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David
St. Louis
I wonder what other damages to the vehicle's engine has this fuel tank disaster caused?
I even asked the LR3 rep if they are planning to recall all LR3s or post a severe warning.. They said they will handle one at a time. No recall is needed.
Wow!, Guess someone has to be in a more severe sitaution to be taken more serious! Leaking gas, fuel tank burst, and fire hazard isn't enough?
One more item - I just happened to check my tire pressure - the rears were set at 44psi and fronts at 36psi. I think the manual calls for 36 front and rear - any ideas why the dealer would inflate to 44?? Isn't this considered very high P?
The LR3 is an outright bargain when compared to a lot or more pedestrian SUVs such as loaded Tahoes, Expeditions and GMCs. Yes, it would be great if everyone's rig was perfect but the fact is when you screw together 30,000 parts, sometimes there are flaws. Happens to everyone, even the Japanese.
IMO the LR3 is unmatched in terms of performance and head turning quotient when compared to vehicles in the same price range. I wonder if these message boards turn into frenzy rants and exaggerate the feelings of the minority who are truly having problems. I also visit the Expedition page and from reading posts on that site, I'm amazed mine makes it to work everyday. Yet this is our second Expy and both have been great running trucks.
Seacrest Out
Steve, Host
Purchased: Jan 30th, 2005
1st visit: (7 days)
Door Panel Vibration - Broken Bracket - Did not fix.
Bad Head unit - Did not fix
2nd visit: (10 days)
Bad Head unit - Did not fix
Nav GPS failure - loose connection - fixed
Sunroof would not open - bad wire - fixed
Max of 12 MPG - still present
Door Panel Vibration - Broken Bracket - fixed.
3rd visit: (3 days)
Suspension fault - bad compressor - did not fix
Max of 12 MPG - still present
Transport mode deactivation procedure repeated.
4th visit: (3 days)
Suspension fault - bad compressor - fixed
Bad Head unit - fixed
Gas gauge reading incorrectly - did not fix
Steering linkage noise - did not fix
5th visit: (7+ days)
Gas gauge reading incorrectly - replacing gas tank - currently in shop
Steering linkage noise - investigating - currently in shop
Seemly endless minor annoyances, the sum of days in shop is now at 30 days, I only have 4,800 miles. Don't buy a LR3 right now, it is a great truck but wait another year if you can.
:lemon:
You really don't need the rear locking differential. I've driven both in extreme scenarios, and noticed very little functional difference. Terrain Responses works wonderfully either way.
Still having suspension fault problems. Now on 3rd time into the dealer. They stated that no information about a fault was "stored in the car's computer memory" but light kept coming on. On 3rd visit back to dealer they said they found some fault readings in the memory and replaced a compressor. I insisted they test drive the car 20 miles to make sure the problem was fixed. I am picking the car up today and we'll see if that did the trick. Am hopeful but not confident.
As an aside, I've been fortunate that the Centres with whom I've worked have been excellent in resolving problems and I've always been given a loaner vehicle. My first dealership picked up my vehicle and left me a loaner, then returned my truck when it was finished; I lived 45 miles away, and I know they did the same thing for people living 150 miles away. That's service.
- they, the dealer, must talk to a so called 'Tech Line', presumably a corporate function, to report in all kinds of tests on this gas tank issue. More people than I, the dealer said, have experience gas tank troubles. He says my stalling is related to the tank issue.
TechLine as authorized a complete gas tank, fuel canister, etc. etc. to be swapped in. All parts are back ordered for who knows how long.
I still prefer to own the LR3 even with all this hassle. If I think about what 4wd SUV I would want to own, I come up blank. It's a great vehicle... just needs these bugs worked out.
I, however, have no such complaints...I have been very fortunate to have gotten a thusfar, flawless example of an LR3...I guess I got a bit lucky after waiting nearly 7 months for mine to arrive...a mere 4 months after promised...
Now, with just over 5000 miles on it, it has been basically superb...far beyond expectations (I was not overly optimistic about reliability). This is my first Land Rover, my first SUV, and I have no idea if I'll ever own another. It was purchased as a family mover, mostly...with 2 kids in car seats and the ability to put 5 adults in there in addition, if needed...far more than the wife's S6 Avant with 2 kid + 2 adult capacity. The luggage space is far more utilitarian than the Audi also which easily accomodates the mass of luggage, etc for long trips...or just trips to the airport. The Audi is just too small. It was also purchased because it has real off-road ability which is needed to reach off-road lots in the desert. I hope to be able to get more use on more challenging trails in the future, but it has already taken me places that the Audi would have never reached...especially during monsoon season here.
The only glitches I can see...is that it has the now classic, black plastic haze on all the door interiors. It really doesn't bother me...and I have no intent of spending much effort on improving it. One additional reason I bought the LR3 instead of the Range Rover was that the interior was more "rugged" and I'd care far less if it got scuffed or scratched, etc. I realize the haze is not scuffing, just a bizarre reaction of the plastic...but either way, it's not really attractive. It has once not recognized that I removed the key after turning it off. It has once put itself in "access mode" without being asked. That's it...
Overall, it has gotten 14.04 miles per gallon, actual, not computer. The computer is typically ~5% optimistic. I tried mid-grade once...and I paid for it big-time. The acceleration was horrible and dead feeling...plus it got just 11.93 mpg which was by a significant margin, the worst so far. The best mpg has been 17.31 at an average speed of 60 mph. Typically, however, it is in the mid 13s to low 15s consistently. Not terribly far off from the S6's 15.83.
