"RE-ISSUED DEC 2015 ISSUE: WHEN COMPLETING A REPAIR ON COMPONENTS IN THE POWER ASSISTED STEERING SYSTEM, DEBRIS MAY BE FOUND WITHIN THE POWER STEERING FLUID SYSTEM WHICH COULD LEAD TO SYSTEM CONTAMINATION AND A DETERIORATION IN SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. CAUSE: INTERNAL DEBRIS FROM A SUSPECTED COMPONENT MALFUNCTION MAY RESULT IN THE POWER STEERING FLUID BECOMING CONTAMINATED."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Land Rover LR3 steering problems
moderate 5 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 5 steering complaints filed for the 2005 Land Rover LR3, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 17 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
SITUATION: THE STEERING WHEEL MAY EXHIBIT A VIBRATION / SHIMMY WHILE DRIVING. CAUSE: THIS MAY BE CAUSED BY A ROAD WHEEL/TIRE ASSEMBLY IMBALANCE AND/OR TEMPORARY TIRE FLAT-SPOTTING.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Technical Bulletin: Squeak Noise From Steering Gear
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"ISSUE: FOLLOWING WARRANTY ANALYSIS OF STEERING RACKS REPORTED TO BE LEAKING, 75% HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED BEING FAULT FREE, FOLLOWING TESTING. CAUSE: LAND ROVER ENGINEERING HAVE RECENTLY VISITED DEALERSHIPS WHERE A REQUEST HAS BEEN MADE TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR FOR AN OIL LEAK IN THE AREA OF THE PINION HOUSING, CASTING, YOKE PLUG OR THE GAITER ADJACENT TO THE PINION HOUSING. FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK PATH WAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING FROM THE SUPPLY AND RETURN HOSE O-RING SEALS. SEE ATTACHED DOCUMENT FOR EXAMPLES."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"ISSUE: FOLLOWING WARRANTY ANALYSIS OF STEERING RACKS REPORTED TO BE LEAKING, 75% HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS NO FAULT FOUND, FOLLOWING TESTING. CAUSE: LAND ROVER ENGINEERING HAVE RECENTLY VISITED DEALERSHIPS WHERE A REQUEST HAS BEEN MADE TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR FOR AN OIL LEAK IN THE AREA OF THE PINION HOUSING, CASTING, YOKE PLUG OR THE GAITER ADJACENT TO THE PINION HOUSING. FOLLOWING INVESTIGATION THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK PATH WAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING FROM THE SUPPLY AND RETURN HOSE O-RING SEALS."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
I purchased my 2005 land rover lr3 certified pre-owned with just 17.999 miles on it. Just 7 short months later with an additional 8,000 miles on it, totaling approximately 25,300 miles, the tires (which were supposedly brand new at time of purchase) were completely bald, and the steering column went out on it. *tr
Had steering trouble with your 2005 Land Rover LR3?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2005 Land Rover LR3?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 5 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 5 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 38,561 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Land Rover/LR3.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.