NHTSA Complaint #10631095 — 2006 LAND ROVER LR3

2006 LR3 WITH ONLY 93K MILES HAD THE TIMING CHAIN BREAK WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAS A FULL SERVICE HISTORY AT AN AUTHORIZED LAND ROVER DEALER SHOWING RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED DURING THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE (VALVES ETC.) IS ESTIMATED AT $5500 TO REPAIR. THE TIMING CHAIN IS MADE OF METAL AND BASED ON INDUSTRY EXPERTISE IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BREAK FOR THE LIFE OF THE ENGINE OR PAST 200,000+ MILES. RESEARCH ONLINE SHOWS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER LR3 OWNERS WITH VEHICLES WITH LESS THAN 100K MILES. BASED UPON THE EXPECTATIONS FOR THE LIFESPAN OF A TIMING CHAIN AND OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS, I BELIEVE THERE MAY BE A DEFECTIVE PART ON THIS VEHICLE ASSOCIATED WITH THE TIMING CHAIN AND IT'S RELATED COMPONENTS. THERE ARE NO MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAIN PRIOR TO 100K MILES AND IT IS EXPECTED TO LAST FAR LONGER THAN 100K MILES BASED UPON NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR FOR THIS VEHICLE. WE HAVE ONLY USED THE VEHICLE US ROADS AS YOU WOULD A TYPICAL AUTOMOBILE (NO OFF-ROADING HOBBIES ETC.) WE ARE PURSUING THIS MATTER WITH LAND ROVER DIRECTLY AND REPORTING THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE TO ALERT OTHER LR3 OWNERS. *TR