These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of CARB certification. These SKUs can no longer be sold as they do not meet CARB standards, but parts on vehicles are not effected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Land Rover LR2 engine problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 11 engine complaints filed for the 2008 Land Rover LR2, 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
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 16 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 engine 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.
These SKUs are Exhaust Manifolds with Catalytic Converters. The customer communication requested return of unsold inventory due to a loss of CARB certification. These SKUs can no longer be sold as they do not meet CARB standards, but parts on vehicles are not effected.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ISSUE: LOW COOLANT WARNING ILLUMINATED IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (IC)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"ISSUE: SYMPTOM: - ENGINE MIL ILLUMINATED ON IPC. ROUGH IDLE, HESITATION AND/OR LOSS OF POWER. ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING DTCS MAY BE SET IN THE PCM: P008A, P008B, P2542. CAUSE: SUB-OPTIMAL PCM SOFTWARE CALIBRATION"
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"ISSUE: OIL FILTER HOUSING CAP DIFFICULT TO FIT DUE TO O-RING/SEAL BEING LARGER THAN EXPECTED. CAUSE: OIL FILTER LR001247 SUPERSEEDS TO LR030778 WHICH IS SUPPLIED WITH A NEW SEAL. THIS SEAL IS SLIGHTLY LARGER IN DIAMETER THAN THE ONE SUPPLIED WITH LR001247"
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2008 LR2's engine cluster reveals a pattern of critical failures. One owner experienced engine fire at 208,000 miles while driving 65 mph—black smoke poured through air vents before flames appeared. The fire destroyed the vehicle; cause was never determined.
Overheating is frequent and severe. Multiple owners report sudden temperature spikes during city or highway driving, accompanied by smoke from the hood. One owner received a lemon-law replacement vehicle after the first unit failed; the replacement also overheated twice. A dealer diagnosed intermittent fan motor failure and replaced the fan assembly, module, and reprogrammed the engine control module.
Coolant system leaks plague early ownership. Owners report low-coolant warnings every three weeks on new vehicles, traced to leaking hoses at the engine or reservoir. One leak dripped onto the alternator, causing it to fail at 53,000 miles and stall the vehicle at 60 mph.
Stalling and no-start conditions appear at various mileages. Some vehicles won't restart until the next day; others fail to start when the engine is hot. Alternator failures surface repeatedly, with internal faults causing battery warning lights. One owner replaced the alternator; the dealer kept the failed part.
Power loss and limp-mode symptoms include fuel system faults (faulty fuel lines identified), electronic key receiver issues causing complete loss of acceleration under 5,000 miles, and unexplained stalling. A/C compressor failure took over a year to diagnose despite multiple dealer visits.
Failure modes owners describe
Engine fire
Engine caught fire while driving at highway speed, producing black smoke through air vents and visible flames from engine bay. Vehicle destroyed. Cause undetermined at time of report.
When: 208,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: check engine light illuminated; loss of power; black smoke from air vents; visible flames from engine
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; towed to Land Rover Denver
Loss of acceleration and power limp mode
Vehicle loses acceleration and enters limp mode with multiple warning lights. Fuel line found faulty by dealer on first instance; subsequent events involve steering lock and battery warnings. Vehicle would not shut off during one event.
Symptoms owners cite: engine knocking on startup; no acceleration after driving a few feet; reduced engine performance light; dynamic stability control light; vehicle feels like neutral; steering wheel locks; battery light illuminates; vehicle will not shut off
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer identified faulty fuel line
Fuel starvation or power loss under 5,000 miles
Complete loss of engine power despite adequate fuel level. Two trips to dealer resolved by software update, but issue recurred. Third visit identified electronic key receiver in dashboard as cause.
When: Under 5,000 miles; recurring weeks to months after repairs
Symptoms owners cite: complete lack of engine power; fuel starvation sensation
Repairs/costs cited: Software update applied twice; electronic key receiver identified as fault on third visit
Coolant hose leak causing alternator failure
Coolant leaking from hose onto alternator, causing alternator malfunction and engine stall at highway speed. Open recall exists but owner never received notice.
