LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER · model year

1997 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER

27 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997LAND ROVERRANGE ROVER carries 27 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 7 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1997 RANGE ROVER is engine and engine cooling:cooling system with 2 filings, followed by engine (2) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 1997 RANGE ROVER. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

27
Complaints
3
Crashes
7
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

27 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM2
ENGINE2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE1
TIRES:SIDEWALL1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS1
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES1

Recent Complaints

20170311ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

I HAVE THE LIGHT FOR THE CHECK ENGINE ON. THE MECHANIC CHANGE THE ENGINE AND STILL THE LIGHT ON. AND WHILE I DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. IT'S STOP SUDDENLY AND CUT POWER. I CALL AAA TO PICK IT UP AND IT WAS THE DYNAMITIC AND I FIXED, BUT IT TURN IT AND STOP WHILE I DRIVE IT AGAIN. ALSO MANY TIME WHEN I START THE POWER IT'S NOT START FROM FIRST TIME. I HAVE TO TRY MANY TIME UNTIL IT CATCH POWER TO START THE ENGINE..

Mileage: 12

20170311ENGINE

I HAVE THE LIGHT FOR THE CHECK ENGINE ON. THE MECHANIC CHANGE THE ENGINE AND STILL THE LIGHT ON. AND WHILE I DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. IT'S STOP SUDDENLY AND CUT POWER. I CALL AAA TO PICK IT UP AND IT WAS THE DYNAMITIC AND I FIXED, BUT IT TURN IT AND STOP WHILE I DRIVE IT AGAIN. ALSO MANY TIME WHEN I START THE POWER IT'S NOT START FROM FIRST TIME. I HAVE TO TRY MANY TIME UNTIL IT CATCH POWER TO START THE ENGINE..

Mileage: 12

20170311EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE THE LIGHT FOR THE CHECK ENGINE ON. THE MECHANIC CHANGE THE ENGINE AND STILL THE LIGHT ON. AND WHILE I DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. IT'S STOP SUDDENLY AND CUT POWER. I CALL AAA TO PICK IT UP AND IT WAS THE DYNAMITIC AND I FIXED, BUT IT TURN IT AND STOP WHILE I DRIVE IT AGAIN. ALSO MANY TIME WHEN I START THE POWER IT'S NOT START FROM FIRST TIME. I HAVE TO TRY MANY TIME UNTIL IT CATCH POWER TO START THE ENGINE..

Mileage: 12

20150211TIRES

MICHELIN LATITUDETOUR HP 255/65R16 SIDEWALL FAILURE. INSIDE SIDEWALL PERFORATION CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF PRESSURE. SAME MODEL TIRE AS COVERED BY PREVIOUS RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13T006000 COMPONENT(S): TIRES NO DAMAGE TO TIRE OTHER THAN SIDEWALL FAILURE. FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN VEHICLE PARKED. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

20141229FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SMOKE BEGAN TO EMIT THROUGH THE VENTS AND THE HOOD. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 00V328000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Mileage: 180,000

20090409FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER, OPENED THE DOOR, AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEEDED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND HAS NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

20090225ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

NEW ENGINE, RADIATOR, ALTERNATOR, TRANSMISSION. *TR

20041022SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

ON THE MORNING OF OCTOBER 18, I BEGAN PLACING MY BABY'S INFANT CARRIER SEAT INTO THE BASE ALREADY INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE'S REAR PASSENGER OUTBOARD SEAT. I NOTICED THAT IT SEEMED LOOSE AND REMOVED THE BASE FOR CLOSER INSPECTION. THE BASE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN INSTALLED CORRECTLY WITH THE RETRACTOR SWITCHED TO ALR MODE (I AM A CPS TECHNICIAN). I FOUND THAT THE RETRACTOR WAS NO LONGER RATCHETING AND SIMPLY MADE A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN PULLED. I CANNOT VERIFY IF IT IS WORKING IN ELR MODE, AS IT STICKS MAKES STRANGE SOUNDS. I MOVED THE CAR SEAT TO THE OTHER REAR OUTBOARD POSITION IMMEDIATELY.*AK

20030702ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR A RECALL, UPON PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER STATED" THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO JUMP UP AND DOWN, AS A RESULT THE DRIVER SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES. *AK THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE ONBOARD COMPUTER WHICH STARTED SIGNALING TO CHECK THE ENGINE ACCOMPANIED BY SEVERE SIREN TYPE NOISES. WHILE IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ALERTED THE PASSENGERS WITH A BEEPING NOISE AND THE ONBOARD COMPUTER DISPLAYED AN EAS (ELECTRONIC ACUATION SYSTEM) FAULT. A FEW SECONDS LATER THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY JOLTED. THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME, SHE LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND THE CONSUMER REACHED FOR THE STEERING WHEEL TO AVOID HITTING THE MEDIAN, THEN THE COMPUTER SIGNALED TO REDUCE THE SPEED TO 35 MPH. *SCC *JB

Mileage: 55,493

20021113FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE JUMPED UP TO HIGH AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE HOOD, THE CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND A PASSER BY GAVE HER A RIDE TO A SERVICE STATION, UPON RETURNING THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, POSSIBLY ENGINE RELATED. *YH

20020807ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

CONSUMER HEARD RATTLING IN REAR OF VEHICLE, DEALER DETERMINED CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BROKE UP INSIDE, AND HAS TO BE REPLACED.*AK

20010912VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

THE PLUG OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR POPPED OUT AND HOT LIQUID HAD DRIPPED ONTO THE DASH AND RADIO, LITERALLY MELTING THE NUMBERS OF THE RADIO BUTTON AND FUSED THREE IF THEM TOGETHER.

20010912STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

THE DRIVER'S DOOR PANEL IS COMING OFF.

20010912STRUCTURE:BODY

THE GLOVE BOX IN BETWEEN THE TWO FRONT SEATS DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY.

20000622VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

WINDSHIELD CRACKS VERY EASILY. WINDSHIELD HAS CRACKED TWICE DUE TO A LITTLE PEBBLE. FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS OVER A YEAR AGO, AND AGAIN ON JUNE 21, 2000. *AK *ML

20000316FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

THERE WAS A FUNNY ODOR. I PULLED INTO THE DRIVE WAY, GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND NOTICED THE FIRE UNDERNEATH THE CAR TOWARDS THE FRONT END. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A TRANS VENT TUBE MODIFICATION, WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED ON MY CAR. *AK

20000316FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THERE WAS A FUNNY ODOR. I PULLED INTO THE DRIVE WAY, GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND NOTICED THE FIRE UNDERNEATH THE CAR TOWARDS THE FRONT END. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A TRANS VENT TUBE MODIFICATION, WHICH WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED ON MY CAR. *AK

19990614FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL

"O" RINGS IN THE 3RD INJECTOR ON THE LEFT BANK FAILED, CAUSING GAS TO LEAK OVER VALVE COVER AND BACKSIDE OF AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR AND SPRAY UNTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING A FIRE. *AK

19990607SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

REAR SEAT BROKE. WHEN VEHICLE ACCELERATED, THE SEAT FELL BACK. *AK

19990312ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING ALL COOLANT FLUID GUSHED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS COULD HAV ECAUSED DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO. *AK

Compare 1997LAND ROVERRANGE ROVER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER have?
The 1997 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER has 27 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 7 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER?
The most-complained component for the 1997 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1997 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.