2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport: common problems

Owners of the 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport filed 26 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and air bags. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 26
involving a crash: 2

Land Rover Range Rover Sport 2006: 3D model with the “Powertrain” area highlighted — the most complained-about component — Yellow marks the “Powertrain” area, the component owners complain about most for this year. Illustrative only. 3D model: Mona x Supercars, CC Attribution.

What fails most often

1 Powertrain 31% of all complaints
2 Air bags 23% of all complaints
3 Suspension 23% of all complaints
4 Electrical system 15% of all complaints
5 Steering 15% of all complaints
6 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
7 Engine 4% of all complaints
8 Equipment 4% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Powertrain: 8 complaints (31% of all).
Air bags: 6 complaints (23% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Suspension: 6 complaints (23% of all).
Electrical system: 4 complaints (15% of all).
Steering: 4 complaints (15% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 26 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

knocking, grinding or other noise7 · 27%
overheating, coolant loss3 · 12%
warning lights, check engine3 · 12%
airbag warning light1 · 4%
airbags did not deploy1 · 4%
door locks, latches, handles1 · 4%
jerking, harsh shifts1 · 4%
won't start1 · 4%
oil leak or consumption1 · 4%
rollaway, parking brake1 · 4%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Powertrain	8	0
Air bags	6	2
Suspension	6	0
Electrical system	4	0
Steering	4	0
Engine and cooling	2	0
Engine	1	0
Equipment	1	0
Fuel system	1	0
Latches, locks, linkages	1	0
Seats	1	0
Structure	1	0
Vehicle speed control	1	0
Other	2	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

2006 ranger rover sport- major collision air bag for driver did not deploy, owner had car serviced at dealer a few days prior because of complaints about electrical flickering on dash lights, not advised of recall that may be problem. Serious head injury to driver.
Air bags · crash · 2008-07-22 · NHTSA complaint #10235331
The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The entire front end was damaged and the vehicle was towed to the repair shop. The mechanic stated that the air bags did not deploy due to the angle of the crash. The current and failure mileages were 28,000. Updated 03/06/08.
Air bags · crash · 2007-12-17 · NHTSA complaint #10212098
The airbag light is back on. The steering column spring is bad also. I have paid to repair the airbag twice. This airbag should be recalled. I think it is unsafe for me to drive it and the airbag will not deploy if needed in a car accident. Please help me by recalling the airbag so Land Rover can replace the airbag.
Air bags · 2021-10-18 · NHTSA complaint #11437204
Also when I start the car and put it in reverse the parking brake warning light come on, that also started happening a couple years ago. The above happened again yesterday and the day before, October 9, 2021.
Suspension · 2021-10-11 · NHTSA complaint #11436261
Sunroof drain tube becomes dry rough overtime , causing the elbow attached to the side fender to break off. Instead of water from the rain draining out . The passenger side floor becomes soak and wet causing electric damage to wiring that controls windows and chairs and sunroof etc
Electrical system · 2019-01-29 · NHTSA complaint #11172966
Key will not start vehicle due to electrical problem in the steering column. This is a very common and expensive problem with range rovers and the dealer knows it. Repair is $7,000.00 plus +
Electrical system · 2017-09-27 · NHTSA complaint #11030114
Air suspension system is malfunctioning. Vehicle bounces erratically at all road surfaces. Erratic bouncing at highway speeds may cause driver to overseer and leading to a catastrophic (accident) event.
Suspension · 2012-05-31 · NHTSA complaint #10460131
@ 65mph, I heard a muffled 'pop' coming from beneath and in front, and my 2006 range rover sport supercharged immediately lurched. A gear whine proceeded, which would react in pitch to my rate of speed. Feathering the throttle impacted the noise, and I suspected my front differential, or a front wheel bearing.
Powertrain · 2012-01-17 · NHTSA complaint #10444077

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20063
20075
20084
20091
20102
20113
20122
20171
20181
20191
20212
20241

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 7,316 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Range Rover Sport has 31 complaints (21 years in the data). This year has 26, below average.

What to check before buying

Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, air bags, suspension. Total complaints: 26. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (27%), overheating, coolant loss (12%), warning lights, check engine (12%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 2006 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.