1999 Land Rover Range Rover: common problems

Owners of the 1999 Land Rover Range Rover filed 29 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 29

What fails most often

1 Engine and cooling 21% of all complaints
2 Powertrain 17% of all complaints
3 Service brakes 17% of all complaints
4 Steering 17% of all complaints
5 Air bags 7% of all complaints
6 Fuel system 7% of all complaints
7 Tires 7% of all complaints
8 Electrical system 3% of all complaints

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

Engine and cooling: 6 complaints (21% of all).
Powertrain: 5 complaints (17% of all).
Service brakes: 5 complaints (17% of all).
Steering: 5 complaints (17% of all).
Air bags: 2 complaints (7% of all).

Engines and transmissions

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

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

Drive: AWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 29 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

steering or power steering problems4 · 14%
airbag warning light2 · 7%
fuel system, fuel smell2 · 7%
knocking, grinding or other noise2 · 7%
brake failure1 · 3%
A/C or heater1 · 3%
door locks, latches, handles1 · 3%
oil leak or consumption1 · 3%
overheating, coolant loss1 · 3%
loss of power / limp mode1 · 3%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Engine and cooling	6	0	0
Powertrain	5	0	0
Service brakes	5	0	0
Steering	5	0	0
Air bags	2	0	0
Fuel system	2	0	0
Tires	2	0	0
Electrical system	1	0	0
Equipment	1	0	0
Latches, locks, linkages	1	0	0
Seat belts	1	0	0
Seats	1	0	0
Structure	1	0	0
Suspension	1	0	0

What owners report

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

All 4 wheels locked up as the car was driving bringing car to an abrupt stop. If another car had been behind me we would have been rear ended and if it happened at a high rate of speed the car an accident would have occurred.
Tires · 2009-09-01 · NHTSA complaint #10282555
The contact heard a rattling sound and noticed that the heat shield surrounding the muffler was compromised. He took the vehicle to several dealers, but they could not locate any failure. The contact stated that the heat from the exhaust melted the plastic gas tank and surrounding wires.
Engine and cooling · 2009-04-21 · NHTSA complaint #10266247
Since then, the owners of vehicles with plastic components have suffered brake failures resulting from the break down of the plastic components. This is absolutely a safety issue and there needs to be a recall. People could die!
Service brakes · 2008-09-14 · NHTSA complaint #10242124
Tl contact owns a 1999 land rover range rover. The contact took her vehicle to the dealer because of a cracking noise she heard near the front suspension. The dealer reassembled the air suspension and informed her that it should correct the failure.
Suspension · 2008-08-04 · NHTSA complaint #10236854
Tl contact owns a 1999 land rover range rover. While stopped at a red light, the vehicle would not accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. The engine continued to run. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated.
Powertrain · 2007-08-02 · NHTSA complaint #10198306
Dear sir, have you been aware of an inadvertent long travel issue of service brake at older (series I-ii) ranger rovers ? This is already a known issue in japan by initiating a surprise audit by japan ministry of land infrastructure and transport (mlit) against the national sales company, premium automobile…
Service brakes · 2006-11-14 · NHTSA complaint #10173522
Dt*: the contact stated that the passenger rear side tire sidewall developed a crack which progressively worsened. The contact was unsure of proper air pressure. The tire was about a year and a half old at the time of the incident. The tires had been regularly serviced, rotated and had pressure checks.
Tires · 2006-06-28 · NHTSA complaint #10161007
Dt*: the contact stated the rear passenger seat belt buckle came apart and is inoperable. Also, the rear driver side seat belt is beginning to come apart. The dealership was alerted, but the vehicle has not been inspected. Updated 05/02/06.
Seat belts · 2006-03-24 · NHTSA complaint #10153632

When owners complained

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

19995
20005
20013
20021
20042
20052
20065
20072
20082
20092

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 6,958 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 19% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Range Rover has 25 complaints (41 years in the data). This year has 29, above average.

What to check before buying

Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
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 1999 Land Rover Range Rover?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, powertrain, service brakes. Total complaints: 29. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (14%), airbag warning light (7%), fuel system, fuel smell (7%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 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 1999 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.

Other 1999 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.