2005 Land Rover Range Rover: common problems

Owners of the 2005 Land Rover Range Rover filed 36 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and equipment. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 36
involving a crash: 1

What fails most often

1 Powertrain 58% of all complaints
2 Equipment 11% of all complaints
3 Steering 11% of all complaints
4 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
5 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
6 Suspension 8% of all complaints
7 Engine 6% of all complaints
8 Fuel 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.

Powertrain: 21 complaints (58% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Equipment: 4 complaints (11% of all).
Steering: 4 complaints (11% of all).
Electrical system: 3 complaints (8% of all).
Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (8% of all).

Engines and transmissions

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

4.4 L · petrol · 8 cyl
automatic, 5-speed

Drive: AWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 36 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

knocking, grinding or other noise6 · 17%
loss of power / limp mode4 · 11%
fuel system, fuel smell2 · 6%
stalls while driving2 · 6%
steering or power steering problems2 · 6%
vibration2 · 6%
airbag warning light1 · 3%
battery drain1 · 3%
door locks, latches, handles1 · 3%
hesitation when accelerating1 · 3%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash
Powertrain	21	1
Equipment	4	0
Steering	4	0
Electrical system	3	0
Engine and cooling	3	0
Suspension	3	0
Engine	2	0
Fuel system	1	0
Latches, locks, linkages	1	0
Structure	1	0
Wheels	1	0

What owners report

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

As I started up from a stop at a light I felt a clunking in the front end. I started to increase speed and attempted to make a sudden turn to avoid an obstacle in the road. The front end froze up.
Powertrain · crash · 2015-12-10 · NHTSA complaint #10809383
The contact heard an abnormal noise and felt a strong vibration when the vehicle was in motion. The vehicle was taken to two different independent mechanics where it was diagnosed that the front differential needed to be replaced. An unknown dealer was contacted to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was notified.
Suspension · 2018-03-02 · NHTSA complaint #11075863
The steering column will drop while driving. It is a known problem and land rover wants $1,900 or more to replace the steering column. I was travelling on the interstate and the steering wheel suddenly dropped on my knees.
Steering · 2017-06-15 · NHTSA complaint #10995345
I've had this vehicle for six years now and I have taking it for service three times for the valley pan & hot water pipe to be repaired...this is strange that these parts keep failing...this vehicle was in motion on the streets of new york.
Engine · 2015-10-14 · NHTSA complaint #10781890
The contact stated that there was a sudden loss of power and the timing chain skipped, which caused the vehicle to hesitate and potentially stall. The contact kept the vehicle parked due to it hesitating to start and being sluggish while traveling at any rate of speed.
Engine · 2015-06-29 · NHTSA complaint #10731074
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 land rover range rover. The contact was attempting to change a tire with the factory issued jack, the jack failed causing the vehicle to collapse and the rotor fell onto the wheel. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vin was unavailable. The failure mileage was 160,000.
Equipment · 2015-06-09 · NHTSA complaint #10724406
The rear passenger doors periodically lock and will not unlock nor open either by remote, interior console button, nor by interior door handles. Passengers must enter and exist via the front seat climbing to, or from, the back.
Latches, locks, linkages · 2014-09-06 · NHTSA complaint #10631270
Steering becomes hard regularly, have to restart vehicle to make the power steering reengage. This happens often; sometimes even when driving at high speed, power steering just goes out.
Equipment · 2013-08-12 · NHTSA complaint #10534926

When owners complained

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

20052
20061
20077
20087
20102
20113
20134
20141
20157
20171
20181

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 6,253 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 17% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Range Rover has 25 complaints (41 years in the data). This year has 36, above average.

What to check before buying

Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
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.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Land Rover Range Rover?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, equipment, steering. Total complaints: 36. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (17%), loss of power / limp mode (11%), fuel system, fuel smell (6%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2005 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 2005 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 2005 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.