Jaguar Land Rover warning as second hand car expert shares 'five common problems'

A second-hand car expert has warned drivers about the five most common problems that can affect the fourth-generation Range Rover, sold between 2012 and 2021

A used car expert has shared a video highlighting the five most common issues with second-hand Range Rovers, offering a heads-up to potential buyers. The host of BuySellCarsTV on YouTube discussed the frequent problems encountered with the fourth-generation Range Rover, sold between 2012 and 2021.

These ranged from mechanical issues specific to this generation to tech-related problems like the vehicle's security system. Understanding these issues could help prospective owners make an informed decision when considering this British motoring icon.

The presenter emphasised the crankshaft as a major concern, explaining: "The big number one issue that everyone seems to talk about and that is crankshaft failure."

He further elaborated: "To simply this what happens is your bearings, they fail, this then leads to the engine being starved of oil which ultimately leads to crankshafts snapping [and] your engine seizing."

He advised: "If you are buying a car from a dealer it's well worth speaking to them and finding out what exactly the warranty will cover if you are buying a used approved car [or] if it's something that they can put into writing that if you have this crankshaft failure it will be covered under warranty or goodwill."

Another notable issue was the vehicle's renowned air suspension, which contained three components prone to failure, according to the presenter.

He remarked: "Specifically with the air suspension you do have a couple of things which tend to fail on these cars. The suspension struts, the bags, the compressor can be quite costly to fix."

Despite the potential for an expensive repair bill for the unsuspecting buyer, the presenter revealed there's a straightforward way to check if it's in good nick. He advised: "A good way to test the suspension on a car is if you just go down to the buttons by the gear stick."

These buttons, he explained, allow the driver to adjust the suspension settings.

He noted that if "the car has an issue the suspension won't move at all" once these buttons are pressed. Delving under the vehicle, he pointed out another common problem area: the lower suspension arms.

But, similar to the air suspension system, there are tell-tale signs to look out for indicating trouble. "Looking for MOT advisories, taking for a test drive, hearing any knocks when you're going over bumps is sure sign that your lower arms will need replacing. A lot of the time it is just the bushes that could need replacing, but as they get old it can be a bit difficult to replace those," the presenter explained.

Another potential fault, which may not affect every fourth-generation Range Rover, is the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF). This is because not all Range Rovers are diesel-powered.

However, the presenter did concede that he had encountered DPF issues on previous Range Rovers he had owned.

The dual issue of theft and insurance has emerged as the fifth and final concern, particularly affecting unattended Range Rovers. The presenter highlighted the seriousness of the matter, stating: "Every time I talk about range rovers I talk about insurance and I talk about security. It's a big big problem with these cars."

He continued to explain that Land Rover is actively working on a solution: "They suffer from a weak point in their security system. Land Rover has now done an update on these cars meaning they will send you a letter saying they can bring your car in, and perform a recall which will prevent thieves from stealing your car."

Land Rover has indeed taken steps to alleviate these concerns, with new security measures being implemented. Earlier this year, Patrick McGillycuddy, Managing Director of JLR UK, addressed the issue, saying: "We understand that being a victim of car crime is deeply distressing so we are working hard to mitigate this risk for our clients wherever we can."

He further assured customers of the company's commitment: "Our security update initiative directly and positively combats known methods of thefts used in the UK today. I am personally committed to providing the highest levels of protection possible, to as many clients as we can; our team has grown to match the scale of this task and we are actively seeking clients who may have missed our correspondence or purchased from outside our network."

Reach plc has reached out to Jaguar Land Rover for additional comments.