Most common 2005 Land Rover Range Rover problems
Share of the 35 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 →
2005 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 a possible defect involving the 2005 Land Rover Range Rover:
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 2005 Land Rover Range Rover owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 21 →
While driving down city street at 30 MPH, a loud humming sound comes from front of vehicle. Immediately brought truck to mechanic and mechanic then stated after inspection that he has seen this problem on Range rovers before and that it should be covered under safety recall. NHTSA campaign id number: 08V635000.
2005 Range Rover has a leak in the front differential. Although the front differential should last for the life of the vehicle, the mechanic indicated that this would lead to premature mechanical failure of the unit and potential life safety issue if it fails while driving.
Engine & cooling
Complaint: fire erupting from 2005 Range Rover hse 2005 Range Rover hse, purchased in 2004-5 from scottsdale, az Land Rover. On June 1, 2010, while vehicle occupant driving to work in phoenix, az, following dashboard message appeared with the abbreviation, "trans failsafe prog." the Range Rover owners handbook, pg. 79, states that the above message means, "a malfunction has occurred in the transmission." as to "what to do," the handbook explains, "drive carefully avoiding excessive revs and consult your retailer at the earliest opportunity." nothing in the message or the handbook indicated that this situation posed a fire hazard and a grave and immediate danger to the car or its occupants. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Land Rover Range Rover. The contact stated that there was a sudden loss of power and the timing chain skipped, which caused the vehicle to hesitate and potentially stall. The contact kept the vehicle parked due to it hesitating to start and being sluggish while traveling at any rate of speed. The authorized dealer was notified of the failure several times and the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact had not yet approved the dealer to diagnose the vehicle due to how extensive the repair would be in which various components May need to be maneuvered or adjusted to determine the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 125,000.
Steering
The steering column will drop while driving. It is a known problem and Land Rover wants $1,900 or more to replace the steering column. I was travelling on the interstate and the steering wheel suddenly dropped on my knees. When I lifted my leg to apply the brakes, it caused the steering wheel to turn, causing me to swerve into traffic. I immediately called the Land Rover dealership and they said they have had complaints but it is not on the recall list. This is very dangerous.
To whom it May concern : my Range Rover was not working for about a month. Having said that, when I went to get it towed I couldn't get the key to turn. The key was locked! Furthermore when the dealership did an inspection they said that the steering column module was internally faulty. Just like that, now I'm looking at a 5,000 job! Not to mention that this is a major safety issue. In closing, I really think that this should be considered a recall item. I've done some research on this issue and find out that about (1 out of 5 ) Range Rover owners have had this same problem. I really feel that someone should be held accountable! Especially when you're charging top dollar for a vehicle and it's not even deemed to be safe. Thanks.
2005 Land Rover Range Rover engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 15 / 12 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Land Rover Range Rover a good car?
Based on 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 Range Rover rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Range Rover at the same age. 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 2005 Land Rover Range Rover?
The transmission & drivetrain — 21 complaints, 60% of all complaints for this model year, most often about driveline › differential unit. Next are the engine & cooling (5) and steering (4).
How many recalls does the 2005 Land Rover Range Rover have?
There is 1 recall for the 2005 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 2005 Land Rover Range Rover problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 38% 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.