Nearly 20,000 Range Rovers recalled
If you were fortunate enough to put a 2003-2005 Range Rover in your garage, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is delivering some bad news. According to a just-released recall, a total of 19,168 Range Rover models may have misaligned front driveshafts. If left unchecked, the increased wear on the front splines may cause them to fail... possibly leading to an accident. While this recall isn't exactly explosive in nature, it is an item that should be inspected and/or replaced. As a result, Land Rover will begin contacting owners after January 6, 2009 to schedule appointments for the installation of an updated design, if needed. In the meantime, if your beloved Range Rover is severely vibrating, or making a nasty front-end noise, please go have it checked before something ill happens.
[Source: Good Car Bad Car]
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 08V635000 EA07012
NHTSA Action Number: EA07012
Component: POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Potential Number of Units Affected: 19168
Summary:
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.
Consequence:
CONTINUED VEHICLE OPERATION CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN THE SPLINES SHEARING AND A LOSS OF DRIVE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED DESIGN OF THE PROPELLER SHAFT, THE FLANGE KIT AND HEAT SHIELD KIT. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 6, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-313-594-7688.
Notes:
LAND ROVER RECALL NO. P041. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION¿S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Mark 1:39PM (12/05/2008)
Ahh, the mysterious "Ranger Rover."
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V1S 1:45PM (12/05/2008)
FINALLY!!! This has been a problem on 03-06 Rovers forEVER, and while LR issued service bulletins they never would recall it. Thank God!!
PS -- market on used '03 or '04 Rovers is under $25k... and now you can own one worry-free!
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MemphisNET 1:47PM (12/05/2008)
People keep these beyond a lease? Love them... but would be really scared to buy one used, even if well cared for.
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John 2:12PM (12/05/2008)
+1
Everyone I know who has a Range Rover loves it, but none of them buy 'em. They're all too scared to own one outside of the lease/warranty period.
Quattrofan 2:59PM (12/05/2008)
Nonsense. I have a 95 SWB RR as daily driver in winter Tahoe and I'd drive it to North Pole without hesitation.
nastinupe1 3:37PM (12/05/2008)
@ Quattorfan...
RR + North Pole = Fail
Stuka 4:20PM (12/05/2008)
@ Quattorfan
The only vehicle to ever drive to the north pole was a highly modified Toyota Hylux. You would be lucky to make it 5 miles before the RR broke down.
tekd 11:33PM (12/05/2008)
@Quattrofan: You better bring along a Land Cruiser if you want to make it back.
BTW, the Land Cruiser is the only SUV ever to drive to the South Pole.
aaron 2:17PM (12/05/2008)
While it seems the Lexus LX is much more reliable, I'd still prefer to buy a new Range Rover. If I had the money and it's not my only car, I could put up with the nuances of owning this beast of a true SUV. Supercharged please!
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Eli 2:40PM (12/05/2008)
You'd think the whole falling apart and putting occupants in danger thing would negate any benefits of owning one.
happy_penguin 2:19PM (12/05/2008)
Serves them right for buying a gas guzzler.
or
Should have bought a Prius.
or
POS American .... oh wait...
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aaron 2:41PM (12/05/2008)
"Serves them right for buying a gas guzzler.
or
Should have bought a Prius.
or
POS American .... oh wait..."
That's the dumbest s#%& I've heard in a long time penguin. Should have bought a Prius...right, sure. And the last part makes no sense.
MajorGeek 2:47PM (12/05/2008)
@aaron
It makes sense. Think about it. Pretend he was trying to be funny....
happy_penguin 2:55PM (12/05/2008)
Aaron never lets me have *any* fun! :_(
*sniff*
Franz 3:07PM (12/05/2008)
LOL. Poor penguin. I can't count how many times this has happened to you.
happy_penguin 3:17PM (12/05/2008)
That's okay, Franz. That suboost character tangled with me and was summarily pummeled. Mess with the 'quin and get the beak.... or something like that.
aaron 3:24PM (12/05/2008)
Well, I feel like a dumba$$. Usually I know if somebody is joking or not. So now I look like a noob. Sorry.
Calife 4:02PM (12/05/2008)
It's not a recall action but a service action. Maybe letters are being sent to customers, but is not because of a possible accident, it is because Land Rover puts customer service at top priority. And this failure will not lead to an accident as it is said in the post, the worst case scenario is a loss of motricity. Period.
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Devon 4:25PM (12/05/2008)
This recall has been out since Aug.
I had the service recall performed on my truck in Sept.
Side note: No other SUV has the class and sophistication of the RR. (okay maybe a MB G-wagon)
but no other SUV can touch it.
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JDMlover 4:31PM (12/05/2008)
Jesus.
I'll take a Lexus LX in Pearl White.
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