2003 Land Rover Range Rover Powertrain & Transmission Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Land Rover Range Rover. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH on the highway, he felt a vibration and pulled over to inspect the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle then failed to exceed 35 MPH. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.

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.

DRIVING DOWN A ROAD LOST POWER AND MADE GRINDING NOISE.

THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS THE AC STOPPED WORKING AND REPLACED THE RESISTOR IN IT TWICE, THE SAME DAY IT WENT OUT A SECOND TIME THE BACK DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FELL. THE NEXT WEEK I WAS DRIVING HOME AND WAS ENTERING THE FREEWAY AND AS I ACCELERATED THE VEHICLE JERKED HARD AND PULLED BACK, AND WAS MAKING A SQUEAKING SOUND. IT CORRECTED BUT NOW IT KEEPS DOING IT. AND THE BRAKE FLUID A WEEK LATER LEAKED OUT AND I LOST POWER IN MY BRAKES. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR!

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ALSO WAS MAKING A JERKING MOTION AND THE TRANSFER CASE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V635000 (POWER TRAIN) AND THE DRIVE SHAFT AND SPLINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

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.

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 RANGE ROVER THAT I JUST BOUGHT USED 2 WEEKS EARLIER. AS I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR STARTED MAKING SEVERE GRINDING NOISES AND LOST POWER. I COULD NOT STEER THAT WELL AND WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I MANAGED TO GET BARELY ENOUGH POWER TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. THIS EVENT WAS WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND THE CAR MADE THE WORST GRINDING NOISES IN THE WORLD. I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS A RECALL ON IT TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS A FAILED DRIVESHAFT / AXLE / DIFFERENTIAL OPERATION. BECAUSE IT WAS RECALLED, I HAD IT TOWED TO LAND ROVER AND THEY ARE NOW SAYING THAT THEY CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE AXLE IS REPAIRED, WHICH THEY SAY IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I BELIEVE IT IS PART OF THE RECALL AND THEY SHOULD BE COVERING THIS AT NO COST. I HAD MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND I THINK THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. ALSO, WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN COSTA MESA, CA (HOUSE OF LUXURIES), THEY ASSURED ME THE CAR WAS TOTALLY CHECKED OUT AND HAD NO MECHANICAL OR OTHER ISSUES. NOW I AM VERY ANGRY WITH THEM FOR PLACING MY LIFE (AND OTHERS) AND MY CHILD'S LIFE IN DANGER BY NOT DISCLOSING THESE PROBLEMS, OR AT LEAST TELLING ME THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS A RECALL AND TO REPAIR IT BEFORE I DRIVE. I AM HAPPY THAT I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE RECALL LATER BUT FEEL THAT THE BUSINESS I BOUGHT THE CAR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS PRIOR TO THE SELL OF THE CAR AND IT COULD HAVE PLACED OUR LIVES AND OTHERS AT RISK HAD I BEEN GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY, WHICH IS IN LA AND HEAVY TRAFFIC. THANK YOU. *TR

I HAD TO HAVE MY 2003 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER REPAIRED FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM IN DECEMBER, 2007. THE DEALER WANTED MUCH MORE THAN WHAT I HAD PAID FOR PER THE ATTACHED REPAIR BILL FROM EURO CAR. WHEN I RECEIVED THIS LETTER, I CALLED LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO GO THROUGH AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO GET REIMBURSED. I WENT TO WWW.LANDROVERUSA.COM PER THE RECALL LETTER AND THEY SHOW THAT PLAZA LAND ROVER ST. LOUIS, 11830 OLIVE STREET ROAD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63141 IS THE ONLY RETAILER HERE IN ST. LOUIS. I CALLED THEM AND THEY REFUSED TO SUBMIT ANY PAPERWORK BECAUSE I DID NOT GET IT REPAIRED THERE. I FIND THIS VERY UNACCEPTABLE AS ST. LOUIS IS A HUGE METROPOLITAN AREA AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT PLAZA MOTORS SHOULD HAVE SOLE CLAIM ON GETTING A RANGE ROVER FIXED IN ORDER TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR RECALL NOTICES. THAT WOULD MEAN THEY WOULD HAVE A MONOPOLY. LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THEY WILL NOT DO THE REIMBURSEMENT EITHER. I WANT REIMBURSEMENT OF $$2,400 FOR REPAIR FOR RECALL P041. *TR

2003 RANGE ROVER FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AND TORE OFF. *TR

COMPLETE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE - SUDDEN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING, WHILE DRIVING. 2003 RANGE ROVER HSE. *TR

MY FRONT DIFFERENTIAL HAS FAILED ON MY LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER. THERE WAS NO WARNING JUST AN INSTANT LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND FRONT WHEEL LOCK. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE. WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE NOISE RECURRED. THE SOUND OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO ANY GEAR. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS STRIPPED OUT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000.

