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Land Rover LR3Model year report

2005 Land Rover LR3 Problems

Complaints
96filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
38,727miles, 73 complaints with mileage
Recalls
4campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
14 mpgcombined, 4.0L 6-cyl 4WD/AWD · 13 city / 18 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2005 Land Rover LR3 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe air suspension trouble, water entering the cabin through blocked sunroof and windshield drains, and fast, uneven inside-edge tire wear that many link to alignment or suspension geometry. Fuel tank and fuel connector problems appear mostly in early-life complaints, while transmission concerns and differential noise show up more often at higher mileage.

  1. Tires

    Premature inside-edge tire wear

    • 20 complaints (21%)
    • median 20,650 mi at 3.0 yrs old (18 state mileage)
    • filed 2006–2013

    Owners report the inner edges of the tires wearing to the cord or steel belt well before the tread life is used up, sometimes with vibration or a tin-can sound, and usually on all four tires. Several say the dealer replaced tires or performed alignments that did not stop the wear, and some were told the truck's suspension or alignment geometry was the reason. A few note they were told the wear was normal. Mostly reported between roughly 8,000 and 60,000 miles, often discovered at routine service.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Look at the inner sidewalls and inside tread edges of all four tires, not just the outer face, and ask for recent alignment records.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The manufacturer's recommended tires (goodyear wrangler all weather m+s 255/55vr19) on landrover LR3 models are wearing prematurely by cupping and underlayment showing through on inside of tire tread where unevenly worn. Mine did this at 25k miles, but I was lucky - after researching through various blogs I've found many needed all tires replaced even under 14k miles. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10198650, filed 2007-08, 25,300 miles

    “I purchased my 2005 Land Rover LR3 certified pre-owned with just 17.999 miles on it. Just 7 short months later with an additional 8,000 miles on it, totaling approximately 25,300 miles, the tires (which were supposedly brand new at time of purchase) were completely bald, and the steering column went out on it.”

    NHTSA complaint #10245106, filed 2008-10, 25,363 miles
  2. Fuel system

    Fuel smell, leaks and stalling linked to the fuel tank

    • 18 complaints (19%)
    • median 12,101 mi at 1.7 yrs old (12 state mileage)
    • filed 2005–2019

    Owners describe a strong fuel smell after filling up, fuel dripping or pouring from under the rear of the vehicle, and stalling or hesitation at idle or low speed, in some cases when the tank is below a quarter full. Dealers and mechanics attributed several cases to a cracked connector or detached breather/hose on the fuel tank or sending unit. Some owners say the problem returned even after recall work was performed. Mostly under about 25,000 miles, often shortly after refueling.

    Recall 07V011000Recall 05V3760001 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask whether the fuel tank recall work was completed and by whom, and check for a fuel smell around the rear of the vehicle shortly after a fill-up.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Since purchasing my second hand 2005 Land Rover LR3 in 2013, I have had problems with the fuel system. I experience drivability concerns such as hesitation, misfire, stalling, rough running, and difficulty in starting, and the 'check engine' light is almost always illuminated. I have been concerned about these issues, and have spent a lot of money chasing the problem by replacing equipment and spending a lot of time in doing so. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11281580, filed 2019-11, 172,000 miles

    “Fuel leak while driving. I was driving through a mountain pass (during extreme fire danger btw) with the windows open. I smell gas... I pull over when I finally can about 2 miles later. I see gas pouring out the right rear of the car, on top of the hot exhaust pipe... Causing the gas to vaporize and smoke. I opened the fuel door and removed the fuel cap. Sounds like a liquid was violently boiling came from the filler pipe. A passing motorcyclist who was behind me stopped to let me know he thought I was also leaking gas. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10133335, filed 2005-08, 8,000 miles
  3. Suspension

    Air suspension warning lights, dropping or low ride

    • 10 complaints (10%)
    • median 35,753 mi at 2.2 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2005–2025

    Owners describe the air suspension warning lamp coming on, the vehicle sitting low on one side or dropping overnight, and the message center showing suspension inactive. Some were told the air compressor was at fault and had it replaced, in one case repeatedly, without a lasting fix; others were told by the dealer the system needs a compressor or height sensor. Several report the vehicle becoming very bouncy and limited to low speed once the system fails. Spread across the range, from under 10,000 miles to well over 100,000 miles, and sometimes after the vehicle sits parked.

