2003 Land Rover Range Rover Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 74about this part
- Share
- 76%of 97 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 63,595miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 74 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2003 Land Rover Range Rover, 76% of the 97 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 63,595 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The first thing that happened was the AC stopped working and replaced the resistor in it twice, the same day it went out a second time the back driver side window fell. The next week I was driving home and was entering the freeway and as I accelerated the vehicle jerked hard and pulled back, and was making a squeaking sound. It corrected but now it keeps doing it. And the brake fluid a week later leaked out and I lost power in my brakes. I am afraid to drive my car!”
NHTSA complaint #11015683, filed 2017-08, 170,000 miles“I received a letter from manufacturer for safety recall. Part of the program is to reimburse for money paid in the past to repair part. The manufacturer has stated that the local dealership must be involved to reimburse me but the local dealership is not assisting. It is Land Rover safety recall p041 - front differential to propeller shaft spline wear. I no longer own the vehicle now.”
NHTSA complaint #10273538, filed 2009-06, 53,471 miles“At traffic light I heard a grinding sound in transmission, moved gear from drive to n to hear it again. As light changed the driveshaft disengaged from the transmission, coasted across traffic to service station, but unable to move rear of vehicle out of traffic. Passersby helped push me and my child out of the intersection. I believe this is the 2nd differential failure for this vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10215828, filed 2008-01, 111,000 miles“Front differential failed on my 2003 Land Rover Range Rover while driving which caused an emergency stop that could have resulted in injury to myself and others on the road. Apparently this is a recurring problem with 2003 and 2004 range rovers and yet no recall has been done. The dealership replaced the front differential as my vehicle was under warranty but at great cost of time to myself.”
NHTSA complaint #10224671, filed 2008-04, 44,950 miles“2003 Range Rover hse , loud knocking noise when going from reverse to drive, 5 minutes later a grinding noise happened that was very loud. The car responded with a loud grinding sound when trying to apply gas. I was lucky that I was not on a highway and could pull the car over. The check engine light illuminated, there was a radiator leak and the left rear tire had a slow leak. Updated 10/11/07.”
NHTSA complaint #10202152, filed 2007-09, 75,000 milesRelated recalls
- 08V635000Dec 3, 2008Land rover is recalling 19,168 my 2003-2005 range rover vehicles. The front differential coupling sleeve and the propeller shaft may be misaligned, resulting…Covers: Land Rover Range Rover 2003–2005
Related service bulletins
- 10134881Mar 21, 2018Issue: Powertrain Transmission Module Learn Adaption routine has been instated on SDD/Pathfinder.
- 10101721Jul 11, 2014"issue: brake noise from front axle (with brembo brakes only) cause: under investigation"
- 10101261Feb 3, 2014"issue: engineering is investigating the cause of front drive shafts (half shafts) rubber boots split or damaged on land rover / range rover vehicles in warranty. Cause: unknown…
- 10026362Dec 8, 2008Land rover: service action: front differential to propeller shaft spline wear - repair procedure. *pe updated 6/29/09.
- 10026282Oct 1, 2008Land rover service campaign: see document search button for owner letter. Csc letter was received for range rovers model years 2003-2005. A potential concern with the alignment…
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 11% |
| 2024 | 3 | 30% |
| 2023 | 2 | 9% |
| 2020 | 8 | 30% |
| 2019 | 4 | 27% |
| 2018 | 4 | 14% |
| 2017 | 3 | 5% |
| 2016 | 5 | 6% |
| 2015 | 7 | 10% |
| 2014 | 5 | 12% |
| 2013 | 1 | 4% |
| 2012 | 5 | 25% |
| 2010 | 1 | 7% |
| 2009 | 3 | 60% |
| 2008 | 4 | 13% |
| 2007 | 1 | 7% |
| 2006 | 10 | 19% |
| 2005 | 21 | 60% |
| 2004 | 25 | 49% |
| 2003 | 74 | 76% |
| 2002 | 8 | 57% |
| 2001 | 1 | 14% |
| 2000 | 8 | 31% |
| 1999 | 5 | 17% |
| 1998 | 2 | 8% |
| 1997 | 1 | 5% |
| 1996 | 2 | 6% |
| 1995 | 3 | 12% |
Other parts of the 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
8 complaintsElectrical system
6 complaintsBrakes
5 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsEngine
1 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsExterior lighting
1 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
1 complaintsTires
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Land Rover Range Rover
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology