LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER · model year

2003 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER

133 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2003LAND ROVERRANGE ROVER carries 133 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 1 fire, 0 injuries, 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 2003 RANGE ROVER is power train:driveline:differential unit with 47 filings, followed by power train:driveline:driveshaft (16) and power train:driveline (11). 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. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 2 investigation files overlapping the 2003 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.

133
Complaints
1
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

133 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT47
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT16
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE11
POWER TRAIN8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION7
STEERING6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5
SERVICE BRAKES4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
SUSPENSION3
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES1

Recalls (1)

08V63500003/12/2008

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

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 VIB

Recent Complaints

20220606POWER TRAIN

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.

Mileage: 119,000

20180412AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. THE AIRBAG LIGHT JUST STAY ON.

Mileage: 116,000

20171110POWER TRAIN

DRIVING DOWN A ROAD LOST POWER AND MADE GRINDING NOISE.

Mileage: 118,502

20170816SERVICE BRAKES

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!

Mileage: 170,000

20170816ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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!

Mileage: 170,000

20170816POWER TRAIN

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!

Mileage: 170,000

20170221SERVICE BRAKES

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.

Mileage: 83,000

20170221POWER TRAIN

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.

Mileage: 83,000

20170221SERVICE BRAKES

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.

Mileage: 83,000

20170221ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 83,000

20170221UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

Mileage: 83,000

20160613POWER TRAIN

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.

Mileage: 160,000

20150412CrashSTEERING

THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE VEHICLE TURNS BUT JUST MAKES A CLICKING NOISE AND DOES NOT ACTUALLY TURN THE WHEELS. *TR

Mileage: 81,800

20140520SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE VEHICLE IS OPERATING, THE AIR SUSPENSION, ABS, BRAKE, HDC WARNINGS LIGHTS COME ON AND VEHICLE LOCKS FRONT RIGHT BREAK BY ITSELF WITHOUT ANY BRAKE BEING APPLIED, WHEN IS WET OR ICE ON THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE SLIDES TOWARDS THE RIGHT. I CONTACTED LAND ROVER CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER TO REPORT THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING WITH THE VEHICLE AS THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER DOES NOT APPEAR AS PART OF THE RECALL FOR BAD YAW RATE SENSORS ON THEIR DATABASE. I KNOW NOW FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE, THAT THIS A MAYOR SITUATION WITH MANY LAND ROVER OWNERS, BUT THE AUTOMAKER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR, FOR PEOPLE TO DIE DUE TO THIS DEFFECTIVE YAW RATE SENSORS? I HOPE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING FOR ALL LAND ROVER OWNERS AND FINALLY GET LAND ROVER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND CORRECTLY ADDRESS THEM. *TR

Mileage: 78,450

20140520SUSPENSION

WHILE VEHICLE IS OPERATING, THE AIR SUSPENSION, ABS, BRAKE, HDC WARNINGS LIGHTS COME ON AND VEHICLE LOCKS FRONT RIGHT BREAK BY ITSELF WITHOUT ANY BRAKE BEING APPLIED, WHEN IS WET OR ICE ON THE ROAD, THE VEHICLE SLIDES TOWARDS THE RIGHT. I CONTACTED LAND ROVER CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER TO REPORT THE PROBLEMS THAT I AM HAVING WITH THE VEHICLE AS THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SPECIALLY DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, AND WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE VIN NUMBER DOES NOT APPEAR AS PART OF THE RECALL FOR BAD YAW RATE SENSORS ON THEIR DATABASE. I KNOW NOW FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ONLINE, THAT THIS A MAYOR SITUATION WITH MANY LAND ROVER OWNERS, BUT THE AUTOMAKER REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM, WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR, FOR PEOPLE TO DIE DUE TO THIS DEFFECTIVE YAW RATE SENSORS? I HOPE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING FOR ALL LAND ROVER OWNERS AND FINALLY GET LAND ROVER TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM AND CORRECTLY ADDRESS THEM. *TR

Mileage: 78,450

20140301STEERING

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL JUST DROPPED DOWN. *TR

Mileage: 105,600

20140113ENGINE

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

Mileage: 141,626

20130813STEERING

MY VEHICLE WAS DRIVING JUST FINE AND THEN THE NEXT TIME I WENT TO DRIVE IT WOULDN'T START,THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I CALLED MY DAD OVER WHO IS A MECHANIC AND HE ADVISED IT WAS MAYBE THE BATTERY.I ENDED UP CALLING ON M ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AND GET FIXED. THE MECHANIC AFTER A WEEK TOLD ME ABOUT MULTIPLE SCENARIOS IT COULD BE. AFTER DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY THE CAR WAS ABLE TO START AND I DROVE IT TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION. THIS MECHANIC ADVISED ME TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND I DID AND NOW AFTER TWO MONTHS THE VEHICLE WILL STILL NOT START! SO THEN I LOOKED ONLINE SEARCHING FOR AN ANSWER AND THAT WHEN I DISCOVERED PAGE AFTER PAGE OF PEOPLE ONLINE POSTING IN FORUMS LOOKING FOR ANSWERS TO THE SAME ISSUES WITH THERE 03 RANGE ROVER ,WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUES SOUNDS MECHANICS TELLING THEM THE SAME DIAGNOSIS! I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION AFTER TALKING TO RANGE ROVER DIRECTLY THAT AFTER RUNNING MY VIN THE STEERING COLUM

20130813ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY VEHICLE WAS DRIVING JUST FINE AND THEN THE NEXT TIME I WENT TO DRIVE IT WOULDN'T START,THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN. I CALLED MY DAD OVER WHO IS A MECHANIC AND HE ADVISED IT WAS MAYBE THE BATTERY.I ENDED UP CALLING ON M ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A SHOP TO HAVE IT LOOKED AND GET FIXED. THE MECHANIC AFTER A WEEK TOLD ME ABOUT MULTIPLE SCENARIOS IT COULD BE. AFTER DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY THE CAR WAS ABLE TO START AND I DROVE IT TO A DIFFERENT MECHANIC FOR A SECOND OPINION. THIS MECHANIC ADVISED ME TO REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH AND I DID AND NOW AFTER TWO MONTHS THE VEHICLE WILL STILL NOT START! SO THEN I LOOKED ONLINE SEARCHING FOR AN ANSWER AND THAT WHEN I DISCOVERED PAGE AFTER PAGE OF PEOPLE ONLINE POSTING IN FORUMS LOOKING FOR ANSWERS TO THE SAME ISSUES WITH THERE 03 RANGE ROVER ,WITH THE EXACT SAME ISSUES SOUNDS MECHANICS TELLING THEM THE SAME DIAGNOSIS! I HAVE COME TO THE CONCLUSION AFTER TALKING TO RANGE ROVER DIRECTLY THAT AFTER RUNNING MY VIN THE STEERING COLUM

20100924STEERING

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.

Mileage: 106,911

Compare 2003LAND ROVERRANGE ROVER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2003 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER have?
The 2003 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER has 133 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER?
Yes, the 2003 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER?
The most-complained component for the 2003 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER is POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT with 47 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT and POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE.
Is the 2003 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.