range rover | Lafayette | Walnut Creek

Looking to find out how long do range rovers last? We’ve got the scoop on the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to range rover reliability.

In 1947, a man sketched the outline of a car into the sand of a Welsh beach. That man was Maurice Wilks, Chief Engineer of Rover Cars, and that car would become one of the most quintessential British vehicles ever made: the Land Rover. In 1970, Rover debuted a new model that would take the Land Rover’s off-road capability and combine it with luxury car features and finishes: the Range Rover.

Since its debut in 1970, the Range Rover has become one of the most popular and iconic luxury SUVs on the market. Known for their luxurious interiors, off-road capability, and top-of-the-line features, one of the most common questions we get asked is, “How long do Range Rovers last?” Whether you’re in the market for a new vehicle or want to make your current car last as long as it can, there are a few things you should know regarding Range Rover reliability.

What Sets Range Rovers Apart?

The original Land Rover was designed as a utility vehicle for farmers and other off-road enthusiasts, and it quickly gained notoriety for being rugged, capable, and reliable. The Range Rover combined that capability with luxury car features like leather seats, wood trim, and a more comfortable ride. The upgraded vehicle became an instant hit.

In terms of design and function, one of the most notable features of a Range Rover are:

Terrain Response: This feature allows drivers to select the best driving mode for the conditions, whether snow, sand, mud, or anything in between.
Air Suspension: Range Rovers are equipped with air suspension, which helps smooth the ride on rough terrain and can even raise or lower the vehicle for easier entry and exit.
Driver Aids: Range Rovers come with various driver aids that make off-roading more effortless and safer, including hill descent control, trailer stability assist, and all-terrain progress control.
Luxury Comfort: Known for their luxurious interiors, Range Rovers come standard with features like heated and cooled front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a dual-zone climate control system.

Range Rover Reliability: The Good and the Bad

The Good

With detailed maintenance, routine servicing, and good driving habits, a Range Rover can last between 150,000 and 200,000 miles. This works out to be about ten to thirteen years of service before it requires repairs or breaks down.

Strict adherence to a maintenance schedule is critical to maintaining a long-lasting Range Rover. Our auto mechanics recommend the following service schedule for Range Rovers:

Every 12,000 miles: oil and filter change, tire rotation
Every 24,000 miles: brakes, spark plugs
Every 36,000 miles: air filter, cabin filter
Every 60,000 miles: coolant flush, transmission fluid flush
Every 100,000 miles: engine tune-up

The Bad

Unfortunately, not all Range Rovers are created equal. In fact, Range Rover reliability and repair costs can vary greatly depending on the model and year of your vehicle. While some owners note that their cars have lasted for over 200,000 miles without any significant issues, others have had to deal with a range of problems, including electrical issues, suspension problems, and even transmission failure.

According to Luxury Auto, Range Rovers consistently rank in the top ten most expensive luxury cars to maintain. Expect to pay around $5000 per year in repairs and maintenance. You can expect these costs to grow about five to six years after the car’s production year.

The Ugly

When it comes to Range Rover reliability, Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Range Rover a 1 out of 5 in their “predicted reliability” index. This is based on data from over 300,000 vehicles, including owner feedback and technical service bulletins. The most commonly reported issues include problems with the electrical system, suspension, and transmission.

While there are some clear pros and cons to owning a Range Rover, it’s ultimately up to the individual to decide whether the vehicle’s luxury and capability are worth the cost of repairs and maintenance.

Lafayette Car Repair You Can Trust

If you’re looking for a reliable and affordable place to take your Range Rover for service or repairs, look no further than the experts at Lafayette German Car Repair. Our team of ASE-certified technicians has years of experience working on all makes and models of vehicles, including Range Rovers. We offer a range of services from oil changes and brake repairs to engine tune-ups and transmission flushes.

Contact us today to learn about our services or schedule a repair! We look forward to keeping your car running like new for years to come.

Land Rovers are increasingly popular, with their uniquely tough and luxurious feel. Many people assume that a premium vehicle like this will require less maintenance than a cheap ride, but that’s not necessarily true.

In fact, Land Rovers were recently ranked as 15th most expensive can to maintain on a list of 30 car brands, with an estimated $8,800 in maintenance over 10 years. Because it’s a luxury vehicle, you can expect to pay more for maintenance and repairs. Not because of mark-up, but because Land Rovers are full of features and complex systems, and they can be in need of skilled care. They also use uncommon parts that your mechanic may have to get from a dealer.

Land Rovers and Range Rovers don’t have to be serviced at a dealership because of their special needs. Here at Lafayette German Car Repair, we have all the proper skills, diagnostic and service equipment to take proper care of your Rover.

Here are some service areas where Land Rovers can be special:

Engines

In the mid and late ’90’s, there were numerous engine problems with Land Rover’s V8 engines. These engines have cylinder liners that sometimes fail. Not often, but when they do- you have to replace the whole engine. They can’t be readily machined like a lot of standard V8 engines can. Then, in the early 2000’s Range Rovers tried a BMW V8 engine in some models. Unfortunately, those engines don’t age really well, and develop expensive oil leaks and coolant leaks. Today’s Land Rover engines are much better, but people are still driving vehicles with these older engines today.

Air suspension

Land Rovers have great suspension, allowing drivers to raise and lower the vehicle to match the terrain. Each corner of the vehicle has sensors, and there’s an air bag in each corner, which acts like a giant spring. Eventually the air bags leak, and the air compressors that fill the bags will fail for various reasons. The air compressors are in a vulnerable spot underneath the vehicle, and eventually suffer the effects of exposure, despite being protected by a weather-resistant box. You can expect this system to fail after 6 to 10 years, leaving the Land or Range Rover awkwardly sagging to one side. Many owners replace the air suspension with traditional coil springs after that. Whether you decide to repair the air suspension or replace it, your Land Rover still has many years left in it.

Transmission

For an average vehicle’s transmission service, we normally we take the pan off, clean it, put a gasket on, put a filter in and flush it. But with the LR3, that’ can’t be done. The transmission pan is a complete assembly of pan, gasket and filter, which costs hundreds of dollars to buy as a complete piece. Plus, it wasn’t designed to be removed easily, so it involves plenty of labor. This makes transmission service not inexpensive, but still important to do every 6 years or 170,000 miles.

Land Rover Repair Freelander

The Freelanders sold in North America use a different engine than the European version, with it’s uncommonly designed V8. This engine uses cylinder liners held in place with an adhesive. Within about five years the liner fails, or the glue fails, and the cylinder liner starts flopping around. That causes the head gasket to leak. Nobody can rebuild it, nobody can fix it, and a new engine from Land Rover is the only solution. These can rarely be found used, so it usually means buying a brand new engine.

Land Rovers are complex, fully-featured, luxurious and rugged vehicles. They have a lot of intricate and unique systems that offer their owners amazing utility. But keeping all that amazing technology in working order is important, and not effortless or cheap. For all your Land Rover needs, contact Lafayette German Car Repair. We know what to do, and we do it at a fair price.

CALL TODAY (925) 284-3390

3328 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Unit D, Lafayette, CA 94549

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Range Rover Reliability: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly