land rover reliability controversy.

I have been wanting to start a thread on this topic for quite some time. Land rover has tradationally been known all over the world as the ultimate off road brand and the car of choice for expeditionists, explorers and the military. However, recently, this image of toughness and durability seems to have taken a blow. J.D.Power, a reputed car survey in its most recent report listed Land Rover as the most unreliable car in the world with the most reported cases of faults and breakdowns on brand new vehicles. It does not elaborate which particular models are more troublesome than others but restricts itself to the brand name. Porsche is the most reliable make in the world followed closely by Toyota. BMW and Mercedese are, if I remember correctly, not even in the top 20. American car makers dont fare well either in the survey. Obviously, us land rover lovers dont just love this brand for its degree of reliability. The character of this vehicle, especially the defender and series versions, extends far beyond this one feature in a vehicle. Nevertheless, I do feel saddened by the fact the a car meant for long journeys and hard work would perform so bad in the admiteddly essential category of reliability. Why and where did Land Rover group go wrong? thoughts ppl???

op2:

The unions got too powerful and made it uncompetitive.....so they started buying the cheapest of the cheapest parts

Try driving a porsche down a farm track and see if it stays so reliable then... you see the problem with that survey???

Try comparing apples with something other than bratwurst and you might get a better perspective

Lol nath

I reckon it's the Range Rover what's dragging the rest down! That and the gaylanders!

lerk said:

Try driving a porsche down a farm track and see if it stays so reliable then... you see the problem with that survey???

Try comparing apples with something other than bratwurst and you might get a better perspective

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Porsche cayaan has for the past three years been the winner of the Transsyberian rally. Its a damn good offroader although it looks like a toad.

Most of the landrovers on the road are old and still go, wait till these porches and mercs are this old and have the same miles on the clock and see how well they do, I would be suprised if you could even get them started. I also realise that these stats are based on new vehicles and I do think that reliabitly has got worse, but I would take a 300/200tdi or V8 (others too) on a long trip without any doubts in my head. Obviously like any machine I would want it to be fully serviced and any worn parts replaced. Also they are easy to work on in the field if need be.

Good thread, and good luck

the infinite LR reliability thread, a favorite in overland circles especially by G wagen and Cruiser owners who like to bash us for having no brains.

I offer no constructive comments to this because its well documented everywhere else but a good phrase I heard by Toy owners was:

"If you have never owned a Land Rover you have no Heart. If you still own a Land Rover you have no Brains"

Genius.

G

discomania said:

Most of the landrovers on the road are old and still go, wait till these porches and mercs are this old and have the same miles on the clock and see how well they do, I would be suprised if you could even get them started. I also realise that these stats are based on new vehicles and I do think that reliabitly has got worse, but I would take a 300/200tdi or V8 (others too) on a long trip without any doubts in my head. Obviously like any machine I would want it to be fully serviced and any worn parts replaced. Also they are easy to work on in the field if need be.

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Your bit about easy servicability in the field are spot on....but porsches and toyotas run for decades too...and the land rovers that are old and still on the go say more about the enthusiasm of their owners than the build quality....thats my two penny's worth

defender300 said:

Your bit about easy servicability in the field are spot on....but porsches and toyotas run for decades too...and the land rovers that are old and still on the go say more about the enthusiasm of their owners than the build quality....thats my two penny's worth

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Old German cars run for ages, yes - the w126 Merc S-class and w124 E-class spring to mind - but I'm not so sure about the newer ones, will be interesting to see if in 20 years time I can pick up a fully working flawless 2009 S-class for £1k, won't it?

mate had a w124 and bought it for peanuts-one overload protection relay later it ran perfectly

Langers said:

Old German cars run for ages, yes - the w126 Merc S-class and w124 E-class spring to mind - but I'm not so sure about the newer ones, will be interesting to see if in 20 years time I can pick up a fully working flawless 2009 S-class for £1k, won't it?

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the same can be said of the new defenders perhaps....i am acting as the devils advocate now

err transit crossed with defender =puma

defender300 said:

the same can be said of the new defenders perhaps....i am acting as the devils advocate now

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The Defender has a lot more in common with its ancestors than any other modern cars. Aside from the new engines and bits of electrickery, I should think that they will stand the test of time pretty well overall, even if the electrics do go wrong occasionally. The fundamentals are still the same; rugged and relatively simple construction.

Langers said:

The Defender has a lot more in common with its ancestors than any other modern cars. Aside from the new engines and bits of electrickery, I should think that they will stand the test of time pretty well overall, even if the electrics do go wrong occasionally. The fundamentals are still the same; rugged and relatively simple construction.

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agreed.....ladder chassis and all with easy bolt on assembly....

defender300 said:

agreed.....ladder chassis and all with easy bolt on assembly....

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Right so is that an end to it?

Langers said:

Right so is that an end to it?

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well...it can be an end to thread but whats more important is that land rover gets its act togather and ends the finnicky electronics and cheap plastic interiors in my opinion....either have it in tough stainless steel or go for high quality stuff.....i hate cheap plastic interiors with bits falling off

Well, interesting question.

i bought my 2007 model at the end of December 2007.
Since i've had it it has been in the dealers a number of times for problems.
First random problems that caused power loss (limp mode), they blamed this on water in the diesel because of the breather tubes placement problem.

The problem continued for months after this and back it went for about 3 weeks during which time they gave it a whole new fuel injection system.

Ran ok for 7k then engine management light on. Another 'service' fixed this.

Most recently it it had to go in for a number of issues related to the exhaust gas recirculation system. The AA guy knew the problem and said it was a standard known issue with the Transit engine.

Oh yeah and while it was in there, they changed the infamous vaccuum pump which they said had just started leaking....

...thats my chronicle.

Still love it though.

physeptone said:

Well, interesting question.

i bought my 2007 model at the end of December 2007.
Since i've had it it has been in the dealers a number of times for problems.
First random problems that caused power loss (limp mode), they blamed this on water in the diesel because of the breather tubes placement problem.

The problem continued for months after this and back it went for about 3 weeks during which time they gave it a whole new fuel injection system.

Ran ok for 7k then engine management light on. Another 'service' fixed this.

Most recently it it had to go in for a number of issues related to the exhaust gas recirculation system. The AA guy knew the problem and said it was a standard known issue with the Transit engine.

Oh yeah and while it was in there, they changed the infamous vaccuum pump which they said had just started leaking....

...thats my chronicle.

Still love it though.

Click to expand...

The workshop is the second home for the land rovers. i guess its part of the fun in owning one

I love my Defender but if push came to shove and my life absolutely relied upon my vehicle I'd have a Landcruiser over a Landrover everytime. I've driven more miles than I care to remember all over Africa and whilst I've broken down in Landies and had them fixed by bush mechanics I've NEVER broken down in a Toyota. Thats why Toyota have taken 90% of the African and Australian markets away from Landrover. They are no more capable than a Landy but they just don't break down.

I also have to admit my Defender looks better than any other 4x4 though.