2020 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER SPORT

Typical onset: 30,000-80,000 mi

Symptoms: excessive oil consumption (1+ quart per 1,000 mi), blue smoke from exhaust on startup, cylinder misfires and rough idle, metallic knocking sounds, complete engine seizure in severe cases

Fix: The AJ-V6 supercharged engine suffers from defective cylinder liner bonding that allows pistons to score the bores. Requires complete engine rebuild or replacement with updated parts. 40-60 labor hours for short block replacement, 60-80 hours for full rebuild with head work. Land Rover extended warranty coverage exists for some VINs but many owners pay out of pocket.

Estimated cost: $15,000-28,000

Typical onset: 40,000-90,000 mi

Symptoms: transmission slipping or harsh shifts, coolant in transmission fluid (strawberry milkshake appearance), overheating transmission, coolant loss with no visible leaks, transmission going into limp mode

Fix: The internal transmission cooler inside the radiator fails, allowing coolant and ATF to mix. Requires radiator replacement, transmission flush (often multiple times), and sometimes full transmission replacement if contamination is severe. 8-12 hours for cooler/radiator, add 20-30 hours if transmission is damaged. Catch it early or face total transmission destruction.

Estimated cost: $2,500-11,000

Typical onset: 50,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: clunking when shifting from park to drive, vibration during acceleration, grinding noise from center of vehicle, difficulty engaging gears, visible fluid leaks under vehicle center

Fix: Transmission and transfer case mounts deteriorate prematurely, causing excessive drivetrain movement. Transfer case can develop internal bearing failures. Mount replacement is 3-5 hours, transfer case rebuild or replacement is 12-18 hours. Often diagnosed during engine work since access is similar.

Estimated cost: $800-6,500

Symptoms: intermittent or complete camera failure, "camera fault" message on screen, parking sensors false alarming or not detecting, screen staying black when in reverse, system rebooting randomly

Fix: Multiple NHTSA recalls for backup camera system. Water intrusion into camera housing and software glitches in control module are primary causes. Camera replacement is 1-2 hours, module reprogramming is 0.5-1 hour. Dealers often need multiple attempts to fix software issues. Check for open recalls before purchasing.

Estimated cost: $600-1,800

Symptoms: vehicle won't start despite good 12V battery, complete electrical system shutdown, warning messages about electrical system fault, battery not charging properly, loss of all accessories

Fix: The DC/DC converter that manages voltage between hybrid systems fails, leaving vehicle inoperable. Covered under NHTSA recall for some VINs. Replacement requires 4-6 hours including diagnostics. Part availability can be poor, leaving vehicles stranded for weeks. Verify recall completion before purchase.

Estimated cost: $2,800-4,500

Typical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi

Symptoms: hard starting especially when cold, loss of power under load, engine stalling at idle, check engine light with fuel trim codes, rough running after sitting

Fix: Fuel filter clogs prematurely, often due to debris from failing in-tank pump. Filter replacement is 2-3 hours (in awkward location under vehicle). If pump is failing, add 4-6 hours for tank drop and pump replacement. Land Rover doesn't list filter as maintenance item but it needs service every 40-50k miles on these.

Estimated cost: $600-2,200

Symptoms: exterior lights flickering or staying on, dashboard warning about lighting system, adaptive headlights not adjusting properly, lights not turning off after vehicle is parked, turn signals intermittent

Fix: Software glitches in lighting control module cause various lighting malfunctions. Covered under NHTSA recall for some VINs. Reflashing module takes 1-2 hours, replacement if hardware failed is 2-4 hours. Check for TSBs and open recalls as Land Rover has issued multiple software updates.

Estimated cost: $400-1,800