2006 Land Rover LR3: complaints, problems and recalls

I JUST PURCHASED A 2006 LANDROVER LR3 WITH COLD CLIMATE PACKAGE WHICH INCLUDES A HEATED FRONT WINDSHIELD. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT ANY HEAD LIGHT FROM ON COMING CARS OR STREET SIGNS IS AUTOMATICALLY BLURRED BY THE VERTICAL ELEMENT LINES THAT ARE IN THE WINDSHIELD. (THERE ARE MANY VERTICAL HEAT ELEMENT LINES ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD). ANY BRIGHT LIGHT VIEWED AT NIGHT TENDS TO BE BLURRED WHICH CAN MAKE DRIVING A BIT MORE DANGEROUS. AS I HAVE SEARCHED, THERE ARE OTHER CAR MAKERS WHO OFFER FRONT HEATED WINDSHIELDS. HAVE THERE BEEN AN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10145934 at NHTSA ↗

HELLO- I AM NOT POSITIVE IF THIS IS THE EXACT LOCATION TO BE SENDING THIS. I AM A WITNESS TO A DEFECT OR A MALFUNCTION WHILE DRIVING A 5 MONTH OLD 2006 LAND ROVER LR3. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE MOUNTAINS OF COLORADO, MY CAR'S BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING AROUND 68 MPH. THIS CAUSED ME TO SKID TO A COMPLETE STOP ON THE HIGHWAY. HOWEVER, WHILE COMING TO A STOP MY SEAT BELT DID NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING ME TO HIT MY HEAD AND TEAR MUSCLES IN MY BACK, WHICH I HAD CHECKED OUT AT THE DOCTOR. AFTER THIS HAPPENED, I WAS STILL AT A COMPLETE ST…

Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10153282 at NHTSA ↗

2006 RANGE ROVER / LR3 - 15 MILES ON VEHICLE. EXPERIENCED RAPID ACCELERATION INSTEAD OF BRAKING THREE TIMES THE FIRST TIME WE DROVE THE CAR AFTER TAKING IT HOME. COULD NOT STOP THE CAR WHILE PUSHING HARD ON THE BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET. ENGINE RACED INSTEAD. IT DID SLOW DOWN AT FIRST THEN LUNGED FORWARD THROUGH A STOP SIGN, THEN A STOP LIGHT, ONTO A HIGHWAY ETC. LUCKILY NO CRASHES. AUTO DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, NEITHER COULD LAND ROVER. ORDERED ANOTHER NEW VEHICLE, SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED! DROVE IT 2 HOU…

Owner-reported narrative. 15 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154482 at NHTSA ↗

THIS IS THE SECOND BRAND NEW RANGE ROVER LR3 (V6) THAT WOULD NOT STOP AND INSTEAD ACCELERATED RAPIDLY THROUGH A STOP SIGN ACROSS A HIGHWAY. MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT CONCERNED THE FIRST CAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. SEE COMPLAINT #10154482. THIS CAR HAD ABUT 200 MILES ON IT. LIKE THE FIRST ONE WE BOUGHT, IT ALSO COULD NOT BE STOPPED WHEN FORCEFULLY APPLYING THE BRAKE. INSTEAD IT TOOK OFF AND LATER CAME TO A STOP. WE LUNGED THROUGH AN INTERSECTION ACROSS A HIGHWAY AND FORTUNATELY NO OTHER CARS WERE COMING. WE HAD THIS CAR ALSO TOWED TO THE DEALER. SI…

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154485 at NHTSA ↗

IN JAN. 2006 WE BOUGHT A LAND ROVER LR3 LS, A MONTH AFTER WE BOUGHT THE CAR WE BEGUN HAVING PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE LIGHT WARNING LIGHTED UP A COUPLE OF TIMES. THE ENGINE LIGHT WARNING LIGHTED UP & THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE AIR VENTS AS WELL. WE CALLED THE DEALER & THEY SAID NOT TO WORRY THAT IT COULD WAIT, WE INSISTED & FINALLY THEY ALLOWED US TO BRING THE CAR INTO THE DEALER. ALL THEY SAID WAS THAT THE COMPRESSOR WAS DIRTY & THAT'S WHY A BURNING SMELL CAME OUT OF THE VENTS & THE ENGINE LIGHT WARNING WAS NOW OFF & IT WOULD COME …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10155258 at NHTSA ↗

