Home · 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport (5 Seat) · Complaints

What 50 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport (5 Seat)

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (50)Crash / fire / injury (4)Fuel system (21)Engine (15)Transmission & drivetrain (9)Electrical system (4)Brakes (3)Speed control (3)Suspension (3)Airbags (2)Engine & cooling (2)Lights (2)

9 of 50 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters

Aug 14, 2025Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

Had a recall. I wasn't available on the date or a week or so after the appointment date. An ex of mine that had no authority to take my Range Rover into the dealership for the recall to get fixed, used my driver's license to get a rental Land Rover to use while my Range Rover was supposedly being fixed for the leaking fuel tank recall. So, Land Rover didn't care that it wasn't me getting to drive a $70,000 Land Rover while mine was getting fixed for recall. I figure out what happened & where my vehicle was & got the rental back to me in order to go get my vehicle back. I got to take it home,2 days later transmission messed up wouldn't shift out of park,started over heating,& I had to pull it with a rope from the store back home to park it. When I looked under the vehicle cause I was trying to figure out why it was majorly overheating, I then realized the gas was just pouring out near the transmission pan, which is where the fuel line runs from the top of the gas tank. My recall was for the fuel tank leaking originally. Now, Land Rover refuses to fix this major safety hazard/defect, stating that the gas pouring out doesn't stem from the recall. Which is complete bullshit! Nothing was wrong with my vehicle when I bought it only a few months before I received the notice about the recall. Now, I can't drive it & it's sitting at the dealership that did the recall & didn't fix it. They towed it 2 days ago to their shop & called me the next day saying that the fuel pouring out & overheating doesn't have anything to do with recall or what they've done. Which is a lie. So, now my car is sitting up at the dealership off of DFW airport & they are expecting me to pay to get it towed back home & that they aren't going to fix my vehicle that they have totally destroyed. I can't get anyone to talk to me or return my calls. I can't get anyone to help me with this. They just hang up or give me a hard time about it & are denying what they have caused for my vehicle. PLEASE HELP ME!

NHTSA ODI 11680703

Aug 14, 2025Fuel systemTransmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V635000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the "Transmission Fault" warning light illuminated, and the engine temperature gauge indicated that the engine was HOT. The contact pulled into a filling station and checked the coolant reservoir. The contact stated that the reservoir was slightly low, and she added a pint of water. The contact stated that the fluid started leaking underneath the vehicle near the front of the transmission. The contact later became aware that it was gasoline that was leaking. The contact became aware of the failure while refueling the vehicle. The contact called the manufacturer, who requested that the dealer pick up the vehicle. The dealer towed the vehicle to the service department. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 155,000.

NHTSA ODI 11680706

Dec 10, 2024Transmission & drivetrain

Gearbox failure. NO warning lamps, symptoms or messages prior to the incident. While driving down the road, upon accelerating; the vehicle would not move forward. The shift was in drive. There was an indicating (grinding) noise beneath the vehicle. Had this been on a highway it had great potential to become a severe danger to myself and passengers, or other drivers! found to be transfer case and connecting transmission spline ground to a powder. It was towed to the Land Rover service department.

NHTSA ODI 11629881

Sep 16, 2022Transmission & drivetrain

The component that Failed was the transmission outline Spline due to lack of lubrication from the factory. This causes the component to fail over time due to corrosion. When this component fails it makes the whole driveline fail/slip. Can happen while making a turn with fast approaching vehicles coming at your through the opposite lane. Also makes the vehicles parking function fail. As the car will roll freely when the shift indicator is in the Park position. The problem has been diagnosed by a certified Mechanic There are no warning lamps, messages or symptoms when this problem happens. Everything is working fine and the next second it is failing.

NHTSA ODI 11484853

Apr 25, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

DRIVING ON THE ROAD, WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ANY CONTROL OF THE DRIVETRAIN. VEHICLE WAS LEFT COASTING IN TRAFFIC, AND THE ENGINE WOULD REV WITHOUT ANY INFLUENCE ON MOVING THE SUV. THE MECHANIC IDENTIFIED IT AS A KNOWN PROBLEM WHERE THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION STRIPS THE INPUT SHAFT OF THE TRANSFER CASE DUE TO EXCESSIVE FRETTING CORROSION CAUSED BY INSUFFICIENT LUBRICANT/PROTECTANT APPLIED TO THE SHAFTS AT ASSEMBLY. I ALSO READ ABOUT OTHERS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC (RANGE ROVER FORUM POSTS). THIS INITIALLY LEFT ME IN THE MIDDLE OF MOVING TRAFFIC WITH NO WAY TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AS IT HAS LEFT OTHERS THAT HAVE DESCRIBED THE SAME SUDDEN FAILURE ON THE INTERNET. THE ONLY REMEDY OFFERED AT THE DEALERSHIP IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION AND ENTIRE TRANSFER CASE AT A COST IN EXCESS OF $13,000.00.

NHTSA ODI 11203823

Mar 31, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

RATTLING NOISE FROM THE TIMING CHAIN. IT IS A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE DUE TO THE USE OF SUBSTANDARD TENSIONING RAILS AND GUIDES. FAILURE OF THE TIMING CHA8NS CAUSES CAMSHAFTS AND CRANKSHAFTS TO GO OUT OF SYNCHRONIZATION AND LOSE POWER, OR CAUSE THE PISTON AND VALVES TO SLAM INTO EACH OTHER. LAND ROVER ISSUE A TSB 2015 RECOGNIZING THIS ISSUE TSB LTB00474NAS3. MOREOVER MY VEHICLE'S VIN NUMBER FALLS WITHIN THE AFOREMENTIONED LIST.

NHTSA ODI 11192807

Dec 26, 2016Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN YOU SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK THE VEHICLE WILL KEEP ROLLING AND NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING YOU HAVE TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE. YOU MAY BE ON A CITY STREET, GARAGE, PARKING LOT ETC... THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED ON A 2012 VEHICLE WITH 54812 MILES. THIS ORIGINAL ONE OWNER VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ONLY. NO OUTSIDE MECHANICS HAVE EVER TOUCHED THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED BECAUSE FAILURE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS DAMAGE OR POSSIBLY DEATH IN THE EVENT THE VEHICLE ROLLED A WAY AND HIT SOMETHING OR WORSE HIT SOMEONE. YOU DON'T EVER EXPECT TO HAVE TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION ON A FOUR YEAR OLD VEHICLE ESPECIALLY TO PREVENT A ROLL A WAY ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 10937447

Mar 28, 2013Transmission & drivetrainCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 RANGE ROVER EVOQUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE STARTED THE ENGINE AND EXITED THE VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED AWAY AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000. UPDATED 4/26/13 *CN THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, THE TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE LOCKED UP AS IN THE CASE OF BRAKE FAILURE OR IF THE THROTTLE BY WIRE MALFUNCTIONED. HE ALSO FOUND OUT, DURING HIS LAST VISIT AT THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE PLACED IN NEUTRAL IF IT WAS BEING TOWED. UPDATED 05/01/13

NHTSA ODI 10504853

Mar 23, 2013Transmission & drivetrainEngine

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

Working with the data? Download all 50 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 24, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport (5 Seat) verdict →