The 2007 Range Rover Sport with the 4.4L Jaguar-sourced V8 (not the 5.0L supercharged which came later) is a capable luxury SUV plagued by catastrophic engine failures, transmission cooling issues, and air suspension failures that make it a financial gamble past 80,000 miles.
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1+ quart per 1,000 miles), Cold-start smoke and rough idle, Loss of compression on multiple cylinders, Metallic rattling from engine bay, Check engine light with misfire codes
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or replacement required. Nikasil-coated cylinders wear through to aluminum, especially if low-quality fuel was used. Rebuild includes new pistons, rings, cylinder resleeve or liner replacement, head gaskets, timing chains, and full gasket set. 35-50 hours labor depending on shop familiarity.
Estimated cost: $8,000-15,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure and Cross-Contamination
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Milky or strawberry-colored transmission fluid, Overheating transmission (limp mode), Coolant loss with no visible leaks, Harsh or delayed shifting, Pink residue in coolant reservoir
Fix: Internal cooler in radiator fails, allowing coolant and ATF to mix. Requires new radiator, full transmission flush (sometimes replacement if contamination severe), new coolant, and often transmission filter/pan service. 8-12 hours labor. Catch it early or transmission is toast.
Estimated cost: $2,500-6,500
Air Suspension Compressor and Bags Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Suspension warning light on dash, Vehicle sitting low, especially rear, Compressor runs constantly (audible whine), Uneven ride height side-to-side, Inability to raise suspension for off-road mode
Fix: Air bags crack at folds, compressor burns out from overwork, or height sensors fail. Single bag replacement is 2-3 hours, compressor is 3-4 hours. Many owners convert to coil springs ($1,500-2,000) to eliminate recurring issues. OEM parts only - aftermarket bags fail quickly.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,500
Transfer Case Chain and Bearing Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Grinding or whining from center of vehicle, Clunking when shifting into drive or reverse, Vibration at highway speeds, Metal shavings in transfer case fluid, Four-wheel drive not engaging
Fix: Chain stretches and bearings wear, sometimes grenading catastrophically. Requires transfer case removal, internal rebuild or replacement unit. 12-16 hours labor. Fluid should be changed every 30k miles preventively but rarely is.
Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500
Front Lower Control Arm Bushings Deterioration
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front end, Wandering or loose steering feel, Uneven front tire wear, Vibration during braking, Alignment won't hold
Fix: Rubber bushings tear and separate. Can't be replaced separately - entire control arm required per side. 3-4 hours labor for both sides with alignment. OEM arms are $400+ each, quality aftermarket exists.
Estimated cost: $1,200-1,800
Fuel Pump and Fuel Filter Clogging
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough idle and hesitation under load, Stalling when fuel tank below 1/4, Long crank before starting, Loss of power on highway acceleration, Check engine light with fuel trim codes
Fix: In-tank fuel pump fails or external fuel filter (often neglected) clogs. Filter should be changed every 30k but is hidden under vehicle near fuel tank. Pump replacement requires tank drop. 4-6 hours labor depending on rust/access.
Estimated cost: $800-1,500
Rear Differential Pinion Bearing and Seal Leaks
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Whining or howling from rear on deceleration, Gear oil dripping from pinion seal, Clunking when changing from drive to reverse, Vibration at 45-55 mph, Hot metallic smell after highway driving
Fix: Pinion seal leaks are common, but if ignored, bearings fail requiring full diff rebuild. Seal alone is 3-4 hours; rebuild is 8-10 hours. Always replace fluid with correct Land Rover spec - wrong fluid destroys clutch packs.
Estimated cost: $600-2,800
Owner tips
Change transmission fluid every 40k miles regardless of 'lifetime fluid' claims - this transmission cannot tolerate neglect
Use premium fuel only - Nikasil engines are extremely sensitive to fuel quality and sulfur content
Replace transfer case fluid every 30k miles with proper LT77 spec fluid to prevent chain stretch
Budget $2,000-3,000/year for maintenance and repairs after 80k miles - these are not cheap to own
Check for engine rebuild or replacement history before purchase - unrebuilt high-mileage engines are ticking time bombs
Verify air suspension functionality during test drive - conversion to coils may be worth it for reliability
Only buy if you have a $10k+ repair fund and detailed service records proving the engine has been rebuilt or is low-mileage with religious maintenance - otherwise, walk away.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
Repair Procedures — 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Unlock any single procedure for $3 — or become the founding sponsor and we generate every common job on this Range Rover Sport, with your name on each one.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 17V015000
2017-01-10 · EA15001
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2012 Land Rover Range Rover vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A."
Additionally, Land Rover is recalling certain 2009 Land Rover Range Rover vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, or "Zone B."
Additionally, Land Rover is recalling certain 2007-2008 Land Rover Range Rover vehicles originally sold, or ever registered in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assemblies, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2017. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is P082.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 16V374000
2016-05-27 · EA15001
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Land Rover Range Rover vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A."
Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Land Rover is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 Land Rover Range Rover vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B."
Vehicles not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assemblies, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is P081.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · 15V039000
2015-01-27
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Land Rover Range Rover vehicles manufactured April 15, 2005, to September 4, 2012. One or both of the flexible front brake hoses may rupture causing loss of brake fluid.
Consequence: If one or both of the flexible brake hoses fails, the vehicle may require a longer distance to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front brake hoses, free of charge. The recall began on July 28, 2015. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is P054.
EQUIPMENT · 07E047000
2007-07-03
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET THULE HITCH STYLE BICYCLE RACKS WITH FOLD DOWN STYLE BIKE ARMS. A PINCH BOLT EXISTS BETWEEN THE BIKE ARM BRACKET AND THE UPRIGHT ASSEMBLY OF THE HITCH STYLE BICYCLE RACK.
Consequence: WHEN MOVING THE BIKE ARM BRACKET TO ITS DOWN POSITION, THIS PINCH POINT HAS TO POTENTIAL OF CAUSING A SEVERE LACERATION OR AMPUTATION TO THE USER'S FINGERTIPS OR HAND.
Remedy: THULE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE A REPAIR KIT AND INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 20, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT THULE AT 800-THULE91 (800-848-5391). NOTES:
LAND ROVER PURCHASED SOME OF THESE BIKE RACKS FOR USE ON THEIR LR3 AND RANGE ROVER SPORT VEHICLES, PART NO. LRNAPBR4. L. L. BEAN ALSO SELLS SOME OF THESE BIKE RACKS UNDER THE MODEL NAME OF HITCHING POST PRO (WD75, WD76, WD77, WD78, YL05, BBG9, BBH1, BBH2, BBH4), EXPRESSWAY (WD72, WD73, BBH5, BBH6), OR TRAILBLAZER (WD31, BBH7). REI HAS ALSO PURCHASED SOME OF THESE BIKE RACKS UNDER MODEL NAMES: HITCHING POST PRO (934, 934XT, 935, 935XT, 936, 936XT, 937, 937XT, 951, 951XT), EXPRESSWAY (995, 995XT, 996, 996XT), AND TRAILBLAZER (998, 998XT).
Vehicle Info — 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Performance
Horsepower
390hp
Torque
410lb-ft
Fuel economy (EPA)
City
12mpg
Highway
18mpg
Combined
14mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
Capability & size
Seating
5seats
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Wiper blades
First generation Range Rover Sport (L320). Both front blades are same length.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2007 Land Rover Range Rover Sport 4.2L V8 Supercharged and can vary by trim.
🔧 Built by master technician Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years.