NHTSA Complaint #10693252 — 2008 LAND ROVER LR2

I OWN A 2008 LR2 AND JUST RECEIVED CONFIRMATION FROM THE LOCAL DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAS FAILED AND IS THE SOURCE OF THE WIDELY REPORTED LOW PITCHED REAR HUM. THIS NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE STARTED AROUND 66,000 MILES (CURRENT MILEAGE 74,600). I WAS NOT AWARE AT THE TIME OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ISSUE WITH THESE CARS, AND GIVEN THAT THE SET OF TIRES ON THE CAR WERE DUE TO BE CHANGED I ATTRIBUTED THE NOISE TO THE TIRE TREAD WEAR. I OPTED TO RUN THE EXISTING TIRES THROUGH THE WINTER AND STRETCH THE MILEAGE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. THE NOISE CONTINUED TO GET WORSE, BUT AGAIN, ATTRIBUTED THAT TO THE TIRE TREAD. I SUBSEQUENTLY STARTED SOME RESEARCH INTO OTHER CAUSES OVER THE PAST COUPLE WEEKS AND FOUND MANY, MANY REPORTS OF DIFFERENTIAL FAILURES ON THESE CARS. I REPLACED THE TIRES HOPING THAT WAS THE ROOT CAUSE. IT WAS NOT, SO THE APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER WAS SCHEDULED AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE REAR DIFF IS DEFECTIVE. THE QUOTED PRICE FOR THE REPAIR ' 5 HRS + PARTS, $3,000+. FORTUNATELY I HAD THE DEFECT DIAGNOSED BEFORE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND/OR INJURY TO PASSENGERS. AS I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY DISCOVERED AS I WAS GIVING APPROVAL TO ORDER THE NEW DIFFERENTIAL, THE PART HAS BEEN RE-DESIGNED SIX TIMES. THIS FACT ESSENTIALLY CONFIRMS THAT LAND ROVER HAS RECOGNIZED THE DESIGN FLAWS, BUT IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM WITH OWNERS. *TR