2008 Land Rover LR2

The contact owns a 2008 Land Rover LR2. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed and making either a right or left turn, the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that the rear differential needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 39,000. The contact stated the rear differential had to be replaced in the amount of $3400.

I have a 2008 Land Rover LR2 in mint condition and regularly maintained by a Land Rover dealer and purchased new from a LR dealer in Pittsburgh. It only has 39K miles and always parked indoors. Last year I noticed a humming, grinding sound coming from the rear wheels.I took it twice to the Fort Myers Florida LR dealer for service but they could not find the problem other than that the differential needed flushing (unusual for 39K miles). Finally took it to LR dealer two weeks ago in Naples, Florida and it was determined that the rear differential needed replacement. It was explained to me by the Asst. Service Mgr. that it was not safe to drive as the wheels could seize and cause an accident. No warning lamps indicated the problem. Land Rover refused to pay for replacement ($10K quoted cost) citing 4 year warranty period was over despite way below 50K mile warranty. Discovered over 30 similar problems reported on LR2 model on "carcomplaints.com".

I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH OF 2017 WITH 101,000 MILES ON IT. IT NOW HAS 119,000. AS OF 24 JUN 2019, THE REAR END BEGAN MAKING A NOISE WHILE TURNING. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL IMPORT REPAIR SHOP. MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD TOGETHER WITH ZIP-TIES. ZIP. TIES. AS I HAVE NEVER HAD WORK DONE ON THE REAR END OF THE CAR, THAT MEANS THAT THE ZIP-TIES WERE PUT ON BEFORE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN BUT THE REAL QUESTION IS THIS: HOW LONG IS A DIFFERENTIAL SUPPOSED TO LAST? THE DIFFERENTIAL IS CURRENTLY LOCKED INTO ALL-WHEEL DRIVE ALL THE TIME. THE DIFFERENTIAL ALONE WILL COST $4900. THE FLUIDS WILL COST $40. I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THE NUMBER OF HOURS OF LABOR BUT IT WON'T BE OVER A DAY. SO LET'S SAY A DAY OF LABOR WOULD BE 8 HRS AT A RATE OF $120/HOUR. 4900+40+960 = 5900. RIGHT NOW, MY VEHICLE IS ONLY WORTH 2,200. I OWE NO LOAN BUT I AM UPSIDE-DOWN NONETHELESS. THIS IS NOT WEAR AND TEAR. THIS DIFFERENTIAL WAS POORLY DESIGNED. THE POOR DESIGN WAS EXACERBATED WHEN THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS NOT DEALT WITH. IF NOT REPLACED, THE LOCKED DIFFERENTIAL WILL DESTROY THE TRANSMISSION. THEN WHAT WILL I DO?

"TAKATA RECALL" WHEN MOVING AT LOW OR REGULAR SPEED AND TURNING, THERE IS A RUMBLING STUMPING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS THE ISSUE. ON RESEARCHING THE LAND-ROVER FORUM, I FOUND THAT MY ISSUE WAS NOT PECULIAR TO ME ALONE BUT IT WAS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH OTHER 2008 LR2 OWNERS AND COSTLY TO CHANGE TOO. HOWEVER LAND-ROVER ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN LTB00342 (ISSUE 3) IN AUG 2011) ABOUT THIS. WHY NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAULTY REAR DIFFERENTIAL OR FREE REPLACEMENT OF THE

MY WIFE AND I STARTED NOTICING A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE THAT SEEMS TO SLOWLY BE GETTING WORSE. THEN WE STARTED GETTING A TRANSMISSION FAULT ERROR MESSAGE ON THE DASH. STARTED DOING RESEARCH AND HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS BEFORE THEIR REAR DIFFERENTIAL GOES OUT COMPLETELY. WE ARE DRIVING THE LR2 ACROSS COUNTRY A FEW TIMES THIS NEXT YEAR. IT'S PROBALY GOING TO GO OUT AT SOME POINT. IF THIS IS SUCH A WELL KNOWN ISSUE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL HASN'T BEEN ISSUED!

LIKE 1000S OF OTHER OWNERS, MY LR2 NEEDS REAR DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED. WHY NHTSA HAS NOT REVIEWED THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE. THE VOLVO'S BUILT WITH SAME DESIGN HAVE PROBLEMS WITH REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILING AS WELL. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR $2400-3000.. HAS THE NHTSA EVEN LOOKED INTO THIS? THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND I'M READING BLOGS WHERE MANY PEOPLE ARE ATTEMPTING TO DO THE REPAIRS THEMSELVES N GIVING EACH OTHER 'TRIAL N ERROR' TIPS. OTHERS ARE POSTING ASKING WHAT'S THE WORST THAT CAN HAPPEN IF THEY DON'T DO THE REPAIRS. WELL, THE TRANSMISSION CAN LOCK UP CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. SO WHAT WILL IT TAKE FOR A RECALL TO BE AT LEAST CONSIDERED? THIS SEEMS TO BE VERY SIMILAR TO TOYOTA PRIUS RECALL SEVERAL YEARS AGO. AND IT TOOK HOW MANY DEATHS BEFORE A RECALL WAS ISSUED?? OR FORD PINTO CASE SAD THING HERE IS... NHTSA SHOULD BE LISTENING TO THE CONSUMERS! YET SEEMS LIKE NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED OR MAYBE FORGOTTEN....