Most common 2003 Land Rover Range Rover problems
Share of the 97 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Land Rover Range Rover complaints by model year
Best Range Rover years: 2022, 2012, 2011. Years to avoid: 2017, 2023, 2016, 2003, 2004. Compare all years →
2003 Land Rover Range Rover recalls (1)
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Land Rover is recalling 19,168 my 2003-2005 range Rover vehicles. The front differential coupling sleeve and the propeller shaft May be misaligned, resulting in spline wear over a period of time. As the wear between the propeller shaft and the differential spline coupling progresses, noise and vibration are expected.
Remedy: Dealers will install a revised design of the propeller shaft, the flange kit and heat shield kit. The recall began on January 6, 2009. Owners May contact Land Rover at 1-800- 637-6837.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2003 Land Rover Range Rover:
Front differential/driveshaft failure
In response to an information request (ir) letter sent by the office of defects investigation (odi), Ford stated that the primary cause for the majority of the reported front differential/drive shaft failures is a misalignment of the joint between the two components.certain levels of misalignment May over time cause an uneven wear of the splines.continued wear of the splines May result in a shearing of the splines…
Front diff. / propeller shaft failure
Summary:in a letter dated December 2, 2008, Ford motor company (Ford) notified NHTSA that Land Rover is conducting a safety recall of model year (my) 2003 through 2005 range Rover vehicles built at the solihull (uk) assembly plant from January 3, 2002 through February 22, 2005, to replace the front driveshaft joint (NHTSA recall no. 08v-635, Land Rover recall no. P041).
What 2003 Land Rover Range Rover owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 74 →
The contact owns a 2003 Land Rover Range Rover. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH on the highway, he felt a vibration and pulled over to inspect the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle then failed to exceed 35 MPH. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 119,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Land Rover Range Rover. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, there was an abnormal grinding sound from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle also was making a jerking motion and the transfer case warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that the vehicle was experiencing the failure in NHTSA campaign number: 08V635000 (power train) and the drive shaft and spline needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.
Steering
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Land Rover Range Rover. The contact stated that the tilt and telescoping motors failed and were inoperable. The bracket that held the telescoping motor wires together fractured and the contact was unable to adjust the steering wheel forward or backward. The contact stated that the telescoping motor fell behind the brakes and caused the brakes to not fully engage when being depressed. The dealer disconnected the motors from the wires but did not replace the motors. The dealer advised that because of the age of the vehicle, the repairs would be at the contact's expense. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 106,911.
Dt: the contact stated the steering wheel came loose and fell into the contact's lap while driving. He was able to manually raise the steering wheel up into the column and drive the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer discovered a plastic part on the steering column assembly broke. This part was replaced with a metal part. Also, the telescopic steering adjusted automatically. This caused the position of the steering wheel to change randomly while driving. The dealer attempted to correct the problem by reprogramming the software. No further repairs have been made at this time. Updated 1/23/2006 -
Electrical system
Car shipped from florida to pittsburgh. Upon arriving I drove the vehilce on the street and it stopped and had to wait to start again. Vehicle was only able to be driven a mile at a time beofre incident recurred. ABS break late stayed on from the beginning. To start vehilce two wires had to be connected together.transmission not functionable, starting problem, brake problem and electrical problem. Contacted dealer and dealer denied any problems with the vehicle. I had a mechanic verify all problems noted above two days later.. Relayed the information to the dealership and nothing was resolved.
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!
2003 Land Rover Range Rover engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 16 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Land Rover Range Rover a good car?
Based on 97 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Range Rover rates avoid: 3.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the Range Rover at the same age. It is one of the Range Rover years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Land Rover Range Rover?
The transmission & drivetrain — 74 complaints, 76% of all complaints for this model year, most often about driveline › differential unit. Next are the steering (8) and electrical system (6).
How many recalls does the 2003 Land Rover Range Rover have?
There is 1 recall for the 2003 Land Rover Range Rover, the most recent from December 3, 2008 (driveshaft). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Land Rover Range Rover?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2022, 2012 and 2011. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017, 2023, 2016, 2003 and 2004. See the full Land Rover Range Rover years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Land Rover Range Rover problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 66,000 miles; 25% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.