Skip to content
CarTipsMentor
Low view along the double yellow center line of a road at dusk

British make

Land Rover Car Guide: Common Problems, Maintenance & Best Used Models

What Land Rover owners report most, model by model, drawn from 2,400 complaints filed with the U.S. safety regulator. Plus recalls, a service schedule and the model years to check carefully.

Data as of 2010 to 2026 model years

Quick facts

Land Rover

Origin
British
Status
Sold new in the U.S.
Most complaints
Range Rover Sport (588)
Most-reported area
Engine
Busiest model year
2016 (290 complaints)
owner complaints on file with NHTSA
2,400
models with at least one complaint
11
of complaints mention engine
23%
recall campaigns covering the Range Rover Sport
49

01Common problems by model

Land Rover Common Problems by Model

The 8 Land Rover models with the most owner complaints, and the part of the car each complaint was about.

Land Rover models with the most NHTSA complaints, 2010 to 2026 model years
ModelComplaintsMost-reported areasModel year with the mostRecalls
Range Rover Sport588Engine and electrical system2016 (77)49
Range Rover449Steering and electrical system2016 (76)52
Range Rover Evoque365Engine and electrical system2015 (59)26
Defender299Electrical system and exterior lighting2023 (82)19
Discovery190Electrical system and engine2017 (55)17
Discovery Sport178Engine and powertrain2016 (52)13
LR4138Fuel or propulsion system and engine2016 (33)7
Range Rover Velar115Engine and electrical system2018 (43)13
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases, read on October 12, 2026. Complaints are reports filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each model were sold, so best-selling models appear higher.

The Range Rover Sport leads with 588 complaints, most of them about engine and electrical system. That does not make it the worst Land Rover. A model that sells in large numbers collects more reports, and these counts are not adjusted for sales.

Use the table to know where to look. If you own or are buying one of these models, ask about the area in the third column first, and price the repair with the repair cost estimator.

02Problem areas

Where Land Rover Problems Concentrate

Every Land Rover complaint names the part of the vehicle involved. These are the areas named most often across all 11 models.

By part of the vehicle

  1. Engine540 · 23%
  2. Electrical system526 · 22%
  3. Fuel or propulsion system305 · 13%
  4. Powertrain279 · 12%
  5. Steering262 · 11%
  6. Body structure180 · 8%

One complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

By model year

  1. 201092
  2. 2011118
  3. 2012116
  4. 2013131
  5. 2014138
  6. 2015218
  7. 2016290
  8. 2017261
  9. 2018182
  10. 2019139
  11. 2020226
  12. 202198
  13. 2022121
  14. 2023149
  15. 202467
  16. 202545
  17. 20269

Recent model years have had less time to gather complaints, so a short bar at the bottom is not yet good news.

03Best and worst used models

Land Rover Model Years to Check Carefully

The model years of each popular model that drew the most complaints. Start your questions there when you shop used.

How to choose a used car

  • 588 complaints

    Land Rover Range Rover Sport

    1. 201677 complaints
      11 recalls
    2. 201163 complaints
      2 recalls
    3. 201759 complaints
      6 recalls

    Mostly about engine and electrical system.

  • 449 complaints

    Land Rover Range Rover

    1. 201676 complaints
      13 recalls
    2. 201571 complaints
      8 recalls
    3. 201762 complaints
      8 recalls

    Mostly about steering and electrical system.

  • 365 complaints

    Land Rover Range Rover Evoque

    1. 201559 complaints
      1 recall
    2. 202053 complaints
      15 recalls
    3. 201647 complaints
      1 recall

    Mostly about engine and electrical system.

  • 299 complaints

    Land Rover Defender

    1. 202382 complaints
      10 recalls
    2. 202275 complaints
      7 recalls
    3. 202055 complaints
      8 recalls

    Mostly about electrical system and exterior lighting.

A year with many complaints is one to inspect closely, not one to rule out. The fault may have been fixed under recall, and a well-maintained car from a busy year can be a better buy than a neglected one from a quiet year.

Before you buy any used Land Rover, decode the VIN, check it for open recalls and follow the inspection checklist. A complaint count cannot tell you about the one car in front of you.

04Recalls

Land Rover Recalls by Model

The number of safety recall campaigns that cover each model, with the most recent ones listed.

  • Land Rover Range Rover Sport recalls

    49

    recall campaigns, 2010 to 2026 model years

    1. Sep 24, 2026Body structure: frame and members26V613000
    2. Sep 23, 2026Powertrain: automatic transmission26V607000
    3. Sep 17, 2026Electrical system: propulsion system26V599000
    4. May 12, 2026Seat belts: front26V297000
    5. Apr 17, 2026Electrical system: propulsion system26V248000

  • Land Rover Range Rover recalls

    52

    recall campaigns, 2010 to 2025 model years

    1. Sep 17, 2026Electrical system: propulsion system26V599000
    2. Aug 13, 2026Steering: linkages26V527000
    3. Jun 12, 2026Airbags: frontal26V389000
    4. Apr 17, 2026Electrical system: propulsion system26V248000
    5. Feb 19, 2026Body structure: exterior trim26V097000

