2016 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2016 Range Rover Sport most often write about the front suspension upper knuckle and the steering/suspension warning messages that come with it, and a large share of those complaints are questions about getting the related steering recall repair completed. Powertrain complaints are the second theme: coolant loss leading to overheating and, on diesel versions, repeated Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) warnings that count down to a no-start. Reports of door latches releasing on their own also appear repeatedly across the sample.

1. 1
   Steering

   Front upper knuckle cracking / steering and suspension noise

   • 44 complaints (57%)
   • median 94,000 mi at 9.6 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe knocking or grinding noises from the front end, vibration through the floor or steering wheel, the front of the vehicle dropping, and a suspension fault message on the cluster. Several say a dealer or independent shop found a cracked or fractured front upper knuckle joint that needed replacement. Many of these complaints were filed after a steering recall notice arrived, and owners report being told the parts were on backorder with no repair date; some were told their vehicle was not covered by the campaign. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 170,000 miles, often at highway speeds or on rough road surfaces.

   Recall 25V5140001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for the recall status by VIN and whether the front knuckle repair has actually been done, not just scheduled. On a test drive, listen for knocking over bumps and check whether any steering or suspension warning light appears.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Filing a complaint about lack of remedy for NHTSA Recall Number 25V-514, manufacture recall number D019. I planned to put this car on Turo to rent, and I cannot list it if it has an active recall. It’s a financial strain for me, and I would greatly appreciate a fix.”

   NHTSA complaint #11727006, filed 2026-03

   “Steering knuckle on the driver and passenger side of my vehicle are cracked. Defects have been confirmed by JaguarLandRover Vancouver in British Columbia. I called JLR in Lynnwood, WA and Bellevue, WA as well as JLR North America and have been told the fix has not yet been determined. The fix is to replace the broken parts, this isn't hard to figure out. Now I'm going to have to pay to get this fixed and cross my fingers I get properly reimbursed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11667322, filed 2025-06
2. 2
   Engine

   Coolant loss, overheating and engine damage

   • 10 complaints (13%)
   • median 53,000 mi at 3.5 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe coolant leaking with little or no advance warning, sometimes from hoses around the radiator or water pump, followed by a low coolant message and overheating. In several cases owners say the engine then seized or required replacement, and dealers quoted engine replacement costs. Other reports describe a check engine light, rough running, and a diagnosis of engine replacement or internal damage. Reports span roughly 24,000 to 160,000 miles, including failures at highway speed with no warning light beforehand.

   7 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the coolant level and look for residue or staining at hose joints and around the water pump, and ask whether any cooling-system repairs or thermostat work have been done. Look for a documented coolant-service history, since a low coolant message is described in service bulletins.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Without any signs and warnings, my car's engine light was suddenly on as we were driving home. When my husband drove it to the dealer, we were told that the engine needed a replacement. We have to pay more than $20,000 because our car (2016 Land Rover sport) was 7000 miles beyond the warranty mileage (50,000).”

   NHTSA complaint #11277796, filed 2019-11, 57,000 miles

   “I purchased this car a week ago, and the engine made a loud noise and shut down in the middle of the roadway, almost caused a rear end collision. I pulled to the side of the road and all the oil was running out of the engine. The mechanic said the plastic timing chain in that model is common to fail, and in my case destroyed the engine block, $24,000 to repair a $16,000 car is insane. This is apparently a know issue with this vehicle and nothing is being done about it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11767412, filed 2026-09
3. 3
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Door latches releasing or failing to latch

   • 8 complaints (10%)
   • median 97,500 mi at 10.1 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report doors that will not stay shut or swing open while driving, including after closing on a turn, and say the keyless soft-close latching system is involved. Some describe the vehicle being put into park automatically when a driver door opens. Several were told their VIN was not covered by the door-latch campaigns, or that parts for the recall repair were unavailable. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 85,000 to 115,000 miles in the sampled complaints, and in some cases shortly after purchase.

   Recall 19V390000Recall 19V392000Recall 20V325000Recall 20V387000Recall 15V3850002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Open and close each door several times, including the rear doors, and confirm each latches firmly without bouncing open. Ask whether the door-latch recalls were completed and whether the repair was verified.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I received recall notice n336 in july. My passenger rear door has swung open in traffic 4 different times as I am making right hand turns in busy intersections!!!! I have contacted landrover and local dealership to try to get it fixed but they say they do not have the parts to fix the problem yet. It has been 6 weeks since the recall notice was issued. That should be plenty of time!! This is a huge safety risk and it continues to happen!!!!”

   NHTSA complaint #11252155, filed 2019-08, 48,000 miles

   “My driver's side door will not stay latched and my door opens unexpectedly on my 2016 Range Rover Sport Diesel. I will be in gear, starting to drive and the door comes open and the vehicle is automatically thrown into park. Or the problem happens when I enter my vehicle and attempt to close the door and it will not latch, it just bounces back open. A recall was issued for other 2016 RR models, however my vehicle vin was not included. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11623782, filed 2024-11
4. 4
   Fuel system

   Diesel Exhaust Fluid warnings and no-start countdown

   • 6 complaints (8%)
   • median 115,735 mi at 9.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2022–2026

   On diesel models, owners describe an "Incorrect Diesel Exhaust Fluid Quality Detected" message followed by a countdown to no engine restarts, sometimes with reduced power or a shutdown while driving. Complaints mention repeated repairs including injector replacement, a DEF tank assembly replacement, flushing and refilling the system, and sensor or catalytic converter work, with the warning returning afterward. Reported from around 83,000 to 120,000 miles, often recurring across several years of ownership.

   What to check: On a diesel, ask for the service history on the DEF and emissions system, including any injector, tank, or sensor replacements, and check that no warning message is present at startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle has a Incorrect Diesel Exhaust Fluid Quality Detected Warning only have 249 miles before no engine starts. Vehicle currently has 83,000 miles on odometer. Dealer stated that I needed a Catalytic converter and NOX Sensor cost $2800 The land keep assist, lane departure warning and front facing camera are all inoperative.”

   NHTSA complaint #11492368, filed 2022-11

   “The Diesel Exhaust Fluid system on my 2016 Range Rover Sport has a recurring defect that triggers the warning “Incorrect Diesel Exhaust Fluid Quality Detected” followed by a “No engine starts in XX miles” countdown. This defect has happened repeatedly over several years despite multiple repairs including injector replacement, injector housing replacement and eventually a complete DEF tank assembly replacement. The failure always returns. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11703706, filed 2025-12

Buying note. Because most of the sampled complaints center on the front knuckle and steering recall, confirm by VIN that the recall repair has been completed before purchase, and budget for a pre-purchase inspection that covers the front suspension, cooling system, and door latches. A documented service history on any diesel's DEF system is worth asking for.

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.