2003 Land Rover Range Rover: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 97 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (76% of complaints); the 2005 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Dec 2008
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 97 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Power Train · Jun 2022
“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!”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jun 2017
“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.”Owner report · Power Train · Jan 2017
Show 7 more owner reports
“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.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Dec 2016
“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.”Owner report · Power Train · Jun 2016
“Tl - the contact owns a 2003 land rover range rover. The contact stated that while driving 28 mph, suddenly the vehicle stop moving as if all the wheels locked and the check engine warning lamp illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The technician diagnosed that the timing belt and heater hose broke and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 141,626. Pm”Owner report · Engine · Jan 2011
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 land rover range rover. The contact stated that the tilt and telescoping motors failed and were inoperable. The bracket that held the telescoping motor wires together fractured and the contact was unable to adjust the steering wheel forward or backward. The contact stated that the telescoping motor fell behind the brakes and caused the brakes to not fully engage when being depressed. The dealer disconnected the motors from the wires but did not replace the motors. The dealer advised that because of the age of the vehicle, the repairs would be at the contact's expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 106,911.”Owner report · Steering · Sep 2010
“Tilt steering column failure causing steering wheel to move freely. Telescoping feature causing free movement of steering wheel on the vertical axis. *tr”Owner report · Steering · Apr 2009
“The steering column, reach motor, is getting stuck. And I heard this isn't 1st complaint regarding, reach motor in 04 landrover range rover, hse. *tr”Owner report · Steering · Mar 2009
“I was traveling above 30 mph, when I heard a loud noise come from under my vehicle. About a minute later, my back wheels lock down and I lost controlled of my vehicle. This the first time this ever happen. The bolts came loose from the left axle cause the hand brake cable to pop off and wrapped around the axle. The vehicle was towed. New left rear axle and new brake cable asy. I think the shop still have the parks. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Feb 2009
When filing, owners marked a crash in 1 of these complaints and injuries in 0 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
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.
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.
How other years compare
Check your exact Range Rover 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 2003 Land Rover Range Rover reliable?
NHTSA has 97 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 2003 Land Rover Range Rover. The most complained-about area is power train (76% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2003 Land Rover Range Rover problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 66,103 miles or less.
Does the 2003 Land Rover Range Rover have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning power train:driveline:driveshaft. 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.