2011 Land Rover Range Rover: common problems

Owners of the 2011 Land Rover Range Rover filed 15 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 15

What fails most often

1 Air bags 40% of all complaints
2 Engine 27% of all complaints
3 Fuel/propulsion system 27% of all complaints
4 Electrical system 7% of all complaints
5 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
6 Vehicle speed control 7% of all complaints

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

Air bags: 6 complaints (40% of all).
Engine: 4 complaints (27% of all).
Fuel/propulsion system: 4 complaints (27% of all).
Electrical system: 1 complaints (7% of all).
Service brakes: 1 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.

5 L · petrol · 8 cyl
5 L · petrol · turbo · 8 cyl
automatic, 6-speed

Drive: 4WD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 15 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

fuel system, fuel smell2 · 13%
knocking, grinding or other noise2 · 13%
smoke, burning smell, fire2 · 13%
engine failure or replacement1 · 7%
warning lights, check engine1 · 7%
windows, sunroof1 · 7%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Air bags	6	0	0
Engine	4	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	4	0	0
Electrical system	1	0	0
Service brakes	1	0	0
Vehicle speed control	1	0	0
Other	3	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.

The engine failed and began smoking profusely which inhabited my ability to see as well as other drivers within distance, which put all drivers and passengers at risk. The problem has been confirmed by an independent service center. The vehicle was inspected by a NYS certified mechanic.
Engine · 2025-01-28 · NHTSA complaint #11639160
My mechanic says the timing chain guides wear pre maturely causing knock in motor which could lead to catastrophic failure. There is an updated timing chain , however this job is 2-4k dollars to complete. The engine had an odd knocking sound but I had no indicator lights to warn me to service it or do anything.
Engine · 2019-11-17 · NHTSA complaint #11280657
Like another complaint on this site and others on the internet, a plastic flange on the fuel pump cracks. The dealership has no idea of this known problem. I believe this should be a recall item because leaking fuel is unsafe and can cause a catastrophic fire, explosion and loss of life.
Fuel/propulsion system · 2019-06-16 · NHTSA complaint #11220440
When I'm driving on the parkway the vehicle accelerates on it's own to 100mph+ then it cuts off.
Vehicle speed control · 2019-06-03 · NHTSA complaint #11217439
Consumer writes in regards to knocking noise coming from engine. The consumer stated the brakes were bad and unsafe.
Engine · 2019-02-26 · NHTSA complaint #11175652
2011 range rover. Consumer writes in regards to takata airbag safety recall. The consumer stated the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to complete the recall repair. Updated 10/24/2017
Air bags · 2017-10-24 · NHTSA complaint #11035029
Takata recall. This recall has been for almost 1 year, and land rover has not done anything about it. I basically cannot drive with any passengers in the front seat.
Air bags · 2017-03-30 · NHTSA complaint #10969644
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 land rover range rover. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v356000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
Air bags · 2017-02-21 · NHTSA complaint #10955748

When owners complained

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

20163
20174
20183
20194
20251

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 9,286 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 25% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Range Rover has 25 complaints (41 years in the data). This year has 15, below average.

What to check before buying

Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Fuel/propulsion 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.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Land Rover Range Rover?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, engine, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 15. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (13%), knocking, grinding or other noise (13%), smoke, burning smell, fire (13%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2011 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 2011 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 2011 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.