Performance has been "good", not stellar. It is a bit slow to downshift when prodded. Steering feel is great. The transmission is smooth. Ride is mostly smooth except a bit jittery over rougher pavement. Overall, it's pretty quiet, although not a tomb. Brakes are good for the weight they must stop, but I wouldn't ride up someone's azz too closely. Body roll in corners is there, but limited far more than one would expect from a relatively tall and heavy truck.
Interior and creature comforts: My biggest gripe is the lack of auto-up/down windows x 4. Why??? The placements of the window controls are bizarre...but not a big deal. The seats are nice...they look pretty cool...the leather is good...not too luxurious...about appropriate with the overall "luxury" of the truck. The headrest protruding forward doesn't bother me. I wouldn't mind a power-memory steering column adjustment...but that may just be me being picky. The stadium seating and high roofline really create a spacious feel that is lost in the RR Sport (I see no reason to buy that truck in the 300 HP format). The 3rd row is great, although with the kid's car seats in place, access is not that easy. The doors could close more easily and more definitively...not a real nice thunk.
Air conditioning has been fantastic...it has been a life-saver basically for my kids with powered vents in the rear...unlike the single passive vent in the rear of the S6. My kids would be roasting in the 115+ degree heat in Arizona without the oomph of the AC in the LR3...we take the LR3 anytime the temp is above 90 so the kids don't pass out. The AC works "hard" in 110+...but I know of no other AC that does a better job...and many that do far worse.
Looks...from the front, it's very attractive...from other angles, it's a bit more variable. I get a number of second looks...although not near as much as I did in my Audi A6 4.2, or the S6 Avant. But, who cares about looks? I bought it for what it could do...and carry. Bottom line, it is the only mid-size SUV that can handle 7 full-size adults or 5 with 2 car seats...and that was the ultimate trigger. I loathe the Expedition, Excursion, Tahoe, Suburban, etc...and have no use for anything without 7 legitimate seats...so the LR3 was the ticket.
I have zero regrets...although routine $60 tanks are not ideal.
I would buy it again tomorrow it I had it to do again...but I do understand the pain of those who have unfortunately received persistently troublesome trucks.
We have to keep in mind that most of the people are seeking this forum out because they have had some kind of a problem, and want to see if others have seen it, or have others come up with a solution. This forum happens to be the most active on LR3's, so alot of problems happen to concentrate here.
Clearly we can assume that far many more LR3 owners have had perfectly normal ownership experiences with theirs. And impressive is the fact that many of us problem LR3 owners still are impressed with the overall package itself.
I do wonder how LR, being put on notice with several fuel leak problems, more than one of us has reported to NHTSA, has not done a general recall. If, God forbid, someone's leaking LR3 blows up as they pass a lit cigarette butt on the street, Ford Motors will have their clock cleaned again (anyone remember the 70's Pinto's rear gas tanks blowing up, and Ford knew about it) in court. I would think LR, to be responsible and ethical, would do more to immediately address this critical safety issue.
For snow, we're screwed. If you want to pay thru the nose, you can find Goodyear MT/R tires that would turn the LR3 into a powerhouse in the snow. But that's a $2500 exercise in shipping 'tyres' from the UK.
Ouch.
Imagine that LR does all this great engineering, comes out with this awesome truck, then they are stuck with no good tire choices! It's equivalent to putting snow tires on a Ferrari... just defeats the purpose of the vehicle.
I was showing over 21 mpg on the freeway for about 50 miles, is that possible? Mostly I got around 14.9 mpg.
I'm thinking of the 06 because I wil probably lease it and usually the residual are better at the start of ther model year.
Are there any changes for 06?
thank you
RE: '06... Please search for 2006 or equivalent. In fact, it's probably mentioned a few messages back. :confuse:
Can I ask where you were able to rent an LR3? I've been thinking of doing that for some upcoming travel. What kind of daily/weekly fee were you charged?
Thanks
I love my car but too many issues for paying over $50,000.
Also any update on the recent fuel system concern...fixes, recall. Thanks.
Anyway, anything that is "required" (software updates, true recalls, etc.) will be done by your dealer when they prepare the new vehicle.
Manufacturer : LAND ROVER
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 05V376000 Mfg's Report Date : AUG 26, 2005
Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 17263
Summary:
SOME SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY HAVE FUEL TANKS THAT CONTAIN AN INTERNAL BREATHER PIPE THAT WAS NOT MADE TO SPECIFICATION. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXCESSIVE SWELLING AND CRACKING OF A GROMMET AND SUBSEQUENT DETACHMENT OF THE BREATHER PIPE FROM A CONNECTOR TUBE. WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE TANK IS ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE DETACHED JOINT, FUEL MAY THEN ENTER THE BREATHER PIPE.
Consequence:
THE VEHICLE MAY EXHIBIT MIL ILLUMINATION, FUEL ODOR, DRIVABILITY CONCERNS SUCH AS HESITATION, MISFIRE, STALLING, ROUGH RUNNING, OR DIFFICULTY IN STARTING. IF THE AMOUNT OF FUEL FLOWING INTO THE BREATHER PIPE REACHES THE VAPOR CANISTER AND EXCEEDS ITS CAPACITY, THE EXCESS FUEL MAY BE DISCHARGED ONTO THE GROUND. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANKS. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OCTOBER 14, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.
Notes:
LAND ROVER RECALL NO. B016. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
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What is your source of information for the VIN numbers?
Thanks
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/RepositoryFiles.cfm?module=RECALLS&IfsDocId=05V- - - - - 376
These are the PDF documents, though the direct links here may not stay active:
http://199.79.180.163/prepos/files/Artemis/Public/Recalls/2005/V/RCAK-05V376-4753.PDF
http://199.79.180.163/prepos/files/Artemis/Public/Recalls/2005/V/RCDNN-05V376-1657.PDF