Land Rover Range Rover Sport L320: common faults & what to check

You're looking at the L320

3 engine variants are documented for this generation. Pick yours to narrow further, or keep reading for the generation as a whole.

2005–2013L320 Selected2005–2013L3202.7 TDV6Fuel not statedDocumented issues10 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

2005–2013L320 Selected2005–2013L3203.6 TDV8Fuel not statedDocumented issues9 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

2005–2013L320 Selected2005–2013L3205.0 supercharged V8Fuel not statedDocumented issues7 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Land Rover Range Rover Sport

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Land Rover Range Rover Sport before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Costly issue

  Leave the car standing, then check for a sagged (usually rear) corner.

  See why

  Air suspension failure, especially rear springs (L320)

  The L320 rides on air suspension and failures are among its most common problems. Rear air springs fail first because they carry more load and fatigue faster; a leak makes the compressor overwork and eventually fail. The result is a corner that sags overnight, a suspension warning, and a car stuck low. A common owner mistake is replacing the compressor when the real fault is a leak.

  What you would notice

  • A rear corner low after standing overnight
  • 'Suspension fault' message
  • Compressor running long or constantly
  • Harsh ride stuck at one height

  Typically $700–$4,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Park on level ground, leave overnight, and check ride height before starting.

  See why

  Air Suspension Compressor Failure and Strut Bag Puncture

  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

  Typically $900–$3,800 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Inspect all inner bush rubber elements for cracking, oil contamination, or metal-to-rubber bond failure.

  See why

  Front Ball Joint & Control Arm Bush Wear

  The L320 Sport front suspension uses the same double wishbone arrangement as the L322 but with a slightly sportier geometry tune that increases ball joint stress in dynamic driving. The high kerb weight combined with the Sport's more enthusiastic driver profile produces accelerated lower ball joint wear at the taper — play develops progressively and is initially felt as vagueness before progressing to a defined clunk. Inner control arm bushes degrade from oil splash contamination and rubber ageing, reducing compliance and creating a harsh ride and tramlining. The L320 is widely fitted with aftermarket large-diameter alloys that eliminate tyre sidewall as a buffer, directly worsening ball joint and bush loading.

  What you would notice

  • Knocking or clunking from front end over bumps and kerbs
  • Steering wander and reduced straight-line tracking
  • Feathered or uneven front tyre wear
  • Tramlining on road surface irregularities
  • Steering wheel vibration at motorway speeds

  Typically $1,100–$3,800 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Inspect the ATC motor connector housing for corrosion, water intrusion marks, or green oxide on pins.

  See why

  ATC Transfer Case Motor Failure & Diff Lock Errors

  The L320 Sport Active Transfer Case uses the same externally-mounted electric actuator design as the L322, with a plastic-housed motor and position sensor exposed to road water, mud ingress, and thermal stress. Corrosion of the multi-pin electrical connector is the predominant failure mechanism — moisture tracks into the connector under vibration and thermal cycling, causing pin oxidation that the TCM reads as a position fault. The result is a Transfer Box Fault warning and loss of range selection capability. The L320 Sport's lower ride height and more road-oriented buyer profile means units often remain unfixed longer than on the L322, as owners assume the fault is minor.

  What you would notice

  • Transfer Box Fault warning illuminated
  • Diff Lock Unavailable warning on instrument cluster
  • Unable to select low range for off-road use
  • High/low range shift fails to complete
  • Multiple 4WD system warnings simultaneously

  Typically $950–$3,200 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Test all Terrain Response programmes sequentially from a cold start.

  See why

  Terrain Response Relay & Mode Selector Fault

  The L320 Sport Terrain Response system uses the same rotary mode selector and relay pack architecture as the L322, coordinating throttle, transmission, diff lock, and stability systems across terrain programmes. The resistive track in the rotary selector wears and contaminates over time, producing mode misread events. The relay pack in the rear cargo area is exposed to moisture from wet luggage and boot flooding events, causing relay contact corrosion. Fault presentation on the L320 Sport is typically more frequent than the L322 due to higher rates of off-road usage by Sport owners who keep the vehicle near the ground and expose the system to mud contamination of the selector dial.

  What you would notice

  • Terrain Response warning light on cluster
  • Programme selector appears engaged but system does not respond
  • Multiple 4WD and stability system warnings simultaneously
  • TR selector dial physically turns but no mode change occurs
  • System resets to General programme randomly while driving

  Typically $480–$2,400 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Rotate the shaft and feel for roughness or play at the inner joint.

  See why

  Front Differential Inner CV Joint Wear

  The L320 Range Rover Sport front differential CV driveshafts, specifically the inner CV joint at the differential output, wear prematurely due to the high articulation angles demanded by the independent front suspension combined with the vehicle's considerable weight. Rubber boots split and expel grease, accelerating joint wear. Once grease is depleted, the joint develops play and a characteristic clicking under steering lock. Left uncorrected, the joint fails and the front driveshaft separates.

  What you would notice

  • Clicking or clunking noise when turning on full or near-full steering lock
  • Vibration through the steering wheel under acceleration from low speed
  • Grease flung onto surrounding suspension components visible on inspection
  • Split or torn CV boot visible on hoist inspection

  Typically $900–$2,200 to put right.

Land Rover Range Rover Sport service schedule

The 3 engines a 2005 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was sold with, each with its own intervals. Pick your engine above to narrow this to one. These are the model’s intervals — the car’s own service book is the only thing that can tell you what has actually been done to it.

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Land Rover Range Rover Sport’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• Timing Chain Replacement Cost

Other Land Rover models