"ISSUE: A REVIEW OF FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WARRANTY RETURNS FROM VARIOUS MARKETS HAS SHOWN THAT ARM ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY CHANGED FOR KNOCK ISSUES WHEN THE FRONT BUSH IS CRACKED AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS PER TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS LTB00204V4 AND LTB00123V4. CAUSE: INCORRECT DIAGNOSIS OF FRONT AND REAR BUSH ISSUES. SEE ATTACHED PHOTO SHOWING AN EXAMPLE OF A CRACKED FRONT BUSH."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Land Rover LR3 suspension problems
severe 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $900 · see suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 14 suspension complaints filed for the 2006 Land Rover LR3, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Suspension accounts for 28% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 6 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 19 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 suspension 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.
"ISSUE: A CUSTOMER MAY REPORT SUSPENSION LOW ON ONE SIDE OR DROPPING WHEN LEFT PARKED. CAUSE: AIR LEAK FROM A FRONT OR REAR AIR SPRING TO DAMPER LOWER SEAL."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"ISSUE: A CUSTOMER MAY REPORT A NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILST DRIVING. CAUSE: REAR WHEEL BEARING NOISY OR DIFFICULT TO TURN."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗LAND ROVER: WHEN REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE AIR SUSPENSION COMPRESSOR THE AIR SUSPENSION RELAY MUST BE REPLACED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗LAND ROVER: AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM-COMPRESSOR DELIVERY VALVE AND DRIER REPLACEMENT; SOFTWARE UPDATE. AMBER OR RED SUSPENSION SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR MAY ILLUMINATE AND SUSPENSION SYSTEM INACTIVE MAY DISPLAY IN THE MESSAGE CENTER OR THERE MAY BE A NOTICEABLE DEGRADATION OF SUSPENSION SYSTEM PERFORMANCE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2006 LR3 suspension failures break into three main patterns. First, uneven tire wear hits early—inside edges of rear tires wearing to the steel belts by 9,000 to 16,000 miles while the outside tread stays intact. Owners report severe camber misalignment and tires needing replacement every 6 months, with one dealer admitting factory settings require new tires every 10,000 miles. Land Rover issued TSB LA 204-005 in October 2006 citing "bush settle" that affects suspension geometry; multiple owners reference this bulletin and a pending class action suit in Santa Clara County.
Second, the air suspension compressor fails regularly. Owners report the Suspension Fault light illuminating and the compressor needing replacement at 39,000 to 70,000 miles—sometimes requiring three replacements on the same vehicle. Repair costs run $1,200–$1,600 per replacement, and dealers report parts on back order due to high failure volume. One owner's vehicle caught fire while parked after a compressor replacement; the fire department and insurance company attributed it to the compressor.
Third, electrical faults accompany suspension warnings: intermittent Fault lights, radio failures, and erratic vehicle movement while stopped. One owner's husband reportedly fixed a similar electrical issue with a $12 fuse. Warranty denial is common for both tire wear and compressor failures once coverage expires.
Same Land Rover LR3 suspension reports on nearby years: 2005
Failure modes owners describe
Uneven tire wear and alignment issues
Premature, uneven wear concentrated on the inner edges of rear tires, exposing steel belts and plies at very low mileage. Owners report severe camber misalignment requiring tire replacement every 6,000–16,000 miles. Land Rover TSB LA 204-005 identifies 'bush settle' affecting suspension geometry. Multiple owners cite the same problem across forums and a pending class action suit in Santa Clara County.
When: 9,000–16,000 miles on new vehicles; noted as early as first service visits
Symptoms owners cite: Inner tread worn through to steel belts and plies; Camber misalignment on rear wheels; Premature tire wear requiring full replacement every 6 months to 1 year; Uneven tire wear pattern (inside worn, outside intact)
Repairs/costs cited: $769–$1,500+ for tire replacement; factory alignment settings reportedly require tire replacement every 10,000 miles
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Land Rover TSB LA 204-005 (issued October 2006, covers VINs 5A000360–6A403382) addresses 'bush settle' causing uneven tire wear. Class action suit pending in Santa Clara County Superior Court (Kabob law firm, California).
Air suspension compressor failure
Suspension compressor fails prematurely, triggering 'Suspension Fault' warning light and loss of air suspension function. Owners report multiple compressor replacements on the same vehicle, with the issue recurring shortly after repair. One vehicle fire attributed to compressor failure. High failure rate leading to dealer back-orders for replacement parts.
When: 39,000–70,000 miles; sometimes within weeks of previous compressor replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Suspension Fault light illuminated; Vehicle bouncing or riding on tires; Suspension unable to raise to off-road height; Rattling noise from underneath; Vehicle fire while parked (one reported case)
Repairs/costs cited: $1,200–$1,600 per compressor replacement; one vehicle required compressor replacement three times; dealers report parts on back order due to high failure volume
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Land Rover North America stated they will not cover compressor replacement after warranty expiration. Manufacturer was notified of fire incident.
Suspension system electrical faults and sensor issues
Intermittent and persistent Suspension Fault warnings accompanied by erratic suspension behavior, with some complaints citing faulty sensors. Issues occur independent of actual suspension failure and may be related to electrical system problems. Multiple reports of secondary electrical system failures coinciding with suspension faults.
When: Various; out-of-warranty vehicles commonly affected
Symptoms owners cite: Suspension Fault light comes on and off intermittently every 5–10 minutes; Vehicle bouncing or moving up and down while parked or stopped; Loud chime with Suspension Fault warning in red; Radio malfunction (crackling, loss of sound); Electrical system failures (clock, CD player stopping)
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosis quoted at $125 (applied toward repair cost); one owner's husband reportedly fixed a similar issue with a $12 fuse replacement
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
I purchased a 2006 land rover lr3 se in dec. 2005. It has approx. 13k miles and I was about to rotate the tires when I noticed that the inside tread on both rear tires had worn completely through exposing the steel belts while the outside portion of the tread was not worn at all. It appeared to have a significant camber misalignment on both rear wheels. It was so dangerous, I called roadside…
I bought a 2006 lr3 about a year ago from a dealer in south florida. The vehicle only has 39k miles on it and last week the suspension fault indicator came on. I took the truck to the dealer to have a diagnostic and they told me that the suspension compressor is not working. To replace the part is $1200 because the car is no longer under warranty. If the compressor fails, the suspension fails and…
As we were driving, the suspension fault light came on and immediately went off. We thought it may be due to the road conditions. About 30 minutes later, we stopped to gas up and when we were back on the road, the radio would not work. No sound but a cracking sound was coming from the radio. After a hour, the radio came back on. Last week, I was driving and the suspension light was came on…
My wife owns a 2006 land rover lr3. The vehicle is less than 1 year old, and the rear tires are bald. They have approximately 16,000 miles of use. This is clearly a problem with either the car or the tires, and the dealership acknowledged that it was a problem with the alignment of the vehicle. I am concerned because my vehicle was in for a regular service a month ago, and land rover neither…
Shortly after purchasing my new 2006 lr3 I started noticing uneven tire wear and requested that the tires be rotated and for the service department to check the front end for proper alignment. On the following maintenance service the dealer said that the warranty had expired for front end alignments and there was nothing they could do unless I paid for it. Now at about 35,000 miles I'm noticing…
Had suspension trouble with your 2006 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 suspension problem on the 2006 Land Rover LR3?
It's a meaningful issue. 14 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $900.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 16,000 and 103,000 miles, with the median around 65,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 16,000; a quarter make it past 103,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension 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 suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension 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/2006/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.