Common Problems with the
2012–2018 Land Rover Range Rover Mk4 (L405)

We've identified 4 known issues that can affect the 2012–2018 Land Rover Range Rover Mk4 (L405). 2 of these are serious faults that could be expensive to repair.

4
Known Issues
2
Serious
2
Moderate
0
Minor

The 2012–2018 period has 3 more issues than the Land Rover Range Rover Mk4 (L405) average across all year periods.

All Known Issues

Air Suspension Bag Leaks

SeriousSuspension & Chassis

The rubber air bags perish or crack, causing the car to sag and the compressor to overwork.

Most affected: All models

Estimated cost: £400–£1,200Affects: 20122022Often appears around: 60k-110k miles

Typical symptoms

  • Car leaning after being parked
  • Slow lift time
  • Noisy compressor

What to inspect before you buy

  • Ride height after sitting overnight

3.0 Diesel Crankshaft Failure

SeriousEngine

Catastrophic crankshaft or bearing failure, often occurring without warning.

Most affected: 3.0 TDV6, 3.0 SDV6

Estimated cost: £6,000–£12,000Affects: 20122020Often appears around: 70k-130k miles

Typical symptoms

  • Sudden seizure
  • Metallic knocking noise

What to inspect before you buy

  • Oil change history
  • Look for metallic glitter in oil filter

Front Suspension Lower Arm Wear

ModerateSuspension & Chassis

Front lower control arm bushes wear quickly due to the vehicle weight, causing clonking noises and uneven tyre wear. Budget £700 to replace all arms at once.

Most affected: All models

Estimated cost: £300–£700Affects: 20122022Often appears around: 50,000–80,000 miles

Typical symptoms

  • Clonking over bumps
  • Knocking under braking
  • Uneven front tyre wear

What to inspect before you buy

  • Lower arm bush condition
  • Drive forward and reverse braking to test

Electrical Gremlins and Module Failures

ModerateElectrics & Electronics

Pre-2015 cars in particular suffer from intermittent electrical faults including window switches, dashboard glitches, faulty fuel gauges, and random module failures. Water ingress and poor battery condition exacerbate these issues.

Most affected: All models

Estimated cost: £100–£1,000Affects: 20122018Often appears around: Any

Typical symptoms

  • Intermittent electrical faults
  • Dashboard pixel dropout
  • Fuel gauge reading incorrectly
  • Random warning lights

What to inspect before you buy

  • Battery condition and voltage
  • All switches and buttons
  • Check for stored fault codes

Buying Tips for the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Mk4 (L405)

  • The 4.4 SDV8 is the more robust diesel choice; the 3.0 TDV6/SDV6 has a higher crankshaft failure risk.
  • Check air suspension rises and falls smoothly; bags typically last 7-10 years before perishing.
  • Verify security upgrades; L405s are high theft targets in the UK - look for Ghost immobilisers or S5 trackers.
  • Check front suspension lower arms and tie-bars for knocking - a common UK road-related wear item.

Browse 2012–2018 Land Rover Range Rover Mk4 (L405) in our Directory

View MOT history, registration data, and reliability scores for 2012–2018 Land Rover Range Rover Mk4 (L405) vehicles.

View 2012–2018 Directory

Other Land Rover Range Rover Mk4 (L405) Year Periods

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