MajorVery commonSuspension

Land Rover Range Rover Sport: Air Suspension Compressor Failure and Strut Bag Puncture

Air Suspension Compressor Failure and Strut Bag Puncture is a very common suspension fault on the Land Rover Range Rover Sport on the 2005–2022 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $900 to $3,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 25 documented faults on the Land Rover Range Rover Sport.

Vehicle: Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Years: 2005–2022
System: Suspension

This page covers the Land Rover Range Rover Sport as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Land Rover Range Rover Sport faults25 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Air suspension strut or Shock absorber / strut yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Both the L320 (2005-2013) and L494 (2013-2022) Range Rover Sport use air suspension as standard. The compressor overworks to compensate for ageing or punctured strut bags and burns out. Air bags fail from road debris or rubber degradation. The L494 adds corner-specific height sensors and a more complex valve block introducing additional failure points beyond the compressor. Overnight sag is the classic presentation. The compressor is a consumable item on high-mileage examples of both generations.

What you would notice

Vehicle sagging on one or more corners after overnight parking
Air suspension warning message on dash
Compressor running excessively or failing to activate
Vehicle unable to raise to normal or high ride height mode

How to check it

Where to look. Air compressor in engine bay or boot area; air struts at all four corners

Park on level ground, leave overnight, and check ride height before starting.
Cycle through all ride height modes and confirm smooth, timely response.
Listen for abnormal compressor running duration.
Inspect strut bags for visible cracking or abrasion.
On the L494, scan for corner-specific height sensor fault codes.

Parts involved: Air suspension strut, Shock absorber / strut.

What it costs to put right

$900 to $3,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the air suspension compressor been replaced?”
“Have any struts been replaced, and which corners?”
“Does the vehicle hold ride height overnight?”
“Any air suspension warning lights or messages in the service history?”

Now check the Land Rover Range Rover Sport you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Land Rover Range Rover Sport buyer questions

Is air suspension compressor failure and strut bag puncture serious on a Land Rover Range Rover Sport?

We rate it major and very common on the Land Rover Range Rover Sport. Both the L320 (2005-2013) and L494 (2013-2022) Range Rover Sport use air suspension as standard. The compressor overworks to compensate for ageing or punctured strut bags and burns out. Air bags fail from road debris or rubber degradation. The L494 adds corner-specific height sensors and a more complex valve block introducing additional failure points beyond the compressor. Overnight sag is the classic presentation. The compressor is a consumable item on high-mileage examples of both generations.

How much does it cost to fix on a Land Rover Range Rover Sport?

$900 to $3,800 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Land Rover Range Rover Sport years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2005–2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Park on level ground, leave overnight, and check ride height before starting. Cycle through all ride height modes and confirm smooth, timely response. Listen for abnormal compressor running duration. Inspect strut bags for visible cracking or abrasion. On the L494, scan for corner-specific height sensor fault codes. Look here: Air compressor in engine bay or boot area; air struts at all four corners