Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.
Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 Land Rover Range Rover, and it carries 5 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 6 | 20% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 13% |
| Power train | 4 | 13% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 10% |
| Tires | 2 | 7% |
| Air bags | 2 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 3% |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% |
| Seat belts | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
ALL 4 WHEELS LOCKED UP AS THE CAR WAS DRIVING BRINGING CAR TO AN ABRUPT STOP. IF ANOTHER CAR HAD BEEN BEHIND ME WE WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED AND IF IT HAPPENED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED THE CAR AN ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE OCCU
NHTSA complaint: Tires
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER. THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING SOUND AND NOTICED THAT THE HEAT SHIELD SURROUNDING THE MUFFLER WAS COMPROMISED. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO SEVERAL DEALERS, BUT THEY COULD NOT
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I WAS DRIVING MY '99 RANGE ROVER WHEN MY ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHTS LIT. WITHIN MINUTES, I LOST CONTROL OF MY BRAKES. UPON INSPECTION, MY BRAKE PADS WERE IN GOOD CONDITION, THE BRAKE FLUID CANISTER WAS FULL (
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER. THE CONTACT TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF A CRACKING NOISE SHE HEARD NEAR THE FRONT SUSPENSION. THE DEALER REASSEMBLED THE AIR SUSPENSION AND INFORMED HER
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
WHILE DRIVING ALL ELECTRICAL POWER IS LOSS AND CAR COASTS TO A STOP. INTERMITTENT FAILURE WHICH HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED BY SHOP. SUSPECT BECM CONTROL UNIT FAULT. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER. WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR
NHTSA complaint: Power train
DEAR SIR, HAVE YOU BEEN AWARE OF AN INADVERTENT LONG TRAVEL ISSUE OF SERVICE BRAKE AT OLDER (SERIES I-II) RANGER ROVERS ? THIS IS ALREADY A KNOWN ISSUE IN JAPAN BY INITIATING A SURPRISE AUDIT BY JAPAN MINISTRY OF LAND
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 90 AND THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED UP. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1999 Land Rover Range Rover. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE CAST ALLOY THROTTLE BODY IS HEATED BY FLUID BLED FROM THE COOLING SYSTEM, TO PREVENT ICING IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER CONDITIONS. THIS FLUID PASSES THROUGH A SMALL ATTACHMENT (PLATE) TO THE THROTTLE BODY, WHICH UTILIZES A CORK GASKET. THE CORK GA
Risk: SHOULD THIS COOLANT COLLECT ON HIGH TEMPERATURE REGIONS OF THE ENGINE, THE COOLANT FLUID COULD IGNITE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY GASKET, DE-ICER ATTACHMENT, AND SECURING HARDWARE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. COOLANT SYSTEM LEAKS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN AREAS WHERE THE COOLANT COULD BE SUBJECTED TO ELEVATED TEMPERATURES.
Risk: CONSEQUENTLY, THE FLUID COULD IGNITE CAUSING AN UNDER-HOOD FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL MAKE A SERIES OF MODIFICATIONS TO SEVERAL UNDERHOOD HOSE COMPONENTS TO ELIMINATE THE RELEASE OF ENGINE COOLANT.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL CAN LEAD TO VARIOUS FAILURE MODES OF THE TRANSMISSION. ONE OF THESE FAILURE MODELS RESULTS IN INCORRECT OPERATION OF
Risk: UNINTENTIONAL VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH OR PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE PARK LOCK FUNCTION; REPOSITION THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BREATHER TUBE; AND TEST THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FLUSH IF NECESSARY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE LOADING CONDITIONS ON THE VEHICLE'S LEFT SIDE ENGINE IDLER PULLEY CAN EXCEED THE MAXIMUM CALCULATED FIGURE OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN SPECIFICATION. THE MATERIAL OF THE PULLEY CAN FRACTURE AND ULTIMATELY FAIL. FAILURE OF THE PULLEY MATERIAL CAN CAUS
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF ENGINE AUXILIARY FUNCTIONS (POWER STEERING, WATER PUMP, ALTERNATOR, AIR CONDITIONING AND ACE).
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED IDLER PULLEY.
| Reliability raw | 87 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 38 | below average |
| Depreciation | 41 | below average |
| Performance | 71 | good |
| Efficiency | 23 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 30 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and steering is the most reported area with 6 of them (20%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 87/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1999 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 60/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.