2006 LAND ROVER LR2 HSE EDITION. DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION. ONGOING SERIOUS PROBLEMS. CAR GOES FROM FIRST GEAR, THEN INTO NEUTRAL, THEN JOLTS FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN APPLYING GAS...AT A STOP SIGN, FOR EXAMPLE. POOR LOW SPEED TRANSMISSION SHIFTS. ANNOYING BEYOND BELIEF, UNSAFE, TOO. NOT WHAT ONE EXPECTS IN A $53,000 CAR. LAND ROVER CLAIMS "IT'S GETTING TO KNOW MY DRIVING". NOW THEY FINALLY ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM AND STATE A "NEW SOFTWARE WILL FIX IT". WELL, THE LAST "SOFTWARE UPDATE" MADE IT WORSE. VERY CONCERNED, VERY ANNOYED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10158248 at NHTSA ↗

REAR TIRES WORE DOWN COMPLETELY WITHIN 15,000 MILES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10162164 at NHTSA ↗

TRANSMISSION SLIPS THEN ENGAGES HARD WHEN TAKING OFF, IF NOT FROM A DEAD STOP. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10162168 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2005-11-01 (November 1, 2005)

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A INCORRECTLY BUILT SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTINGS.

Consequence: WHEN THE REAR LEFT HAND SECOND ROW SEAT BELT IS USED, THE BUCKLE MAY NOT BE FULLY RETAINED. A SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE SECOND ROW LEFT HAND SEAT BELT BUCKLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN NOVEMBER 2, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.

Reported: 2005-11-01 (November 1, 2005)

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE.

Consequence: CONSEQUENTLY PARK MAY NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE LEVER IN THE VEHICLE IS MOVED TO PARK AND ALL INDICATORS SHOW PARK POSITION IS ACHIEVED. IF THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, AND THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED, THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ROLL-AWAY CONDITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 19, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.

Reported: 2006-04-20 (April 20, 2006)

CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, 'THEFT PROTECTION.' WHEN THE IGNITION IS SWITCHED OFF, AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, IT IS POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IS NOT IN PARK.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH RESULTING FROM THE UNINTENDED MOVEMENT OF PARKED VEHICLES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE DRIVELINE CONTROL TRANSFER BOX ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) WITH REVISED SOFTWARE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 30, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-201-818-8500.

Reported: 2007-01-17 (January 17, 2007)

SOME SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY HAVE FUEL TANKS THAT CONTAIN AN INTERNAL BREATHER PIPE THAT WAS NOT MADE TO SPECIFICATION. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXCESSIVE SWELLING AND CRACKING OF A GROMMET AND SUBSEQUENT DETACHMENT OF THE BREATHER PIPE FROM A CONNECTOR TUBE. WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE TANK IS ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE DETACHED JOINT, FUEL MAY THEN ENTER THE BREATHER PIPE AND EXCESS FUEL MAY BE DISCHARGED ONTO THE GROUND.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANKS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.

Reported: 2008-06-04 (June 4, 2008)

LAND ROVER IS RECALLING 37,142 MY 2005-2006 LR3 AND RANGE ROVER SPORT VEHICLES. RELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN THE STEERING WHEEL HUB AND/OR THE STEERING COLUMN COWL WITH THE CLOCKSPRING, WHICH INCLUDES THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG CIRCUITRY, COULD RESULT IN FRACTURING OF THE AIR BAG WIRING CONNECTION. IF AN AIR BAG WIRE FRACTURES, THE SRS WARNING LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE SRS WARNING LIGHT INDICATES TO THE DRIVER THAT THERE IS A CONCERN WITH THE SRS SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE AND THAT IMMEDIATE REPAIR IS NECESSARY.

Consequence: IF THE SRS WARNING LIGHT IS IGNORED AND A VEHICLE CRASH OF SUFFICIENT SEVERITY TO COMMAND DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG OCCURS, THE AIR BAG MODULE MAY NOT DEPLOY IN THE INTENDED MANNER. THE CONDITION MAY RESULT IN THE DEPLOYMENT OF ONLY ONE STAGE OF THE DUAL STAGE DRIVER'S AIR BAG OR THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY AT ALL INCREASING THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURIES TO THE DRIVER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSERT 1MM SPACERS BETWEEN THE LOWER LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE COLUMN SWITCH MOUNTING POINT AND THE COLUMN LOCK TO IMPROVE THE ALIGNMENT OF THE COLUMN SWITCH. TWO FOAM PADS WILL ALSO BE FITTED TO THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN SWITCH GEAR TO PROVIDE ASSURED CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE COWL AND THE CLOCKSPRING FACE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 30, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.