2005 Land Rover LR3: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 96 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is suspension (16% of complaints); the 2006 and 2007 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jun 2008
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 96 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Others of same model and year were recalled and mine was not, despite having same issue with airbag fault in steering column”Owner report · Air Bags · Jul 2020
“Shoulder bracket manufacturing defect, all years, probably lr4 as well as eoropean and international models discovery 3 and 4, range rover sport casting splits and cracks at multiple points around bolt hole over time. 4 of 4 units I inspected with similarr failure. There was no incident, frayed seatbelt, ordered used replacement, they were as bad as the one on the vehicle, all were cracked. No accident with the vehicle. Factory original and one additional unit available for inspection.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Jul 2018
“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.”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2018
Show 7 more owner reports
“Driver and passenger seatbelt shoulder anchors have numerous cracks in them. I discovered this while removing internal body panels to diagnose rain water leaks/ingress.”Owner report · Seat Belts · Feb 2017
“Air bag light is on dash. Took to dealer and they said airbag and clock spring are bad because the wiring inside the airbag and clock spring are bad and I need to pay to replace otherwise my airbag will not deploy if needed. I asked them about recall 08v248000 (land rover is recalling over 37,000 lr3 and range rover sport vehicles. The relative motion between the steering wheel hub and/or steering column cowl with the clockspring, which contains air bag circuitry, could cause a fracture in the driver-side air bag wiring connection.) and they said nope not covered. I believe this recall should be taken into consideration when evaluating my airbag.”Owner report · Air Bags · Sep 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 land rover lr3. The contact stated that while driving at any speed, the brakes would independently activate. In addition, the steering wheel seized, the vehicle shook violently, and the rotor was bright red. The contact merged the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle shut off and restarted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was informed that the failure was electrical related. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure occurred multiple times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Sep 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 land rover lr3. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled intermittently after 10 to 15 miles of driving. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the alternator was defective and needed to replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the fuel tank failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 05v376000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Mar 2016
“The air ride suspension is totally dead. There was a recall years ago but I didnt get it done. Now when I search recalls its not there, because someone thinks the work was completed. That is simply false. I can barely drive this vehicle now because the left side dropped due to air suspension. The service guy told me the suspension was built improperly.”Owner report · Suspension · Mar 2016
“The dash on passenger side has developed a stright line crack around the airbag. This is not sun damage and the rest of the dash is perfect. I am beginning to worry that the airbag could deploy.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Mar 2016
“The dash has cracked all the way across even where the air bags are feel very unsafe with the bags may not deploy. At the time of an accident”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2016
Recalls - 5 campaigns
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.
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.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET THULE HITCH STYLE BICYCLE RACKS WITH FOLD DOWN STYLE BIKE ARMS. A PINCH BOLT EXISTS BETWEEN THE BIKE ARM BRACKET AND THE UPRIGHT ASSEMBLY OF THE HITCH STYLE BICYCLE RACK.
Remedy: THULE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 20, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT THULE AT 800-THULE91 (800-848-5391). NOTES: LAND ROVER PURCHASED SOME OF THESE BIKE RACKS FOR USE ON THEIR LR3 AND RANGE ROVER SPORT VEHICLES, PART NO. LRNAPBR4. L. L. BEAN ALSO SELLS SOME OF THESE BIKE RACKS UNDER THE MODEL NAME OF HITCHING POST PRO (WD75, WD76, WD77, WD78, YL05, BBG9, BBH1, BBH2, BBH4), EXPRESSWAY (WD72, WD73, BBH5, BBH6), OR TRAILBLAZER (WD31, BBH7). REI HAS ALSO PURCHASED SOME OF THESE BIKE RACKS UNDER MODEL NAMES: HITCHING POST PRO (934, 934XT, 935, 935XT, 936, 936XT, 937, 937XT, 951, 951XT), EXPRESSWAY (995, 995XT, 996, 996XT), AND TRAILBLAZER (998, 998XT).
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANKS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 12, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANKS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 24, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.
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.
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.
How other years compare
Check your exact LR3 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Land Rover LR3 reliable?
NHTSA has 96 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2005 Land Rover LR3. The most complained-about area is suspension (16% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2005 Land Rover LR3 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 42,000 miles or less.
Does the 2005 Land Rover LR3 have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning steering:column. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.