Land Rover Range Rover Sport problems
50 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 8.2/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Buying a used 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport? Check these first
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
What to inspect on this specific car
- engine — 12 owner reports · tends to show around 97,304 mi · ~$3,100 to fix
- powertrain — 8 owner reports · tends to show around 50,702 mi · ~$2,500 to fix
- fuel system — 7 owner reports · tends to show around 94,592 mi · ~$1,200 to fix
- electrical — 4 owner reports · tends to show around 41,753 mi · ~$850 to fix
⚠ The one to take seriously: powertrain is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 50,702 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Recalls to confirm are done
Run the VIN from the listing — no active recalls on this model right now, but confirm none were opened after this car was built.
Verdict for buyers: 8.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →Ask anything about your 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Top trouble spots 5 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
When you shut the engine off and put the vehicle in park the vehicle will keep rolling and not come to a complete stop. To prevent this from happening you have to apply the parking brake. You may be on a city street, garage, parking lot etc... The transmission had to be replaced…
The motor has timing chain issues they all do I was quoted 8000 dollars to fix it 90k Miles on car.
Gearbox failure. NO warning lamps, symptoms or messages prior to the incident. While driving down the road, upon accelerating; the vehicle would not move forward. The shift was in drive. There was an indicating (grinding) noise beneath the vehicle. Had this been on a highway it…
The contact owns a 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V635000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 50 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport?
On the NHTSA data, the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 8.2/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What should I check before buying a used 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport?
Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 12 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 97,304 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
Is the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport a good used car to buy?
It scores 8.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 50 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Typical failure occurs around 97,304 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
What's the most common problem on the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 12 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 97,304 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 97,304 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Land Rover Range Rover Sport has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 50 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.