MY 2003 RANGE ROVER HSE SUFFERED A FAILURE OF THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AND DRIVESHAFT. A COMMON AND KNOWN ISSUE TO LAND ROVER. I WAS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND SUDDENLY LOST ALL FORWARD MOMENTUM. I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER AND PUT ON THE HAND BRAKE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING. IT WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY AND THE BROKEN PARTS WERE REPLACED. IT WAS FIXED WITH NEW PARTS, BUT THEY ARE THE SAME DESIGN OF THE ONES THAT FAILED. I WAS TOLD THERE IS NOT PERMANENT FIX PROVIDED BY LAND ROVER AND THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. *TR

IN 2006 OUR 2003 RANGE ROVER EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. ON 5/26/2008 IT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE AFTER BEING IN FOR SERVICE JUST A MONTH PRIOR. *TR

SEPT 2003 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING 50 MPH IN WASHINGTON DC, AND THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE LOUD NOISES, AND STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY AT RUSH HOUR. THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO DRIVE WITHOUT MAKING SCREECHING NOISES. LAND ROVER ANNAPOLIS SAID IT WAS A FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION/ FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. WARRANTY COVERED THE COSTS OF THIS. MAY 2008 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING 60 MPH ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, RT 45 IN HOUSTON. THE CAR MADE THE SAME NOISES AS IN 2006, SO SHE PULLED OVER AND COULD NOT PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE WITHOUT THE SCREECHING NOISES. RANGE ROVER HOUSTON NORTH SAID IT WAS A FRONT DIFFERENTIAL ISSUE AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $2500. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAPPENED, AND ACCORDING TO RANG ROVER HOUSTON N, THERE IS A FUTURE RECALL ON THIS BECAUSE IT IS AN ISSUE WITH ALL MODELS HTTP://WWW.LEMONAUTO.COM/COMPLAINTS/LAND_ROVER/LANDROVER_RANGE_ROVER.HTM *TR

I WAS ON THE 405 HIGHWAY DRIVING SOUTH BOUND WHEN MY NEW 2003 RANGE ROVER HSE LOST ALL OF ITS ACCELERATION. THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL OF THE CAR HAD GIVEN OUT. WHEN IT HAPPENED IT WAS A TOTAL SURPRISE. A COUPLE OF WEEKS PRIOR THE FRONT WHEELS BEGAN TO SQUEAK AS IF I NEEDED NEW FRONT BREAKS WHICH I DID AND THOUGHT THAT WAS THE ISSUE. BUT NOW I FOUND MYSELF SWERVING THROUGH 5 LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH NO ACCELERATION TO GO FROM THE HOV LANE OVER TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND ONTO THE SHOULDER. A VERY DANGEROUS MANEUVER TO MAKE WITH VERY LITTLE VEHICLE CONTROL. I TOOK MY CAR TO A CERTIFIED ROVER REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID TO HAVE A FRONT DIFFERENTIAL KIT THAT WILL NEVER BREAK OR SNAP AND IF IT DOES IT'S 100% LIFETIME WARRANTY. NOW I ASK, WHY CAN'T LAND ROVER USE THE SAME KIT? WHY CAN'T THEY DEVELOP A STRONGER AND SAFER DIFFERENTIAL SHAFT FOR ITS VEHICLES? *TR

FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT. I WAS ON AN INCLINE, TRUCK MADE A LOUD NOISE, DISPLAY READ PUT TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND IT STOPPED, THOUGH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WORKED LITTLE IF AT ALL. *TR

LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER MK 3 2003 MODEL YEAR FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE. VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON INTERSTATE 59 SOUTH NEAR RICHMOND AT 65MPH. A GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM TRANSMISSION TUNNEL AND THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF DRIVE TO BOTH FROM AND REAR AXLES. IT WAS NECESSARY TO COAST THE VEHICLE ACROSS TRAFFIC ON A BUSY HIGHWAY TO COME TO A STOP ON THE HARD SHOULDER. THIS WAS A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION. A WRECKER SERVICE WAS CALLED AND IT WAS NECESSARY TO LOAD THE CAR ON THE BACK OF THE WRECKER BECAUSE OF A TOTAL LOSS OF DRIVE RENDERING THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE. THIS IS THE SECOND INCIDENT SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE AND IS A KNOWN FAULT WITH THESE VEHICLES. THE LAND ROVER DEALER IS REPLACING THE COMPLETE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FOR THE SECOND TIME ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 75 IN THE RIGHT LANE DURING RUSH HOUR. MY CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE, I PULLED OVER, TURNED THE CAR OFF. I STARTED THE CAR AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE OFF. MY VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LANDROVER DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THAT MY DRIVE SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAD TO PAY $1800+ TO FIX. THIS IS THE SECOND MAJOR REPAIR COST. THE FIRST WAS LAST SEPTEMBER I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR