1989 Land Rover Range Rover: common problems

Owners of the 1989 Land Rover Range Rover filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 5
involving a crash: 1

What fails most often

1 Fuel system 40% of all complaints
2 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
3 Engine and cooling 20% of all complaints
4 Steering 20% of all complaints
5 Vehicle speed control 20% of all complaints

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

Fuel system: 2 complaints (40% of all).
Electrical system: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Steering: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.

Engines and transmissions

US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.

3.9 L · petrol · 8 cyl
automatic, 4-speed

Drive: AWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 5 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

fuel system, fuel smell1 · 20%
rust, corrosion1 · 20%
smoke, burning smell, fire1 · 20%
unintended acceleration1 · 20%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Fuel system	2	0
Electrical system	1	0
Engine and cooling	1	0
Steering	1	0
Vehicle speed control	1	1

What owners report

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

Sudden acceleration, causing loss of control/accident/injury. (attorney for client)
Vehicle speed control · crash · 1996-03-10 · NHTSA complaint #485184
The contact stated that while parked, fuel leaked from the rear of the vehicle without warning. The failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 95v155000 (fuel system, gasoline).
Fuel system · 2014-11-04 · NHTSA complaint #10652354
The fuel tank is corroded at the bottom and leaks gas. The manufacturer stated that the vin was repaired for nhtsa recall # 95v155000 nine years ago and they will not make the repair.
Fuel system · 2007-06-08 · NHTSA complaint #10192793
Parts supplier says this is a problem associated with this vehicle and that shorts may cause fire. Manufacturer states "it's not a problem until they say it's a problem". Per their recommendation, part will be taken to service dealer for inspection.
Electrical system · 2000-09-05 · NHTSA complaint #729427

When owners complained

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

19961
19991
20001
20071
20141

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Range Rover has 25 complaints (41 years in the data). This year has 5, below average.

What to check before buying

Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1989 Land Rover Range Rover?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, electrical system, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (20%), rust, corrosion (20%), smoke, burning smell, fire (20%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Land Rover Range Rover?

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 1989 Land Rover Range Rover 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.

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.