Problems · by component

2003 Land Rover Range Rover power train problems

101 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Land Rover Range Rover cite power train, 80% of all 127 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
101
80% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 6, 2022Power trainODI 11467872
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2018Power trainODI 11141695
“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!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 16, 2017Power train, Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11015683
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 21, 2017Power train, Service brakesODI 10955761
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 13, 2016Power trainODI 10873831
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER, RANGE ROVER HS3. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE THEN DOWN SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR AND AS THE ACCELERATOR WAS ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE BECAME MORE RESISTANT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY REPLACED THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL, PROPELLER ASSEMBLY AND THE YOKE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE HAD PREVIOUSLY OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V635000 (POWER TRAIN: DRIVELINE: DRIVESHAFT). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 82,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVETRAIN WAS REPLACED TWICE, BEFORE THE RECALL WAS ANNOUNCED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FAILURE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. OIL BECAME MIXED WITH THE ENGINE COOLANT. UPDATED EVOQ 08/04/10*JB UPDATED 8/9/10 *CN UPDATED 08/11/10”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 23, 2010Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10339690

Showing 6 of 101 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: driveshaft

Free remedy

LAND ROVER IS RECALLING 19,168 MY 2003-2005 RANGE ROVER VEHICLES. THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING SLEEVE AND THE PROPELLER SHAFT MAY BE MISALIGNED, RESULTING IN SPLINE WEAR OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. AS THE WEAR BETWEEN THE PROPELLER SHAFT AND THE DIFFERENTIAL SPLINE COUPLING PROGRESSES, NOISE AND VIBRATION ARE EXPECTED.

Power trainReported Dec 3, 2008NHTSA 08V635000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 29, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.