2003 Land Rover Range Rover diesel: common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2003 Land Rover Range Rover diesel?

Parts flagged at MOT more often on the 2003 Land Rover Range Rover diesel than on all cars registered in 2003.

• Suspension arm bushes and joints2.6× usual
  Land Rover Range Rover

  22% All 2003 cars

  8.6%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.3%, against 1.9% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

• Sub-frame3.3× usual
  Land Rover Range Rover

  15.6% All 2003 cars

  4.7%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.8%, against 0.3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

• Sub-frame bushes11× usual
  Land Rover Range Rover

  5.5% All 2003 cars

  0.5%

  Failed outright at MOT: 0.4%, against 0.1% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

• Ball joint1.8× usual
  Land Rover Range Rover

  11.5% All 2003 cars

  6.4%

  Failed outright at MOT: 5.5%, against 3% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £60–£150 (one joint) ClickMechanic

  At the viewing: Listen for knocking over bumps and check the rubber boots behind the wheels aren't split.

• Body structure rust or damage2.5× usual
  Land Rover Range Rover

  7.8% All 2003 cars

  3.1%

  Failed outright at MOT: 2.1%, against 0.9% of all 2003 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

  Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

  At the viewing: Look underneath and along the sills for flaky rust or fresh underseal hiding it.

Common 2003 Land Rover Range Rover diesel MOT failures and advisories

The share of 2003 Land Rover Range Rover diesel MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

• Suspension
  51% of testsRough price £120–£400

  At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

• Brakes
  42% of testsRough price £150–£350

  At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

• Tyres
  25% of testsRough price £70–£150

  At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

• Lights and electrics
  22% of testsRough price £10–£80

  At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

• Rust and bodywork
  16% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

  At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

• Oil and fluid leaks
  14% of testsRough price £80–£600

  At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2003 Land Rover Range Rover diesel

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

1. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 2.6× as often on the 2003 Land Rover Range Rover diesel as on other cars the same age.)
2. Any recent work on the sub-frame? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the 2003 Land Rover Range Rover diesel as on other cars the same age.)
3. Any recent work on the sub-frame bushes? (Flagged at MOT 11× as often on the 2003 Land Rover Range Rover diesel as on other cars the same age.)
4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?