    7 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the compressor, relay and air springs have been replaced, and watch the vehicle for an hour after parking to see whether it settles. Scan for suspension fault codes before buying.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The air ride suspension is totally dead. There was a recall years ago but I didnt get it done. Now when I search recalls its not there, because someone thinks the work was completed. That is simply false. I can barely drive this vehicle now because the left side dropped due to air suspension. The service guy told me the suspension was built improperly.”

    NHTSA complaint #11142364, filed 2018-10, 99,000 miles

    “My 2005 Land Rover LR3 has several warning lights, varies from brake to suspension which usually clears itself after restarting the engine. Last week the amber light on the suspension heights is on again with chimes each time the engine starts. 3 days ago, I was driving to a supermarket when the amber light turned red, the suspension system failed, the vehicle dropped to a low stance and very bouncy. It made strange noise from the left rear side, I can't even drive more than 25 miles per hour, as it will bounce wildly. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10304028, filed 2010-02, 79,645 miles
  4. Electrical system

    Water leaks from sunroof and windshield drains

    • 12 complaints (13%)
    • median 48,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2005–2017

    Owners describe water pooling in the driver or passenger footwells and the headliner after heavy rain, traced by dealers to blocked or misrouted sunroof and windshield drain tubes. The wet carpet and wiring are then linked to failing key-fob lock/unlock, warning lights, washer failure and parking brake faults, with symptoms often clearing once the interior dries out. One owner reported mold in the carpet and padding. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 90,000 miles, typically after heavy rain.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check carpets and under-floor padding for dampness or staining, confirm the sunroof drains flow freely, and test the remote locking and warning lights after wet weather.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I just bought a 2005 Land Rover LR3 se. Two days later after a rain, the passenger's side floor was wet. The next day the remote keyless entry stopped working. After looking online, I found that this is a common problem with the keyless entry due to a problem with the sunroof drains pouring water into the floor and causing corrosion of the wiring.”

    NHTSA complaint #10365112, filed 2010-11, 61,000 miles

    “Vehicle has a problem that allows water to leak through the sun roof seal and front windshield seal. The water seepage is causing electrical problems with certain vehicle functions; namely the inability to use the key fob remote to lock and unlock the vehicle. The electrical problems at this point appear to be intermittent and resolve themselves several days later, presumably after the water has evaporated. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10458562, filed 2012-05, 33,000 miles
  5. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission hesitation and delayed engagement

    • 12 complaints (13%)
    • median 40,250 mi at 4.0 yrs old (12 state mileage)
    • filed 2005–2019

    Owners report hesitation or a lurch when pulling away, a pause of several seconds between pressing the accelerator and the vehicle moving followed by a hard jolt, and occasional stalling when slowing to a stop. Some describe unexpected revving while stopped, and others were told by dealers that no fault could be duplicated or found. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 130,000 miles, often at low-speed stops and starts.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test drive from several stop-and-go starts and note any delay or jolt when accelerating, and ask whether the transmission software updates were applied.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Dt the vehicle hesitated when trying to start it. When slowing down to stop it lurched. Also did this in reverse. Took to the dealer, and they have not been able to duplicate the problem. It has stalled out a couple of times coming out around a corner. Then it lurched at slower speeds under 20 MPH. Upon acceleration, the vehicle hesitated.”

    NHTSA complaint #10130826, filed 2005-09, 4,400 miles

    “After coming to a complete stop, the engine revved up, almost getting into an accident, had to stand on the brake in order to keep it from taking off, immediately shifted to neutral, engine continued racing while in nuetral.”

