Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Land Rover Range Rover, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Tires2
- Seat belts2
- Engine2
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Visibility2
- Electrical system2
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Seats1
- Exterior lighting1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 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 1997 Land Rover Range Rover failed the safety check 0.95% of the time — 40% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 150,907 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
49 first registered in 1997 are on Dutch roads; 37% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €77,506.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen18
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde11
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm9
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm7
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt6
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht5
- Waarschuwingsinrichting antiblokkeersysteem geeft defect aan5
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld5
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
364 cars built in 1997 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1,482 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, 644 of these cars first registered in 1997 took their annual MOT test. 68% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 1997 the figure was 64%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 1997 |
|---|---|---|
| Body, chassis, structure | 12.0% | 9.7% |
| Suspension | 11.8% | 12.2% |
| Brakes | 11.2% | 11.8% |
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.4% | 16.1% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 8.7% | 7.2% |
| Steering | 6.2% | 3.5% |
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
113 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 55% arrived as used imports, 40% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 2 variants: combined 17.8–18.9 L/100 km (about 12–13 mpg US), CO₂ 409–435 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range Rover 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 20.1 | 15.0 | 17.8 |
| Range Rover 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 21.4 | 15.8 | 18.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1997 Land Rover Range Rover.
| 1998148 22 Jul 1998 | Engine CERTAIN UNDER-HOOD HOSE AND TUBING COMPONENTS (PRIMARILY COOLANT HOSES) CAN FAIL. UNINTENDED RELEASE OF FLUIDS SUCH AS ENGINE COOLANT, WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID,… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. COOLANT SYSTEM LEAKS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN AREAS WHERE THE COOLANT COULD BE SUBJECTED TO ELEVATED TEMPERATURES.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. AS A RESULT OF WATER INGRESS AND SUBSEQUENT ICE BLOCKAGE, THE TRANSMISSION BREATHER TUBE CAN BECOME CLOGGED, EXPELLING TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM THE DIPSTICK TUBE ONTO HOT ENGINE COMPONENTS.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. CERTAIN UNDERHOOD HOSE AND TUBING COMPONENTS CAN FAIL ALLOWING FLUID TO LEAK, SUCH AS ENGINE COOLANT, WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID, AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID.
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 1997 Land Rover Range Rover: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 630833 | INFORMATION REGARDING CATALYST DEGRADATION CAN LEAD TO NOISE AND MIL ILLUMINATION. *YH |
| 628971 | SUBJECT REGARDING RECALL D236 - CATALYST INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 628968 | VEHICLE EMISSIONS RECALL ACTION D236 FOR CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING OF LOOSE CATALYST BRICKS RATTLE NOISE FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. *TT |
| 615998 | LAND ROVER HAS DETERMINED THAT CERTAIN UNDER-HOOD HOSES AND TUBING COMPONENTS USED IN THE MANUFACTURE AND REPAIR OF CERTAIN VEHICLES PRIOR TO VIN XA410481 COULD FAIL IN SERVICE. THE RESULTING LOSS OF FLUID FROM THESE COMPONENTS REPRESENTS A RISK OF FIRE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. IMPROVEMENTS MADE IN CURRENT PRODUCTION WILL BE INSTALLED ON RECALLED VEHICLES. *TT |
| 610563 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY EXPERIENCE AN EAS FAULT MESSAGE CENTER WARNINGS, AUDIBLE WARNINGS, AND DRIVER CONTROL SWITCH LIGHTS REMAINING ILLUMINATED. *TT |
| 52206 | HVAC CONTROL UNIT ILLUMINATION. *JD |
| 51221 | PDI - DISABLE WINDSHIELD WASHER FUNCTION. *TW |
| 50659 | PRIDE - 14CUX COIL CONNECTIONS. *TW |
| 50639 | PRIDE - AM RADIO RECEPTION. *TW |
| 10214018 | Technical Bulletin: Squeaks & Rattles Kit Availability |
| 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 |
| 10002314 | STEERING SYSTEM GROAN. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)