NHTSA Complaint #11703706 — 2016 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER SPORT

The Diesel Exhaust Fluid system on my 2016 Range Rover Sport has a recurring defect that triggers the warning “Incorrect Diesel Exhaust Fluid Quality Detected” followed by a “No engine starts in XX miles” countdown. This defect has happened repeatedly over several years despite multiple repairs including injector replacement, injector housing replacement and eventually a complete DEF tank assembly replacement. The failure always returns. This defect disables the vehicle and creates a safety risk because the car will eventually refuse to start, which can leave the driver stranded without warning. The problem appeared again this month, and the vehicle displayed the countdown message even though only OEM DEF fluid was used. Land Rover’s own internal service bulletins describe this issue, but dealerships have been unable to permanently repair it. I was instructed by Land Rover corporate to bring the vehicle in for a goodwill review, but instead I was told I would need to pay for diagnostics, and corporate later stated they would not cover repairs at all. A respected independent garage reviewed my service records and told me the dealership should have performed a BlueDEF regeneration procedure. They also told me this is a known and continuous problem on these vehicles and that it will never go away without a redesigned system. This is a long-standing emissions-related defect that repeatedly renders the vehicle non-operational and forces owners into unsafe situations. There is no permanent fix available through the manufacturer or dealers. I am submitting this complaint because this defect is widespread on Land Rover diesel models and carries clear safety and reliability consequences.