    NHTSA complaint #11076188, filed 2018-03, 130,531 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection by a shop familiar with this model is worthwhile: have it check air suspension operation and fault codes, inspect inside tire edges, look for water intrusion in the footwells, and confirm recall work on the fuel tank was completed and documented.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 96 consumer complaints for the 2005 Land Rover LR3. 73 of the complaints include a mileage, and 56% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 38,727 miles. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns and 73 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Steering (5), Vehicle speed control (5), Engine (3), Equipment (3), Latches, locks and linkages (3), Other or unknown (2), Seat belts (2).

Example complaints

Suspension: “Tires are wearing on the inside quickly. Changed the tires already at 32,000 miles and almost need to change them again at 47,000. Was told that the suspension was built wrong on the truck. Landrover needs to fix this problems and get news tires. This is not normal.”

NHTSA complaint #10281018, filed 2009-08, 47,000 miles

Electrical system: “One day after starting the vehicle, almost every warning light illuminated, suspension did not inflate to normal height, parking brake stayed on, and display showed hdc failure. Restarting vehicle fixed the problem. Are they using windows now?”

NHTSA complaint #10162171, filed 2006-07, 24,000 miles

Fuel system: “Failure of NHTSA campaign id number : 05v376000. Fuel tank recall. The fuel tank was replaced per recall but failure occurred. Vehicle would not start and several gallons of gas was dumped on the ground causing a fire hazard. Fire department responded. Fire department cleared vehicle to tow to dealer. Failure corrected - return gas hose from had become disconnected from fuel tank resulting in fuel spillage.”

NHTSA complaint #10156149, filed 2006-04, 10,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “Front differential roaring and feels like major drag anytime you are not applying gas petal. Had front differential service done and fluid was full of debris.this trucks suffered from a faulty coating on the inside of the differential housing from the factory but landrover never issued a recall and expects someone to spend 4000 to replace the part. They do not sell any type of rebuild kit or parts. I have continued to drive my LR3 and it decreased the fuel economy not to mention the roaring noise. The noise is continuous when driving. …”

NHTSA complaint #10854249, filed 2016-04, 58,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

56% of the 73 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 14,741 and 70,000 miles.

16%0–1021%10–2519%25–5019%50–7512%75–1008%100–1504%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (73 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 38,727 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

15’06’09’12’15’18’25
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2005 Land Rover LR3 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
LR3 4WD/AWD4.0L 6-cyl6-speed automatic131814$4,800
LR3 4WD/AWD4.4L 8-cyl6-speed automatic131714$4,800

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2005 Land Rover LR3 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 73 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 73 bulletins →

Other model years of the Land Rover LR3

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2008839,7500—14—Not enough data
20071776,0000—14—Falling
20065139,0005—14Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20059638,7274—14Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Land Rover LR3 model years

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2005 Land Rover LR3?

Owners of this model year most often describe air suspension trouble, water entering the cabin through blocked sunroof and windshield drains, and fast, uneven inside-edge tire wear that many link to alignment or suspension geometry. The issues reported most often: Premature inside-edge tire wear; Fuel smell, leaks and stalling linked to the fuel tank; Air suspension warning lights, dropping or low ride.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2005 Land Rover LR3 have?

NHTSA recorded 96 consumer complaints for the 2005 Land Rover LR3 as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2005 Land Rover LR3 is reported most often?

Suspension is named most often, in 20 complaints (21% of the total), followed by electrical system with 19.

Has the 2005 Land Rover LR3 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2005 Land Rover LR3 get?

The EPA rates the 2005 Land Rover LR3 (LR3, 4.0L 6-cyl) at 14 mpg combined, 13 city and 18 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2005 Land Rover LR3 reported?

Among the 73 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 38,727 miles and the middle half falls between 14,741 and 70,000 miles; 56% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.