ENGINE TIMING CHAIN/TENSIONER PARTIAL EXTENDED WARRANTY -USA
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport engine problems
moderate 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 12 engine complaints filed for the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 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
Of the 7 model years of Land Rover Range Rover Sport we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 12.
Engine accounts for 24% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 5 categories tracked.
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.
Air leak from the right hand camshaft cover assembly due to a split diaphragm within the pressure control valve. Any of the following DTCs (indicating an air intake system leak) could be stored in the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) ? P2187, P2189, P0505, P0507.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗A humming noise may be evident from the engine at idle.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SITUATION: A humming noise may be evident from the engine at idle.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SITUATION: A HUMMING NOISE MAY BE EVIDENT FROM THE ENGINE AT IDLE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a pattern of premature timing chain and tensioner failure that forces complete engine replacement. One owner had the tensioner and timing chain replaced at 58,000 miles due to knocking and paid $6,200, only to have the engine seize at 84,000 miles when the new tensioner failed and timing jumped. Another owner experienced jerking and surging at highway speed that led to a Variable Timing Activator failure and jump timing at 140,693 miles. A third reported similar timing jump and valve damage requiring engine replacement. One owner was quoted $8,000 for timing chain repair at 90,000 miles. Land Rover acknowledges timing chains should last the vehicle's life, but owners report third replacements before 85,000 miles.
A fuel tank flange cracking defect (Recall N623) causes gasoline and fume leaks. Owners report calling dealerships repeatedly but say service advisors are unresponsive or claim system problems prevent them from locating the recall. One dealership wrote a service sheet but refused to perform the work.
A coolant line leak caused engine failure at 143,764 miles with no diagnostic codes. Owners also report sudden complete engine failure with no warning—one vehicle stopped running and required engine replacement after years of proper maintenance.
Failure modes owners describe
Timing chain and tensioner failure
Faulty tensioners fail prematurely, causing timing chain slack and catastrophic internal engine damage. Owners report multiple tensioner and timing chain replacements on vehicles with low mileage—one owner replaced them at 58k miles and again before 84k miles. The defect allows the timing chain to slacken, destroying pistons, valves, and ultimately seizing the engine.
When: 58,000 to 140,693 miles; failures documented across multiple intervals
Symptoms owners cite: Knocking sound in engine; Rough engine idle; Engine jerking and surging at highway speeds; Abnormally loud engine sounds; Restricted driving mode engagement; Engine jumping timing; Check Engine light with 'Performance Restricted' code; Complete engine seizure
Codes mentioned: P####/Performance Restricted (specific code not provided in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: First owner paid $6,200 for tensioner, timing chain, and supercharger isolator replacement at 58k miles. Engine replacement required at 84k miles after tensioner failure recurred. Multiple owners report $8,000 quotes for timing chain repair. Engine replacement, rebuild, or full vehicle scrapping necessary once failure occurs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Class action lawsuit approved in June regarding timing chains and tensioners; Land Rover states timing chain should last the vehicle's lifetime but owners report third replacement by 84k miles. No official recall issued despite acknowledged design defect.
Variable Timing Activator (VTA) failure
VTA component fails, allowing engine to jump timing and sustain internal damage requiring engine replacement. Documented at 140,693 miles with no warning lights prior to failure.
When: 140,693 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle jerking and continuous forward lurching in low-speed driving; Engine jumping timing; Internal engine damage; Intermittent jerking and surging at 70-75 MPH; Abnormally loud engine noise
Codes mentioned: Unknown message displayed on instrument panel (specific code not provided)
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required. Vehicle was not repaired due to age and mileage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but declined assistance due to vehicle mileage and age.
Coolant line leak
Internal coolant line leaks cause engine failure and inability to maintain running condition. Reported after fuel system recall repair work, though direct causation not explicitly stated.
When: 143,764 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle leaking all antifreeze; Loss of coolant; Vehicle failing to remain running; Engine requiring replacement
Codes mentioned: No diagnostic trouble codes retrieved per dealer inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted; specialist inspection was to be arranged but no resolution mentioned.
Fuel tank flange assembly cracking (Recall N623)
Gasoline fuel tank flange assembly cracks, causing fuel and fume leaks. This is a known safety recall (N623) covering 2010–2013 Range Rover Sport and 2010–2016 LR4 models with 3.0L V6 or 5.0L V8 engines.
When: Unspecified mileage; applies to 2012 model year vehicles
Symptoms owners cite: Visible gasoline leaking from fuel tank area; Harmful gasoline fumes leaking into vehicle; Fuel gauge inaccuracy (runs out of fuel despite display showing miles to empty); Obvious fuel odor
Repairs/costs cited: Repair covered under Recall N623 but dealerships refusing service or reimbursement. One owner reports repair denial with dealership claiming system down and unable to locate recall in their system.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall N623 issued but dealership implementation failing; dealers refusing to perform work without manufacturer reimbursement guarantee. Owners unable to schedule appointments despite multiple contact attempts. Class action involvement mentioned but administration contact lacking.
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
The motor has timing chain issues they all do I was quoted 8000 dollars to fix it 90k Miles on car.
My car at approx 58000 miles had a knocking sound in the engine. Land rover centerville diagnosed it as needing a new tensioner, timing chain and supercharger isolator. The repair was $6200. 2 years later at 84000 miles the vehicle idled roughly and threw a code"performance restricted" along with the check engine light. I drove it slowly to the nearest auto repair shop (5 blocks) where it…
The shop I took my vehicle too says the vehicle is leaking gas. They looked up the vin for recalls showed me the recall said I'd have to take it to a dealership. So I scheduled an appointment for Lakeland Jaguar and Land rover and they told me they couldn't help me and don't wanna do the work if JLR isn't gonna reimburse them for recall. I can smell gas and it definitely isn't safe to drive. The…
The car leaked all antifreeze. This is a 2012 Range Rover sport that has the same problem as the recall N623. “ The recall number for the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover is N623. The recall was for certain 2010–2013 Range Rover Sport and 2010–2016 LR4 vehicles with 3.0L V6 or 5.0L V8 engines”. The dealerships refused to take in consideration my vehicle or reimburse for the cost to fix.
1.) safety recell n623: gasoline fuel tank flange assembly cracking- I have contacted the land rover dealership several times and no one will help me schedule the appointment to service my vehicle. The customer service reps are rude and very unhelpful. 2.) my vehicle was also included in a class lawsuit regarding the timing chains and tensioners- the law suit was approved in june and I…
Had engine trouble with your 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport?
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 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 12 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 12 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 97,304 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 $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/2012/Land Rover/Range Rover Sport.
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.