Model year record

2003 Land Rover Range Rover recalls & problems

The 2003 Land Rover Range Rover has 1 safety recall and 97 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (95 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints97filed by owners

Crashes · fires1 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Power trainDec 3, 2008

Driveline › Driveshaft

Recall 08V63500019,168 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: CONTINUED VEHICLE OPERATION CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN THE SPLINES SHEARING AND A LOSS OF DRIVE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED DESIGN OF THE PROPELLER SHAFT, THE FLANGE KIT AND HEAT SHIELD KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 6, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800- 637-6837.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2003 Land Rover Range Rover w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Range Rover

13mpg combined

City / highway	11 / 16 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

4.4 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $6,300/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Typical mileage*
Power trainDriveline › Differential unit; Driveline › Driveshaft	95	0	0	65,000 mi
SteeringColumn; Electric power assist system	8	1	0	92,000 mi
Electrical systemInstrument cluster/panel	6	0	1	75,000 mi
SuspensionMultiple axle; Front	5	0	0	78,450 mi
Engine and engine coolingCooling system › Radiator assembly	4	0	0	65,500 mi
Service brakes	4	0	0	83,000 mi
Unknown or other	3	0	0	—
Exterior lightingTail lights	1	0	0	—
Latches/locks/linkages	1	0	0	—
Unknown	1	0	0	—
Tires	1	0	0	—
Equipment	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train
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.
Jun 3, 2022 · 119,000 miles
Air bags
TAKATA RECALL MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. THE AIRBAG LIGHT JUST STAY ON.
Apr 1, 2018 · 116,000 miles
Power train
DRIVING DOWN A ROAD LOST POWER AND MADE GRINDING NOISE.
Nov 4, 2017 · 118,502 miles
Service brakes
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!
Jun 12, 2017 · 170,000 miles
Service brakes
CAR SHIPPED FROM FLORIDA TO PITTSBURGH. UPON ARRIVING I DROVE THE VEHILCE ON THE STREET AND IT STOPPED AND HAD TO WAIT TO START AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS ONLY ABLE TO BE DRIVEN A MILE AT A TIME BEOFRE INCIDENT RECURRED. ABS BREAK LATE STAYED ON FROM THE BEGINNING. TO START VEHILCE TWO WIRES HAD TO BE CONNECTED TOGETHER.TRANSMISSION NOT FUNCTIONABLE, STARTING PROBLEM, BRAKE PROBLEM AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. CONTACTED DEALER AND DEALER DENIED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. I HAD A MECHANIC VERIFY ALL PROBLEMS NOTED ABOVE TWO DAYS LATER.. RELAYED THE INFORMATION TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NOTHING WAS RESOLVED.
Dec 27, 2016 · 83,000 miles
Service brakes
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.
Jan 1, 2017 · 83,000 miles
Power train
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.
Jun 9, 2016 · 160,000 miles
SteeringCrash
THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE VEHICLE TURNS BUT JUST MAKES A CLICKING NOISE AND DOES NOT ACTUALLY TURN THE WHEELS. *TR
Apr 9, 2015 · 81,800 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

FRONT DIFF. / PROPELLER SHAFT FAILUREClosedLed to recall 08V635000
SUMMARY:IN A LETTER DATED DECEMBER 2, 2008, FORD MOTOR COMPANY (FORD) NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT LAND ROVER IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL OF MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 THROUGH 2005 RANGE ROVER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE SOLIHULL (UK) ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM JANUARY 3, 2002 THROUGH FEBRUARY 22, 2005, TO REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVESHAFT JOINT (NHTSA RECALL NO. 08V-635, LAND ROVER RECALL NO. P041). THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL COUPLING SLEEVE AND THE PROPELLER SHAFT MAY BE MISALIGNED RESULTING IN SPLINE WEAR OVER TIME, WHICH MAY EVENTUALLY RESULT IN THE SPLINES SHEARING.THE DEFECT CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF PROPULSION AND SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE DISABLEMENT IN THE ROADWAY OR ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY. FURTHERMORE, THE DEFECT CONDITION CAN ALSO CAUSE LOSS OF THE TRANSMISSION LOCK FUNCTION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION.THE LOSS OF THE TRANSMISSION LOCK FUNCTION CAN CAUSE A VEHICLE ROLLAWAY…
EA07012 · opened Aug 14, 2007 · closed Dec 10, 2008
FRONT DIFFERENTIAL/DRIVESHAFT FAILUREClosed
IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST (IR) LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI), FORD STATED THAT THE PRIMARY CAUSE FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE REPORTED FRONT DIFFERENTIAL/DRIVE SHAFT FAILURES IS A MISALIGNMENT OF THE JOINT BETWEEN THE TWO COMPONENTS.CERTAIN LEVELS OF MISALIGNMENT MAY OVER TIME CAUSE AN UNEVEN WEAR OF THE SPLINES.CONTINUED WEAR OF THE SPLINES MAY RESULT IN A SHEARING OF THE SPLINES AND THE INABILITY OF THE DRIVESHAFT TO TRANSFER TORQUE TO THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE IN THE FIELD, FORD INITIATED A SERVICE CAMPAIGN IN JUNE 2003 TO CORRECT THE MISALIGNMENT ISSUE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT AND/OR DIFFERENTIAL.THE SERVICE CAMPAIGN COVERED MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 AND MY 2004 VEHICLES BUILT FROM APRIL 18, 2002 THROUGH JULY 3, 2003.IN PRODUCTION, FORD INTRODUCED A CHANGE TO THE LUBRICATING GREASE OF THE JOINT IN FEBRUARY 2003…
PE07019 · opened Apr 4, 2007 · closed Aug 15, 2007