MajorCommonTransmission

Land Rover Range Rover Sport: ZF 8HP Torque Converter Shudder at Light Throttle

ZF 8HP Torque Converter Shudder at Light Throttle is a common transmission fault on the Land Rover Range Rover Sport on the 2013–2022 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $2,000 to $6,000 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: 2013–2022
Gearbox: auto
System: Transmission

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

A cutaway automatic transmission torque converter showing the internal turbine and stator. — A torque converter, sectioned. The lock-up clutch inside is what shudders.
No machine-readable author provided. BerndB~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox fitted to the L494 Range Rover Sport is generally robust, but a proportion of units develop a torque converter shudder experienced as a vibration or flutter at light throttle between 40 and 80 km/h, typically when the converter is at the lock-up transition threshold. A fresh fluid change sometimes helps temporarily, but the root cause is friction material wear in the converter clutch assembly. Progressive deterioration usually requires torque converter replacement or gearbox rebuild.

What you would notice

Vibration or flutter felt through the body or drivetrain at light throttle at 40 to 80 km/h
Slight roughness on gentle acceleration from low speed
Condition often worsens when transmission fluid is overdue for replacement
May temporarily improve after a transmission fluid flush

How to check it

Where to look. ZF 8HP torque converter and gearbox unit in the transmission tunnel

During the test drive, cruise at 60 to 80 km/h on smooth road with very light throttle and feel for any vibration or flutter through the floorpan or drivetrain. Perform gentle tip-in at 40 km/h from a rolling cruise and note any roughness. Have the transmission fluid inspected for colour and contamination.

Parts involved: Torque converter.

What it costs to put right

$2,000 to $6,000 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 ZF gearbox fluid been changed, and at what mileage?”
“Any vibration or shudder felt during gentle acceleration?”
“Has the vehicle had any transmission diagnostic or repair work performed?”

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 zf 8hp torque converter shudder at light throttle serious on a Land Rover Range Rover Sport?

We rate it major and common on the Land Rover Range Rover Sport. The ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox fitted to the L494 Range Rover Sport is generally robust, but a proportion of units develop a torque converter shudder experienced as a vibration or flutter at light throttle between 40 and 80 km/h, typically when the converter is at the lock-up transition threshold. A fresh fluid change sometimes helps temporarily, but the root cause is friction material wear in the converter clutch assembly. Progressive deterioration usually requires torque converter replacement or gearbox rebuild.

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

$2,000 to $6,000 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 2013–2022 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.