Common problems · 2009–16
Land Rover LR4 problems: 8 things to check
The problems owners and specialists flag most on the Land Rover LR4 / Discovery 4, the repairs they end up doing and what those cost, plus the years and recalls to watch. Sourced, not scraped.
Land Rover LR4 problems to check before you buy
- Coolant smell, coolant top-ups, crossover historyThe plastic coolant crossover pipes and manifolds are the LR4's best-known weak point on both the 5.0 V8 and the 3.0 SC V6. Owners report failures from about 50,000 miles and treat 60,000–90,000 miles as replacement time. A sweet coolant smell after a drive, a falling expansion tank or a 'low coolant' message means it's already started. Ask for invoices showing genuine crossover pipes, the water pump and the thermostat.
- 5.0 V8: cold-start rattleLand Rover bulletin LTB00474 covers a rattle or click from the front of the engine on 2010–2012 MY LR4s in VIN range AA513326–CA652214, caused by worn timing-chain tensioner levers. The fix is two tensioners (LR051008) and two levers (LR051013); the revised levers have a steel insert, and old and new parts must not be mixed. Listen to a stone-cold start, and get proof of the work if the VIN is in range. A ticking roughly once a second is more likely the fan clutch.
- Air suspension: the overnight testRaise the truck to off-road height, then check that it stays level overnight and that the compressor doesn't run constantly. A truck that sags after a few days has a leak at a strut, valve block or Voss fitting. Owners trace leaks with soapy water. If the compressor has been replaced, Arnott notes that the LR3/LR4 unit needs a software update and a new relay.
- Which drivetrain do you have?Every 2010–2013 US LR4 has a two-speed transfer box. From 2014 the base truck is single-speed with a Torsen centre differential, and low range plus the active rear locker came only with the $1,350 Heavy Duty package, which also brought a full-size spare. Owners check the 4x4 information screen (a single centre-lock icon means no HD package) and the spare, and look under the rear axle for the locker's actuator motor.
- 3.0 SC V6: supercharger rattleA rattle like gravel in a can from the top of the engine at idle is usually the supercharger's spring-type coupler isolator wearing out. A supercharger rebuilder quoted on LandRoverWorld says it starts going at around 50,000 miles. It isn't urgent, but the supercharger has to be partly dismantled or removed, so it pairs naturally with the rear coolant manifold job.
- Front lower control arms and brakesAt 5,600-plus lb, the LR4 is hard on lower control-arm bushings, ball joints and brakes. Clunks over bumps, steering wander and uneven tyre wear point at the arms. Owners say brakes wear quickly and cost a lot to replace, and early trucks had a TSB for rear brake squeal when reversing.
- RecallsRun the VIN through NHTSA. Every 2010–2016 LR4 is in campaign 21V635000 for a fuel-pump flange that can crack and leak. Some 2012–2013 trucks built in August–September 2012 are in 15V386000 for panoramic-roof adhesive, and some 2015s are in 15V214000 for ABS software that can disable stability control and Hill Descent Control.
- Oil changes and recordsThe factory oil interval was 15,000 miles. Owners on LandRoverWorld and Expedition Portal recommend 5,000–7,500 miles, and some link the 5.0 chain-guide wear to long intervals. A truck with dealer stamps at 15,000 miles and no chain or cooling work is a project priced as a driver.
The repairs Land Rover LR4 owners end up doing
| REPAIR | SYMPTOMS | DIFFICULTY | TIME | COST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coolant crossover pipe, water pump & thermostat (5.0 V8) | Coolant smell after driving, slowly falling coolant level or 'low coolant' warning, crusty coolant around the front of the engine or the back of the block, rising temperature under load. | 3 / 5 | ≈ 1 day DIY (pump and both pipes) | One owner's dealer bill for pump, front and rear manifolds, hoses and belts on a 2015: $5,500 |
| Supercharger-off cooling refresh & isolator (3.0 SC V6, 2014–16) | Coolant odour with no visible leak, slow coolant loss, a gravelly rattle from the supercharger at idle. | 4 / 5 | A weekend DIY | Parts plus several hours' labour; the supercharger must come off |
| Timing chain tensioners & guides (5.0 V8) | Rattle or click from the front of the engine, more pronounced at idle and most obvious on a cold start. | 5 / 5 | Land Rover allows 8.1 h for tensioners and levers; one shop quoted 18.75 h for a full chain kit | Dealer quotes around $4,500 on LandRoverWorld; one full kit job was $2,346 in parts plus about $2,500 labour |
| Air suspension compressor | Slow to rise, 'suspension fault' message, compressor running constantly or overheating, truck stuck at a low height. | 3 / 5 | ≈ 2–3 hours | About C$1,000 quoted on LandRoverWorld; compressors run $559–889 at Lucky8 |
| Air strut / air spring replacement | One corner sags overnight, the truck leans when parked, hissing from a wheel well, bouncy ride from a leaking damper. | 3 / 5 | ≈ 2–3 hours per axle | Parts from about $258 for a front air spring to $509 for a complete rear strut |
| Front lower control arms (bushings & ball joints) | Clunk over bumps, wandering on the highway, uneven front tyre wear, torn ball-joint boots. | 3 / 5 | ≈ 3–4 hours for both sides | Kits $329–739 at Lucky8; one owner was quoted about C$1,200 for rear arms |
| Automatic transmission fluid & pan/filter service | Harsh or flared shifts, judder, a weeping pan or valve-body sleeve. The handbook calls the fluid 'filled for life', but owners and specialists change it. | 3 / 5 | ≈ 2–4 hours | About C$1,000 at a shop per LandRoverWorld; kits $279 (six-speed) and $578 (eight-speed) at Lucky8 |
| Brake pads, discs & parking-brake shoes | Wear warnings, vibration under braking, squeal when reversing (early trucks had a TSB for rear squeal), a weak electronic parking brake. | 2 / 5 | ≈ 1–2 hours per axle | Pads from about $55 (rear) and $72 (front, 2010–13); full Terrafirma kits from $328 |
Each repair links to a step-by-step guide with tools, part numbers and where to buy the parts.
Years with known problems
| YEARS | FLAG | WHAT TO KNOW |
|---|---|---|
| 2010–13 MY | Beware | 5.0 V8 timing-chain tensioners and levers wear: bulletin LTB00474 covers 2010–12 trucks in VIN range AA513326–CA652214, revised parts start at VIN DA696315 (mid-2013), and a US class action covered 2012–14 5.0 trucks. Buy only with the invoice |
Every Land Rover LR4 model year, with the best ones to buy →
Land Rover LR4 recalls and service bulletins
- Fuel pump outlet flange may crack and leak ↗ 2010–2016 · NHTSA 21V635000Covers 3.0 V6 and 5.0 V8 LR4s (and 2010–13 Range Rover Sports): the fuel outlet flange on the tank can crack and leak fuel.
- Panoramic roof adhesive may not hold ↗ 2012–2013 · NHTSA 15V386000Trucks built 15 August–18 September 2012 used the wrong primer, so the panoramic roof may not be adequately bonded.
- ABS software can disable stability and descent control ↗ 2015 · NHTSA 15V214000An ABS software error on trucks built 19 August 2014–9 February 2015 can disable DSC, Roll Stability Control, traction control and Hill Descent Control.
- Wheel lug nuts may crack ↗ 2015 · NHTSA 15V092000Lug nuts on trucks built 6–23 January 2015 may crack and detach from the hub studs.
- TPMS may not learn sensor positions ↗ 2013–2014 · NHTSA 14V618000On trucks built 16 September 2013–30 June 2014, the tire-pressure system may not learn sensor locations, so the low-pressure warning may not work properly.
- Driver frontal airbag may not inflate properly ↗ 2016 · NHTSA 16V444000A small batch of trucks built 3–10 May 2016.
- 5.0 V8 rattle/click from front of engine: timing chain tensioners and levers ↗ · LTB00474NAS22010–2012 MY LR4, VIN AA513326–CA652214: replace both tensioners (LR051008) and tensioner levers (LR051013); 8.1 h labour allowed.
- AJ133 chain tensioner repeat noise: fit complete revised sets ↗ · SSM71893Repeat noise came from partial repairs. Fit both pairs of revised tensioners and steel-insert blades, and never mix old and new parts.
- 2014 MY engine oil cross-contamination (pre-sale update) ↗ · SGI14-07Some 2014 LR4s (VIN EA705047–EA705560) had 5W-20 mixed with 0W-30 at the factory; the fix was an oil and filter change (LR011279).
- Rear brake squeal when reversing ↗ Owners report a warranty TSB with revised rear pads and clips on early trucks; replace the rotors too if they're lipped.
Check any VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls ↗, or see the recall tracker.
Owner questions about Land Rover LR4 reliability
Is the 5.0 timing-chain problem a deal-breaker?
No, if it's been done or priced in. Bulletin LTB00474 covers 2010–2012 LR4s in VIN range AA513326–CA652214, and the fix is new tensioners and steel-insert levers (8.1 hours of labour by Land Rover's own timing). Don't assume a 2013 is immune: a parts-catalogue lookup posted on LandRoverWorld shows the revised tensioners, levers and guides only from VIN DA696315, partway through 2013, and a US class action settled in 2021 covered 2012–2014 LR4s and Range Rover Sports with the 5.0. Many owners stress shorter oil-change intervals.
SOURCE · LTB00474 · LANDROVERWORLD · OPENCLASSACTIONSTake the printable Land Rover LR4 inspection checklist: every check on this page plus the model-specific ones, on one sheet. Get the checklist →
Sourced from owners, specialists and factory documents; full sources are on the Land Rover LR4 guide. Verify torque figures and procedures against the factory service manual (disclaimer).