact drove to the destination and parked the vehicle. The contact stated that while attempting to drive the vehicle out of the parking lot, several unknown warning lights were illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart after several attempts and was towed to the dealer, where the battery was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The dealer informed the contact that an unknown part needed to be replaced, but the part was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.
NHTSA complaint #11684769 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
Engine keeps randomly stalling at stop lights and/or stop signs. I was almost T-boned when making a left turn at [XXX] on [XXX]. This has been very dangerous. I have left multiple messages with the local dealership, Tom Wood Jaquar/LandRover with NO returned phone call so I drove over there on 8/15/2025. They told me that they would call me when they have some availability to look at the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11681366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2015 Land Rover Range Rover. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V840000 (Steering); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that after accelerating from being parked, the check engine warning light and a red explanation sign were illuminated. The message that the vehicle was in restricted mode was displayed on the instrument panel and the contact continued to drive approximately 25 MPH, causing the vehicle to go into LIMP Mode. The messages “Suspension Fault - Stop Safely”, and “Stop Engine” were displayed on the instrument panel. The contact was able to drive the vehicle home, but the vehicle failed to exceed 5 MPH. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that there was no recall related to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer advised that the contact get a rental and later provide receipts for reimbursement. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
NHTSA complaint #11668519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
The contact owns a 2014 Land Rover Range Rover. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact stated several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact attempted to start the vehicle; however, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while the contact was driving on a major highway. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 165,000.
NHTSA complaint #11649456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.