What 44 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Phev

In January 2025 I noticed light ticking/knocking at startup, idle, and while driving. On January 23, 2025 I searched online for how to check the oil level and for an L322 dipstick location (there is none). Only after finding a YouTube video with an undocumented override (double-pressing the “Cancel” button) was I able to see the oil level on January 31, 2025, and it showed zero. I added oil immediately, but the knocking gradually worsened over the following months until very loud clattering began on July 4, 2025. The electronic oil level monitoring and warning system failed. When I followed the owner’s manual procedure to check the oil, the display repeatedly showed “Oil Level Not Available” and never gave any low-oil or no-oil warning, even when the actual oil level was zero. Because this system is the only way to check oil level on this vehicle (there is no dipstick), it prevented me from knowing the engine had no oil. The engine then suffered progressive internal bearing/rod damage and now makes extremely loud clattering. The vehicle and components are still in my possession and are available for inspection upon request. The system’s failure meant I unknowingly drove the vehicle with zero oil, which can cause sudden engine failure, loss of power, and possible engine seizure while driving at highway speed. I used this vehicle on Los Angeles freeways, so a sudden loss of power could have led to an accident or left me stranded in a dangerous location. The vehicle now runs with severe clattering and is unsafe to drive, so I have parked it to avoid a complete failure in traffic. The vehicle has been parked since the severe failure on July 4, 2025 because I have not yet been able to afford towing and diagnostic work. There were no low-oil or oil-pressure warning lamps at any time. Prior to the failure, when I tried to check the oil level using the procedure in the owner’s manual, the display repeatedly showed the message “Oil Level Not Available.”

NHTSA ODI 11701275

The car leaked all antifreeze. This is a 2012 Range Rover sport that has the same problem as the recall N623. “ The recall number for the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover is N623. The recall was for certain 2010–2013 Range Rover Sport and 2010–2016 LR4 vehicles with 3.0L V6 or 5.0L V8 engines”. The dealerships refused to take in consideration my vehicle or reimburse for the cost to fix.

NHTSA ODI 11617099

Leaking antifreeze. The car has the same issues for Recall number po84.

NHTSA ODI 11610647

The motor has timing chain issues they all do I was quoted 8000 dollars to fix it 90k Miles on car.

NHTSA ODI 11497839

1.) SAFETY RECELL N623: GASOLINE FUEL TANK FLANGE ASSEMBLY CRACKING- I HAVE CONTACTED THE LAND ROVER DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND NO ONE WILL HELP ME SCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENT TO SERVICE MY VEHICLE. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS ARE RUDE AND VERY UNHELPFUL. 2.) MY VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN A CLASS LAWSUIT REGARDING THE TIMING CHAINS AND TENSIONERS- THE LAW SUIT WAS APPROVED IN JUNE AND I SUBMITTED ALL OF MY DOCUMENTATION. NO ONE FROM THE CLAIMS ADMINISTRATION WILL CONTACT ME BACK.

NHTSA ODI 11483475

The contact owns a 2012 Land Rover Range Rover. The contact stated while driving 70-75 MPH, the vehicle started jerking and surging. Additionally, the contact heard abnormally loud sounds coming from the engine. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred intermittently. The contact stated while driving approximately 5-10 MPH in her brother's driveway, the vehicle went into restricted driving mode, jerked forward continuously until she reached the end of the driveway. An unknown message was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the Variable Timing Activator (VTA) had failed, the engine jumped timing, there was an internal engine damage, and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance due to the mileage and age of the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 140,693.

NHTSA ODI 11480138

MY CAR AT APPROX 58000 MILES HAD A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. LAND ROVER CENTERVILLE DIAGNOSED IT AS NEEDING A NEW TENSIONER, TIMING CHAIN AND SUPERCHARGER ISOLATOR. THE REPAIR WAS $6200. 2 YEARS LATER AT 84000 MILES THE VEHICLE IDLED ROUGHLY AND THREW A CODE"PERFORMANCE RESTRICTED" ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. I DROVE IT SLOWLY TO THE NEAREST AUTO REPAIR SHOP (5 BLOCKS) WHERE IT DUPLICATED THE ROUGH IDLING AND CODE AND THEN THE ENGINE PROCEEDED TO BLOW UP DUE TO A FAULTY TENSIONER THAT CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO SLACKEN AND DESTROY PISTONS AND VALVES. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A CATASTROPHE HAD IT OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY. I ORIGINALLY REPLACED THE FAULTY TENSIONERS UNDER THE GUISE THIS WOULD PREVENT AN OCCURRENCE SUCH AS THIS. LAND ROVER STATES THE TIMING CHAIN SHOULD LAST THE LIFE TIME OF THE VEHICLE AND I AM NOW ON MY THIRD ONE WITH A 2012 VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY 84000 MILES. THE WORSE PART IS THAT THIS FAULTY DESIGN CAUSED MY ENGINE TO SEIZE. I AM NOW OUT 2 VERY COSTLY REPAIR BILLS AND I HAVE NO GUARANTEE THE NEW TENSIONER AND TIMING CHAIN WILL FUNCTION PROPERLY. I HAVE INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A SITUATION LANDROVER IS WELL AWARE OF, YET THERE IS NO RECALL. THERE NEEDS TO BE.THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, REBUILD IT OR PART THE CAR OUT AS IT IS USELESS ONCE THIS OCCURS.

NHTSA ODI 11281815

CAR WAS PERFECTLY FINE, WELL MAINTAINED, THEN JUST STOPPED RUNNING.. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, AND SAID ENTIRE ENGINE WAS BLOWN / RUINED.

NHTSA ODI 11229560

ENGINE JUMP TIMING BENDING VALVES, RECOMMENDED ENGINE REPLACEMENT

NHTSA ODI 11110400

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER L322. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, IT FAILED TO START WHEN PROMPTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.

NHTSA ODI 10918786

ON 18/03/2013 5:50 PM, THE CAR LOST POWER & STOPPED SUDDENLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING IN A SHOPPING PLAZA. THANK GOODNESS I'M STILL ALIVE! THE CAR STOPPED IN THE FRONT OF MARSHALLS (SO I HAVE LOTS OF WITNESS). PEOPLES WERE TRYING TO PUSH MY CAR TO PARKING LOT BECAUSE THE CAR BLOCKED THE TRAFFIC BUT WE COULDN'T MOVE THE GEAR TO N. I FINALLY RE-STARTED IT AFTER MORE THAN 10+ TIMES TRYING. THE CAR WAS SENT TO DEALER BY TRUCK. HOWEVER, NO FEEDBACK FROM RANGE ROVER YET (23/03/2013), NO RANGE ROVER MAN CARES THEIR CUSTOMER!!! IT'S OBVIOUSLY A POWER OR ENGINE BIG PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME I COULDN'T START THE CAR WAS ON 14/03/2013, PUT RANGED ROVER ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE ONLY SENT A JUMP START HELP TO ME. BUT IT'S NOT CAUSED BY THE BATTERY BECAUSE I RESTARTED IT AFTER 10+ TIMES TRYING. WANT TO RETURN THE RANGE ROVER JUNK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10504233