2005 LAND ROVER LR3 Power Train Problems

After a heavy rainstorm in [XXX] , my 2005 Land Rover LR3 experienced catastrophic water intrusion through the A-pillar design flaw documented in Land Rover’s own TSB LA501-007. When I opened the passenger door, ~1.5 inches of water poured out. Immediately afterward, the vehicle developed multiple failures: flickering lights, radio inoperative, driver’s window stuck, ABS warning lights illuminated, “Transmission Fault” error displayed, and the air suspension automatically lowered into its fail-safe mode. This is not wear and tear. Land Rover has acknowledged the defect internally (A-pillar locator holes allowing water ingress into the footwell), but never issued a recall or owner notification. Flooding the footwell shorts the electrical/fuse boxes, causing cascading failures in braking, suspension, powertrain, and electrical systems. This presents a serious safety hazard as the vehicle may lose proper braking, suspension height, or drivetrain function simply from exposure to rain. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE REVVED UP, ALMOST GETTING INTO AN ACCIDENT, HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKE IN ORDER TO KEEP IT FROM TAKING OFF, IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, ENGINE CONTINUED RACING WHILE IN NUETRAL.

Mileage: 130,531

VEHICLE AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP STATIONARY WITH ENGINE RUNNING IN DRIVE, IE, STOP LIGHT, STOP SIGN, AND PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO GAS PEDAL THE VEHCLE FAILS TO MOVE FORWARD FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, MORE PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO GAS PEDAL TO ELICIT RESPONSE FROM VEHICLE AND SUDDENLY EVERYTHING SEEMS TO 'KICK' IN RESULTING IN A VIOLENT JOLT AS VEHICLE SUDDENLY REVS UP AND BEGINS TO MOVE. DELAY BETWEEN FORWARD MOVEMET AND APPLIED GAS PEDAL IS SEVERAL SECONDS AND HAPPENS OFTEN. VEHICHLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO VISIBLE ISSUES AND NO ERROR CODES BELIEVE TO BE PRESENT. WHEN READING ON THE ONLINE LAND ROVER FORUMS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND HAS RESULTED IN WHAT IS LIKELY TO BE SEVERAL THOUSAND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS BEFORE 85,000 MILES AND IS NOT SAFE. CONTINUES TO TAKE PLACE SINCE VEHICLE PURCAHSE. I HAVE REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT MY OWN COST AND DEFECT CONTINUES TO TAKE PLACE!

Mileage: 84,000

FRONT DIFFERENTIAL ROARING AND FEELS LIKE MAJOR DRAG ANYTIME YOU ARE NOT APPLYING GAS PETAL. HAD FRONT DIFFERENTIAL SERVICE DONE AND FLUID WAS FULL OF DEBRIS.THIS TRUCKS SUFFERED FROM A FAULTY COATING ON THE INSIDE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING FROM THE FACTORY BUT LANDROVER NEVER ISSUED A RECALL AND EXPECTS SOMEONE TO SPEND 4000 TO REPLACE THE PART. THEY DO NOT SELL ANY TYPE OF REBUILD KIT OR PARTS. I HAVE CONTINUED TO DRIVE MY LR3 AND IT DECREASED THE FUEL ECONOMY NOT TO MENTION THE ROARING NOISE. THE NOISE IS CONTINUOUS WHEN DRIVING. LANDROVER FORUMS SHOW PAGE AFTER PAGE OF DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEMS BUT LANDROVER WILL DO NOTHING.

Mileage: 58,000

FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHINING RESULTING IN NEEDING TO REPLACE

Mileage: 157,016

REAR LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL STARTED HUMMING. CURRENTLY (WITHIN 1000 MILES) IT GOT VERY LOUD. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT $3,200 OUT OF POCKET COSTS. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE FORUMS SEEMS LIKE THIS IS VERY COMMON ISSUE AND KNOWN TO MANUFACTURER. THEY SHOULD MAKE NATIONAL RECALL FOR ALL VEHICLES EXHIBITING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 69,700

2005 LAND ROVER LR3 WITH 84,000 MILES. BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIALS HAVE FAILED AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 84,000