  • Land Rover Range Rover Evoque recalls

    26

    recall campaigns, 2012 to 2025 model years

    1. Sep 17, 2026Electrical system: propulsion system26V599000
    2. Apr 17, 2026Electrical system: propulsion system26V248000
    3. Sep 25, 2025Backup camera system: sensing system25V645000
    4. Jul 7, 2025Airbags: passenger side frontal25V454000
    5. Feb 13, 2025Airbags: knee bolster25V088000

  • Land Rover Defender recalls

    19

    recall campaigns, 2020 to 2026 model years

    1. Sep 24, 2026Seat belts: rear/other26V615000
    2. Sep 17, 2026Electrical system: propulsion system26V599000
    3. Jun 12, 2026Airbags: frontal26V389000
    4. Apr 23, 2026Fuel system: storage26V263000
    5. Apr 17, 2026Electrical system: propulsion system26V248000
Check your VIN at NHTSA

A recall is free to have repaired at a Land Rover dealer. The lookup shows only the recalls still open on your vehicle.

05Maintenance schedule

Land Rover Maintenance Schedule

Typical service intervals for a gasoline Land Rover. Your owner’s manual has the exact figures for your engine.

Build a schedule for your mileage
Typical maintenance intervals for a Land Rover
ServiceTypical intervalGood to know
Engine oil and filter5,000 to 10,000 milesFull synthetic sits at the long end. Short trips and towing shorten it.
Tire rotation5,000 to 8,000 milesEasiest to do at every oil change.
Cabin air filter15,000 to 30,000 milesSooner in dusty or high-pollen areas.
Engine air filter15,000 to 30,000 milesInspect at every oil change and replace when dirty.
Brake fluidEvery 2 years or 30,000 milesIt absorbs moisture with age, whatever the mileage.
Transmission fluid30,000 to 60,000 milesVaries widely, and some manuals allow longer. Use only the specified fluid.
Engine coolant30,000 to 60,000 milesLong-life coolants can go further. Never mix types.
Drive belt inspection60,000 to 100,000 milesReplace at the first cracks, fraying or squeal.
Timing belt, if fitted60,000 to 100,000 milesEngines with a timing chain do not have this service.
Spark plugs30,000 to 100,000 milesCopper plugs wear fastest. Iridium and platinum last longest.
Typical intervals drawn from AAA's maintenance guidance, not Land Rover's own schedule. Follow the schedule in your owner's manual, and use its severe-service intervals if you tow, make short trips or drive in extreme heat or cold.
Maintenance by mileageOil change calculatorWhat each service costs

06Manufacturer OBD2 codes

Land Rover OBD2 Codes

How to read the codes a Land Rover stores, and why some of them mean something different on another make.

A Land Rover stores two kinds of trouble code. Generic codes, which have 0 as their second character, mean the same thing on every make: P0420 is a catalyst efficiency fault on a Land Rover exactly as it is on any other car. Manufacturer-specific codes, which have 1 as their second character, are defined by Land Rover and can mean something different elsewhere.

We do not publish a list of Land Rover’s own P1 codes, because we could not verify one against Land Rover’s service information. For a P1 code, use a scanner that reads Land Rover codes, or ask a Land Rover dealer to look it up.

Free toolLook up a generic codeMeaning, common causes and whether it is safe to keep driving.
How OBD2 code types work

07Related guides and tools

Next steps for Land Rover owners and buyers.

Guides

Free tools

All car brandsUsed car buying guide

08Questions

Land Rover: common questions.

What are the most common Land Rover problems?

Among 2010 to 2026 model-year Land Rover vehicles, the areas owners report most often to NHTSA are engine (23% of complaints), electrical system (22% of complaints) and fuel or propulsion system (13% of complaints). A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect.

Which Land Rover model has the most complaints?

The Range Rover Sport, with 588 complaints on file for 2010 to 2026 model years. Its 2016 model year has the most, at 77. Popular models attract more complaints simply because more of them are on the road.

How do I check a Land Rover for recalls?

Enter the 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. It shows safety recalls that have not been repaired on that exact vehicle, and recall repairs are carried out by the manufacturer's dealers at no charge.

How often does a Land Rover need servicing?

Most gasoline cars need an oil change and tire rotation every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, filters every 15,000 to 30,000 miles and brake fluid every two years. Your Land Rover owner's manual gives the exact schedule for your engine.

09About this guide

Where the figures come from.

Every count on this page comes from records published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and was read on . We count the records. We do not reproduce owners’ statements, and we do not rate or rank models ourselves.

CarTipsMentor is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Land Rover. The Land Rover name and logo belong to their owner and are used only to identify the make. Full disclaimer.

Sources

  1. [1]National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Vehicle owner complaints database
  2. [2]National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Safety recalls by vehicle
  3. [3]AAA Automotive, Time-Stamped Car Maintenance Checklist

Complaint counts cover 2010 to 2026 model years. Each complaint is counted once and assigned to the model named in the complaint. Counts change as new complaints are filed.