Transmission complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Recently began hearing a noise from the rear when driving. Thought it might be from the rear alignment causing the tire tread to make this sound. Driving faster the noise would get louder. Took to my mechanic for alignment and they said it was the rear differential going out. The bearings were making the loud noise. The vehicle only has 70,400 miles and is driven 10 miles a day and never off road. Looked for any recall notice I May have missed and then discovered this same situation from several others. I entered my VIN to check for any recalls and there are none! Surely this vehicle was built to better specs. For this to fail so early in the life (mileage) of the vehicle is unacceptable and needs to be repaired by the manufacturer at n/c. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Land Rover LR2. While driving 55 MPH, a loud humming noise was coming from the rear of the vehicle. The faster the vehicle accelerated, the louder the noise became. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear differential failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and was not taken to a dealer. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,000.
I recently purchased a 2010 Land Rover LR2 with around 61,000 miles on it from a friend who had taken great care of it. After putting about a 1000 miles on it in 2 months, a roaring noise started coming from the rear of the car while driving around at various speeds in town. Note that this car has never been off road. It was subtle at first and continued to grow louder. I looked this up online and was shocked to see that this was a potential rear differential failure and was even more shocked that it appears to be an epidemic with the vehicle. I called Land Rover in little rock, ar and made an appointment to bring the car in to be looked at. As first thought, it is the rear differential going out at 62,000 miles and there is no repair, just a full replacement for $2,800. I was told by the service tech that this is a very common issue with this car and it was a design flaw. …
I bought a 2010 Land Rover LR2 from the dealer less that 1 year ago. It had 72,000 miles when I bought it, the sales rep and Land Rover said the car was a "loaner" car for customers. They said it was fully maintained and serviced at the appropriate miles. Ive only driven it 8,000 miles and the drive train is now humming and whirling. I took it to an independent shop and they said that these Land Rover are infamous in having these problems. More than any other car. In this case I strongly feel Land Rover should as a courtesy fix my rear differential because it is not a common problem and a flaw in these cars. The humming whirly noise comes as you start to run the car and gets dude as you speed up. In conclusion the repair for the differential is very expensive.
Rear differential went at 47K miles! Started hearing a humming noise on acceleration that progressively got worse over the next month. I researched the problem online, finding out that many people were experiencing the same thing around 50K miles and that it was the rear differential. I called Land Rover explaining the problem, but because I was no longer under warranty, I would be responsible for the entire cost. But before they could do anything, I needed to bring the car in and pay $125 so they could put the car on the lift and confirm it was in fact the rear differential. If it was the rear differential it would cost around $2500-3000! I explained that this issue is well documented on the internet, in multiple Land Rover forums and for a majority of people it is happening just after the warranty expires. …
The LR2 was driven by our daughter for several years, primarily highway mileage to and from college. In early 2015 the Rover began to make a whining noise from the rear axle. Over the course of two or three weeks the noise became progressively worse. After scheduling an appointment, Land Rover indicated that we had a damaged rear differential that would need to be replaced for approximately $2500.00. I've owned a fair number of vehicles and do know a number of auto mechanics. No one seems to have ever heard of rear differential failing at approximately 50K miles. I pressed the service manager for an answer and he referred me to the main headquarters of Land Rover. They refused replacement under warranty and failed to provide adequate compensation for the repair. …
The contact owns a 2008 Land Rover LR2. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and making either a right or left turn, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the rear differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000. The contact stated the rear differential had to be replaced in the amount of $3400.
I have a 2008 Land Rover LR2 in mint condition and regularly maintained by a Land Rover dealer and purchased new from a LR dealer in Pittsburgh. It only has 39K miles and always parked indoors. Last year I noticed a humming, grinding sound coming from the rear wheels.I took it twice to the Fort Myers Florida LR dealer for service but they could not find the problem other than that the differential needed flushing (unusual for 39K miles). Finally took it to LR dealer two weeks ago in Naples, Florida and it was determined that the rear differential needed replacement. It was explained to me by the Asst. Service Mgr. that it was not safe to drive as the wheels could seize and cause an accident. No warning lamps indicated the problem. Land Rover refused to pay for replacement ($10K quoted cost) citing 4 year warranty period was over despite way below 50K mile warranty. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Land Rover LR2 years have transmission problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (36), 2009 (23), 2010 (10) and 2011 (5) model years. Transmission complaints make up 42% of all complaints for the 2008.
Is there a recall for Land Rover LR2 transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for any Land Rover LR2 model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Land Rover LR2 transmission problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 66,000 miles; 26% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the driveline › differential unit (4 mentions), followed by the automatic transmission (1).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.