EXPERIENCED NOISE AND VIBRATION IN THE DRIVER'S FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER REPORTS THAT BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIALS ON A 2005 LAND ROVER LR3 NEED REPLACING AT 83,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 83,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LAND ROVER LR3. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH IN THE SNOW, THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE. THE WHEELS LOCKED UP BRIEFLY. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,000. UPDATED 02-14-08. *KB THE VEHICLE BRIEFLY WENT INTO A SKID, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPDATED

Mileage: 65,000

TRANSMISSION DEFECTS. WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE LOUD ?CLUNKING? NOISES FROM THE TRANSMISSION AFTER ACCELERATING FROM A NEAR STOP. THIS RESULTS IN A VERY HARD SHIFT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SLAMS INTO 1ST GEAR, RATHER THAN STAY IN 2ND AND CONTINUE TO SHIFT FROM THERE. *TR

2005 LAND ROVER LR3 WITH BROKEN WIPER BLADES AND SUSPENSION PROBLEM**NAR**CC 07/19/07 DUP LETTER SEND IN**NAR**CC THE CONSUMER STATED HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW ON SEPT 1, 2005 UPON POSSESSING THE VEHICLE FOR 24 DAYS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES BROKE AND 19 DAYS AFTER THAT THE PLASTIC MOLDING FROM THE DRIVER'S DOOR FELL OFF AND NOT 13 DAYS LATER THE CAR WAS TOWED. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR SUSPENSION/DIFFERENTIAL, THE CONSUMER ALSO HEARD NOISE WHILE THE CAR WAS IN REVERSE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE REAR SUSPENSION COMPRESSOR. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE WORN NOT 11 MONTHS AFTER HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE POWER WINDOWS WERE IN OPERABLE, STEERING WHEEL IS PREMATURELY WORN AND A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE VEHICLE PERTAINING TO THE FUEL TANK. THE CONSUMER STATED WOULD LIKE A NEW VEHICLE OR CANCEL THE CONTRACT TO OBTAIN A REFUND FOR THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 07/24/07 *TR

Mileage: 3,441

MY 2005 LR3 HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE AIR SUSPENSION. THE COMPRESSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED 2 TIMES, AND I HAD 2 OR 3 DIFFERENT SOFTWARE UPDATES. RECENTLY IT STARTED WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ALSO AFFECTING THE ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE. FIRST TIME IN JAN 07 CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER, WHO SAID IT JUST NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE SECOND TIME JUST NOW IN APRIL I GOT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, ABS WARNING, SUSPENSION FAILURE. DEALER TOLD ME THAT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH LR3 AND NOTHING TO WORRY, IT JUST WAS ELECTRONIC AND NEEDED AGAIN ANOTHER COMPUTER UPDATE. BUT HOW CAN I KNOW IT IS STILL SAFE? I ALSO HAVE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH WINDOW SWITCHES AND STEERING WHEEL MOUNTED CONTROLS WHO GO TOTALLY CRAZY. *JB

TODAY, I WAS DRIVING MY 2005 LAND ROVER LR3 (WHICH I HAVE OWNED FOR A WEEK) DOWN A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT COMPLETELY LOCKED UP AND SLAMMED TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT THE CAR JUST MADE A GRINDING NOISE IN EVERY GEAR AND WAS COMPLETELY IMMOBILE. THE POLICE COULD NOT BUDGE IT, EVEN IN NEUTRAL. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD TO PULL IT UP ONTO THE TRUCK AS IT WOULD NOT EVEN ROLL. WHEN THE LAND ROVER DEALER TOOK A LOOK AT IT, THEY SAID THAT THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL WAS COMPLETELY GONE/RUINED AND THAT WAS "UNUSUAL". A NEW FRONT DIFFERENTIAL IS NOW ON ORDER, AND THEY EXPECT THAT WILL TAKE 3 WEEKS. WE FEEL LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AND NOT TO HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JB

Mileage: 22,637

WE HAVE OWNED THE LR3 MODEL OF LAND ROVER SINCE DEC. 2004, AND SINCE THE CAR WAS SIX MONTHS UP TO THE PRESENT DAY, THE CARE EXPERIENCES TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE AT ANY GIVEN RANDOM POINT IN TIME. WHEN THIS FAILURE OCCURS ONE CAN NOT CONTROL THE CAR, CAN NOT BRAKE, CAN NOT ACCELERATE, IT JUST FREEZES, AND STALLS ON YOU. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN JUNE WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED AND THIS OCCURRED TO ME THREE TIMES IN A ROW WITHIN HOURS. I HAD TO WAIT FOR THE CAR TO KICK ITSELF OUT OF ITS FROZEN TRANCE AND REGAINED CONTROL. TOOK IT THE NEXT DAY TO THE SERVICE AND THEY COULD NOT RE-CREATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY DID NOTHING. I ALSO FELT THEY DID NOT TAKE MY COMPLAINT SERIOUSLY. IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN AUGUST AND THEN IN SEPTEMBER AND THEY SAID THE CAR NEEDED SOFTWARE UPDATING, OR AT LEAST THAT WAS THE EXCUSE THEY GAVE TO ME THAT OCCASION. I KEPT EXPRESSING MY CONCERNS THAT IT WAS MORE THAN SOFTWARE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THEN SOON AFTER, I COULD NOT TURN THE CAR ON, THE CAR WOULD STALL WITH FREQUENCY AND SOME MORE COMPLETE FAILURES. SO AGAIN I TOOK IT BACK IN, AND THEY EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE CONDITION TWICE IN THEIR OWN SERVICE AREA. THE CAR WAS IN SERVICE FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS AND THEY CONCLUDED IT WAS "CABLE" TROUBLES. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE IN OUR OPINION THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN AND IF IT DOES THIS SERIOUSLY POSES A THREAT OF LIFE OR RISK OF INJURY NOT ONLY TO ME, MY SPOUSE, BUT ALSO TO MY CHILDREN, OR OTHERS ON THE ROAD. I AM NOT WILLING TO TAKE THAT GAMBLE AND WE ARE IN DISCUSSIONS ON REPLACING THE VEHICLE OR IF ALL ELSE FAILS WE WILL GO TO LITIGATION. *NM

Mileage: 10,500

DT THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHEN TRYING TO START IT. WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO STOP IT LURCHED. ALSO DID THIS IN REVERSE. TOOK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT HAS STALLED OUT A COUPLE OF TIMES COMING OUT AROUND A CORNER. THEN IT LURCHED AT SLOWER SPEEDS UNDER 20 MPH. *AK UPON ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE HESITATED. *JB

Mileage: 4,400

DT: IN FEBRUARY WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING, AND NO ELECTRICAL POWER IN THE VEHICLE. HE CAR RESTARTED. CONSUMER TOOK THE CAR HOME, AND THE CAR WAS DRIVEN TO DEALERSHIP. CONSUMER WAS PROVIDED WITH A LOANER CAR OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL, AND IT DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING. THE LOANER CAR STALLED AT A STOP SIGN, AND THEN RESTARTED RIGHT AWAY, BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE, AND THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED. THEN THE CAR WAS BEING TAKEN ACROSS COUNTRY IN MAY. THE VEHICLE HAD NO ELECTRICAL POWER. NO DASH BOARD LIGHTS, THEN IN JUNE 2005 THE CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD . THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE IT WOULDN'T GO ANY FASTER THAN 5 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE TOWED VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH SOME CHIP IN THE CAR, AND IT WAS PICKED UP THE NEXT DAY. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM AGAIN UNTIL LAST NIGHT WHEN BATTERY LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THEN CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND PUT THE CAR WAS IN PARK. THEN CONSUMER TRIED TO PUT IT IN DRIVE, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS LOCKED. THERE WAS VERY LOW POWER, THE WINDOWS WOULD ROLL DOWN SLOWLY. CONSUMER FOUND A WAY TO UNLOCK THE TRANSMISSION BY LOOKING IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THEN WAS ABLE TO GET IT INTO DRIVE BUT THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE ENGAGED. *AK

Mileage: 1,000