When: 53,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: engine stall at 60 mph; alternator malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic advised of open recall on coolant hose
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer confirmed vehicle included in recall, but not specifically for alternator; no recall notice sent to owner
Overheating with smoke
Engine overheats during city driving, producing smoke from hood. First vehicle in lemon-law replacement also overheated twice. In shop for extended periods.
When: New vehicle (lemon law replacement); multiple occurrences
Symptoms owners cite: overheating; smoke from hood; loss of operation during driving
Repairs/costs cited: First unit: told transmission failed, vehicle replaced; Second unit: in shop for four weeks after overheating event
Intermittent fan motor failure causing overheating and A/C loss
Temperature spikes suddenly with A/C failure. Engine cools if pulled over and idles. Intermittent open in fan motor when hot. Land Rover replaced fan assembly, fan module, and reprogrammed ECM.
Symptoms owners cite: sudden temperature spike; overheating; A/C stops working; temperature returns to normal after stopping
Repairs/costs cited: Fan assembly replaced, fan module replaced, ECM reprogrammed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Land Rover identified as intermittent open in fan motor when hot
Coolant hose leak at engine
Coolant warning light every three weeks requiring constant refilling. Dealer identified leaking bleed hose between reservoir and engine, replaced component.
When: Early in vehicle life (new vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: coolant low warning every three weeks
Repairs/costs cited: Bleed hose from reservoir to engine replaced; leak at engine interface
Stalling and failure to restart
Engine stalls on multiple occasions, particularly when entering parking lot. Vehicle fails to restart until next day. No diagnosis or repair attempted.
When: 79,600 miles
Symptoms owners cite: engine stall; failure to restart until next day
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or repaired
Alternator internal fault
Battery warning light appears every morning and after leaving work. Dealer diagnosed internal fault in alternator rather than battery. Alternator replaced; old part not available for analysis.
Symptoms owners cite: battery light on during morning starts and after leaving work
Repairs/costs cited: Alternator replaced; old part retained by dealer
Hot-start failure
Vehicle fails to start when engine is hot on multiple occasions. No diagnosis or repair performed.
When: 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: failure to start when engine is hot
Repairs/costs cited: Not diagnosed or repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified of failure
A/C compressor failure
A/C system blowing hot air only. Issue persisted from July 2008 to June 2009 despite multiple dealer visits. Finally diagnosed as A/C compressor failure and replaced.
When: Early vehicle life (July 2008 through June 2009)
Symptoms owners cite: A/C blowing hot air only; no cooling
Repairs/costs cited: A/C compressor replaced
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
The battery light came on when I started the vehicle. It occurred every morning and after leaving work. Took vehicle to dealer and they found out it wasn't the battery. There was an internal fault in alternator. Dealer replaced alternator. Old part is not available. The dealer took the old part. *tr
Vehicle keep warning that coolant fluid was low every three weeks. We kept refilling the container with coolant fluid every 3 weeks which is not normal. Assume there was a leak. Took vehicle to dealer they found hose leaking. Dealer replaced bleed hose reservoir to engine. Leaking at engine. Shouldn't have coolant problems so soon with new vehicle. *tr
A/c stopped cooling. Ac was blowing hot air only. Took vehicle to dealer numerous of time to check ac system since july 22, 2008. The dealer finally found the problem on june 30, 2009. Turns out the ac system was not working. Dealer had to replace a/c compressor. *tr
This vehicle has less than 5000 miles and has been back to the local land rover dealer now 3 times for what can best be described as a complete lack of engine power, almost as if it is being starved of fuel, always more than 1/4 tank when this has occurred. The first two trips to the dealer for this problem were for a "software update" which appeared to correct the problem, until it resurfaces…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 land rover lr2. The contact stated that while entering a parking lot, the engine stalled. The vehicle failed to restart until the next day. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 79,600.
Had engine trouble with your 2008 Land Rover LR2?
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 engine problem on the 2008 Land Rover LR2?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 14,000 and 62,000 miles, with the median around 50,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,000; a quarter make it past 62,000. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2008/Land Rover/LR2.
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.