NHTSA Complaint #10732308 — 2009 LAND ROVER LR2

THE LR2 WAS DRIVEN BY OUR DAUGHTER FOR SEVERAL YEARS, PRIMARILY HIGHWAY MILEAGE TO AND FROM COLLEGE. IN EARLY 2015 THE ROVER BEGAN TO MAKE A WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR AXLE. OVER THE COURSE OF TWO OR THREE WEEKS THE NOISE BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. AFTER SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT, LAND ROVER INDICATED THAT WE HAD A DAMAGED REAR DIFFERENTIAL THAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED FOR APPROXIMATELY $2500.00. I'VE OWNED A FAIR NUMBER OF VEHICLES AND DO KNOW A NUMBER OF AUTO MECHANICS. NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE EVER HEARD OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILING AT APPROXIMATELY 50K MILES. I PRESSED THE SERVICE MANAGER FOR AN ANSWER AND HE REFERRED ME TO THE MAIN HEADQUARTERS OF LAND ROVER. THEY REFUSED REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY AND FAILED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR THE REPAIR. ONCE AGAIN PRESSING THE SERVICE MANAGER, THE OPTION TO REPAIR AND NOT FULLY REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS OFFERED WITH A 10% DEALER DISCOUNT. IT IS APPARENT FROM GOOGLE SEARCHES THAT THIS REAR DIFFERENTIAL DESIGN FLAW IS WELL KNOWN TO LAND ROVER AND COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED THROUGH INCREASED MAINTENANCE. IT IS NOW A MONEY MAKER FOR LAND ROVER ON THEIR LOWER END VEHICLES.