Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1988 Land Rover Range Rover, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1988 Land Rover Range Rover failed the safety check 2.00% of the time — 97% more often than the average 1988 passenger car (1.01%). Median odometer at inspection: 66,900 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
21 first registered in 1988 are on Dutch roads; 67% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
3 cars built in 1988 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 11 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 122 of these cars first registered in 1988 took their annual MOT test. 78% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1988 the figure was 71%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1988 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 11.5% | 16.0% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 7.4% | 7.4% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 6.6% | 1.7% |
| Suspension | 5.7% | 8.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Visibility | 4.1% | 6.5% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In New Zealand
8 1988 cars are on the New Zealand register; 88% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
THE BOTTOM OF THE FUEL TANK CAN CORRODE OVER TIME ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK.
INCORRECT INSTALLATION OF A CIRCLIP HOLDING THE BRAKE PEDAL PIVOT SHAFT COULD ALLOW THE CIRCLIP TO DISENGAGE AND THE PIVOT SHAFT TO MOVE ENOUGH FOR THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MOVE FROM ITS DESIGNED POSITION.
INFLATION PRESSURE RECOMMENDED FOR REAR WHEELS WILL NOT SUPPORT REAR GAWR.
CORROSION COULD OCCUR BETWEEN THE FUEL FILTER AND ITS RETAINING BRACKET.
A NYLON PIVOT PIN IN THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR LOCK MECHANISM MAY BE TOO LARGE IN DIAMETER.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Land Rover told its dealers about the 1988 Land Rover Range Rover: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 608151 | SUBJECT PERTAINS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF LUCAS HAND HELD TESTER AND DIAGNOSTIC CARDS. *TT |
| 50659 | PRIDE - 14CUX COIL CONNECTIONS. *TW |
| 50629 | BECM UPDATES AND REVERSE MIRROR DIP FUNCTION. *TW |
| 10136669 | The 'Service Required' warning text will not appear on the Instrument Cluster (IC) if a vehicle has reached its service point. |
| 10125267 | Presentation from Dealer Shop Foreman Conference Call |
| 10102683 | "ISSUE: REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED OF ENGINE DAMAGE OCCURRING, WHICH IS CAUSED BY THE USE OF NON-APPROVED ENGINE INDUCTION / FUEL INJECTION CLEANING EQUIPMENT OR MATERIALS. THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, ""VACU-FLUSH"" TYPE EQUIPMENT. CAUSE: THE USE OF NON-APPROVED EQUIPMENT CAN CAUSE THE ENGINES TO HYDRO-LOCK, OR CAUSE OTHER ENGINE DAMAGE, AND SOMETIMES THE ONLY POSSIBLE REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE." |
| 10016661 | AIR SUSPENSION DIAGNOSTIC GUIDELINES-INCORRECTLY DIAGNOSED EAS SYSTEM FAULTS. *SC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)