2003 Land Rover RANGE ROVER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
97 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
66,052 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 84 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit is the most frequently named component, appearing in 47 of 97 complaints (48.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 13.4% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 10.3% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 9.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 3.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 47 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 16 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 11 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 7 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 47; Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft: 16; Power Train:Driveline: 11; Power Train: 8; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 7; Steering: 6; Electrical System: 5; Service Brakes: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 33 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 19 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 33; 75,000 to 99,999: 19; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (33). 13 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 24 |
| 2008 | 28 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2005: 9; 2006: 10; 2007: 24; 2008: 28; 2009: 8; 2010: 3; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10021587 · 2003-07-11 (July 11, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE REAR PASSENGERS STARTED TO COUGH, THE CONSUMER TURNED AROUND AND NOTICED SMOKE FILLING THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. WITHIN SECONDS, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. *AK *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028687 · 2003-07-21 (July 21, 2003)
RUNNING LIGHTS WAY TOO BRIGHT ON THE BACK OF A NEW LAND ROVER.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10056588 · 2004-02-05 (February 5, 2004)
THE REMOTE KEY FOR THE VEHICLE WORKS INTERMITTENTLY WITH A MIND OF ITS OWN. SOMETIMES IT WORKS, SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T. THIS MEANS THAT THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES REMAINS UNLOCKED UNKNOWINGLY AND GREATLY DELAYS UNLOCKING THE VEHICLE AND GAINING ENTRANCE TO THE CAR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10056588 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111472 · 2005-02-14 (February 14, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE DIFFERENTIAL BROKE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE CAME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115183 · 2005-04-18 (April 18, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY LOST POWER. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SHOULDER OF INTERSTATE, AVOIDING ACCIDENTS. WHEN TAKEN TO GET SERVICED IT WAS DETERMINED THAT DRIVESHAFT SPLIT.*AK PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL AND THE FRONT SWAY BAR. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO MALFUNCTIONED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, DOWNSHIFTING BY ITSELF AND THEN FAILING TO COME OUT OF THIRD GEAR FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. SHUTTERING SOUND FROM FRONT END AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO RECTIFY T…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,391 miles reported. Look up ODI 10115183 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115550 · 2005-03-30 (March 30, 2005)
WHENEVER THE TEMPERATURE FELL BELOW 10 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT THE ELECTRONIC AIR SUSPENSION IN THE CONSUMER'S 2003 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER BECAME INACTIVE. *NM THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115624 · 2005-03-18 (March 18, 2005)
LETTER FROM THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD REFERENCING A COMPLAINT FOR 2003 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER-CORRESPONDENCE NOT ENCLOSED AS REFERENCED IN THEIR LETTER. *BF *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10115624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118373 · 2005-04-25 (April 25, 2005)
DRIVING ON I-280 AND THE CAR MADE A METAL-TO-METAL GRINDING NOISE (VERY LOUD), PULLED OVER TORWARDS THE NEXT EXIT (BARELY MADE IT TO THE MEDIAN) AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. OTHER THAN "PARK", THE CAR MADE A TERRIBLY LOUD GRINDING NOISE IN ALL GEARS AND SPORT MODE. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE/DRIVE. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. TOLD THIS MORNING BY SERVICE ADVISER THAT SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE LAST TIME IN FOR SERVICE RE POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT. APPEARS FROM MY RESEARCH THAT TSB 540103 ISSUED…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118373 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
08V635000 · Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
Reported: 2008-12-03 (December 3, 2008)
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.
Consequence: CONTINUED VEHICLE OPERATION CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN THE SPLINES SHEARING AND A LOSS OF DRIVE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