The 2009 Range Rover Sport with the 5.0L supercharged V8 is a performance luxury SUV plagued by catastrophic engine failures and chronic cooling system issues that make it a high-risk ownership proposition without extensive service records.
Catastrophic Engine Failure - Piston/Bore Scoring
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1qt per 500-1000 miles), Blue smoke on cold start, Misfires and rough idle, Loss of compression, Metallic knocking noise
Fix: The supercharged 5.0L AJ-V8 suffers from piston-to-bore contact causing cylinder wall scoring. Requires complete engine rebuild or replacement with updated pistons and cylinder liner work. 40-60 hours labor for rebuild, 25-35 hours for used/reman engine swap.
Estimated cost: $12,000-22,000
Head Gasket Failure
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Coolant loss with no visible leaks, White smoke from exhaust, Overheating, Milky oil, Rough running when cold
Fix: Both head gaskets fail, often secondary to overheating from cooling system issues. Requires both heads removed, decked if warped, new gaskets, timing components, and coolant system flush. 18-24 hours labor if heads are serviceable.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Internal Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission slipping or harsh shifts, Coolant in transmission fluid (strawberry milkshake), Transmission overheating warnings, Coolant loss, Transmission failure
Fix: The internal transmission oil cooler in the radiator fails, allowing coolant and ATF to mix. Requires radiator replacement, transmission flush or rebuild (if contamination caused damage), and all cooler lines flushed. 8-12 hours if trans survives, add 25-35 hours if trans needs rebuild.
Estimated cost: $2,500-4,000 (cooler only) or $7,000-12,000 (with trans rebuild)
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting into gear, Excessive vibration at idle, Harsh engagement into drive or reverse, Visible sagging of transmission
Fix: The main transmission mount fatigues and tears from the weight and torque of the supercharged engine. Requires removing crossmember and supporting transmission. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $400-700
Supercharger Coolant Pump Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Supercharger whine or grinding noise, Reduced power, Check engine light with supercharger codes, Coolant leaks from front of engine
Fix: The dedicated electric coolant pump for the supercharger intercooler fails, causing reduced boost and potential supercharger damage from heat. Pump is mounted low on the engine. 3-4 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Air Suspension Compressor and Line Failures
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Suspension warning light, Vehicle sagging on one corner or entirely, Compressor running constantly, Hissing from suspension, Inability to raise/lower suspension
Fix: Air suspension compressor burns out from overwork due to line leaks, or lines themselves crack at fittings. Compressor replacement is 3-4 hours, individual air spring or line replacement is 2-3 hours per corner.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000 (compressor) or $600-1,200 (per corner)
Timing Chain Tensioner and Guide Wear
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Rattling noise on cold start for 2-3 seconds, Check engine light with cam/crank correlation codes, Rough running, Loss of power
Fix: Primary and secondary timing chain tensioners weaken, guides wear. If caught early (just noise), preventive replacement is 12-16 hours. If chains jump timing, add valve damage inspection and potential head work.
Estimated cost: $3,000-5,000 (preventive) or $6,000-10,000 (with valve damage)
Fuel System High-Pressure Pump and Filter Issues
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Hard starting, especially when hot, Rough idle and misfires, Loss of power under load, Check engine light with fuel trim codes
Fix: High-pressure fuel pump on the engine fails or fuel filter clogs from contamination. Filter should be changed every 30k but is often neglected. Pump replacement requires special tools and fuel system depressurization. 4-6 hours labor for pump.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,200
Owner tips
Check oil consumption religiously - more than 1qt per 1,500 miles means impending engine failure
Inspect transmission fluid color at every service - pink/red is good, brown or milky means cooler failure
Replace coolant every 30k miles and use only OEM-spec coolant - cooling system neglect accelerates engine failure
Budget $3,000-5,000 annually for repairs after 80,000 miles if you're keeping it
Always get pre-purchase inspection focusing on compression test and borescope inspection of cylinders
Only buy with documented evidence of engine rebuild with updated pistons or budget $15k-20k for inevitable engine failure - this is a money pit for the unprepared.
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.
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AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 18V011000
2018-01-08 · EA15001
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2010 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."
Unless included in "Zone B" above, Land Rover is recalling certain 2009 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 or "Zone C."
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 27, 2018. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is P083.
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.
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.