2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Engine Problems

TO: USAA Claims Department; Jaguar Land Rover North America Customer Care CC: Jaguar Land Rover Parsippany; Jaguar Land Rover Glen Cove; Jaguar Land Rover Freeport I am writing to formally report a serious safety hazard involving my 2015 Range Rover Sport and to request immediate intervention. Vehicle Information: Year/Make/Model: 2015 Range Rover Sport VIN: [XXX] Current Mileage: Approximately 127,000+ I purchased this vehicle in 2015 from Jaguar Land Rover Parsippany, New Jersey, and have consistently maintained it through authorized Jaguar Land Rover service providers. Since as early as 2017, I have reported recurring engine, throttle, and coolant-related issues. As documented in my prior complaint to Land Rover corporate dated April 2017, I raised concerns regarding service integrity and handling of my vehicle (Exhibit A). In September 2017, I reported that the vehicle would not accelerate properly, required restarting to function, and exhibited drive mode and throttle issues (Exhibit B). By 2021, Jaguar Land Rover Glen Cove service records confirmed coolant leakage from engine cross-over pipes, repeated low coolant warnings, and engine-related concerns requiring repair (Exhibit C). Additional diagnostics identified check engine light activation, restricted performance mode, and recommended repairs that were not resolved (Exhibit D). Despite these documented findings, the vehicle was repeatedly returned to me without full resolution of the underlying mechanical defects. On January 22, 2025, Jaguar Land Rover Freeport documented that repairs could not be performed due to “pre-existing engine codes” and identified the need for a potential engine replacement exceeding $42,000 (Exhibit E). At no point was I clearly advised that the vehicle was unsafe to operate or that continued use could pose a serious safety risk. I was not instructed to discontinue driving the vehicle. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. The contact stated that while driving or starting the vehicle, there was a loud clunking sound coming from the engine compartment with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that while the vehicle was parked, an attempt was made to start the vehicle; however, the vehicle became inoperable and failed to start. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine had failed and needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by the dealer. The contact also stated that while attempting to make a turn, there was a rattling sound coming from the front and rear of the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V514000 (Steering); however, the parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The dealer was not contacted regarding the recall, and the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.

The contact owns a 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

I was driving my 2015 Range Rover Sport, when a low battery symbol displayed on the dashboard. I drove 3 miles away to go to AutoZone to buy a new battery and as I parked the vehicle, I noticed smoke coming from the hood of the vehicle. My brother and I ran inside of AutoZone and asked them if they had a fire extinguisher because my car had a little fire on the driver’s side of the engine. I got AAA to tow my vehicle into the Land Rover dealership/Maintenance repair shop. The repair specialist I’m assigned to (Sam Haidary) at the Land Rover location in Freeport, Long Island NY, told me that the fire issue with the vehicle didn’t come from the alternator or the weak battery, so I did some research online because I personally know someone that went through this same issue (i.e. Range Rover Sport catching on fire with no warning) as I just went through. I came across this article that’s addressing the same exact issue (the engine catching fire) that happened to my 2015 Range Rover Sport. Here’s the article: [XXX] I purchased my vehicle on February 2021 and every year I bring it to the Land Rover Range Rover for repairs and upkeep 2-3 times per year. I don’t know why this is happening but from reading that article it’s apparently obvious that the same issue has happened to my vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The engine failure was intermittent but was a recurring failure. The contact had taken the vehicle to several dealers. The dealers diagnosed the vehicle and recommended repairs, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was contacted about the failures and filed complaints, but the contact was advised to work with the dealers. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V514000 (Steering); but was informed by dealers and the manufacturer that parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that recently, while driving and turning left or right, there was an abnormal creaking and cracking sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

WITHIN THE FIRST WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP FAILED TO REENGAGE THE TRANSMISSION AFTER THE ECO FEATURE TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. ECO FEATURE TURNS THE CAR OFF WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC OR A STOP SIGNAL TO SAVE FUEL ETC. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE CAR WILL NOT RESPOND TO GAS PEDAL BEING PUSHED AND THE CAR DOES NOT GO. THE CAR HAS TO BE TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED TO GET THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE. THIS TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS TO DO AND CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.I HAVE CONTACTED THE SALESMAN AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HE SAID HE HAS HEARD THIS HAPPEN TO OTHERS BUT THEY DO NOT HAVE A FIX YET.

THE VEHICLE WITHIN THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP FAILED TO OPERATE WHILE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. AFTER BEING STOPPED, THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION OR ENGINE SEEMED TO MALFUNCTION AND THE CAR WAS STUCK ON THE FREEWAY WITH TRAFFIC MOVING AROUND THE CAR, CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE VIN WAS PART OF A GROUP OF VINS THAT RECEIVED BAD SOFTWARE THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO OPERATE NORMALLY AND IT WAS ULTIMATELY TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED CERTAIN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS STARTING ON THE FIRST DAY OF OWNERSHIP. *TR