THERE ARE OIL LEAKS COMING FROM BOTH FRONT AND REAR DIFFERENTIALS. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS THAT BOTH DIFFERENTIALS EVENTUALLY FAIL AND THE VEHICLE BECOMES INOPERABLE. THERE HAS BEEN INCIDENTS WHERE THE WHEELS HAVE GOTTEN LOCKED. THIS HAS CAUSED VEHICLES TO COME TO A FULL STOP RESULTING IN HAZARDOUS SITUATIONS WHERE THE OWNERS OF THE VEHICLES HAVE SUFFERED LIFE THREATENING INCIDENTS. MANUFACTURER KNOWINGLY REFUSES TO REPLACE A PART THAT IS PRONE TO FAILING DUE TO AN ERROR ON THEIR SIDE. A SERVICE BULLETIN (SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE 34304) HAS BEEN ISSUED TO THE SERVICE CENTERS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THIS BULLETIN LISTS THE CAUSE TO BE "THE CASING BLACK PAINT /SEALER DEGRADES, DETACHES AND CONTAMINATES THE OIL. THIS RESULTS IN THE OIL OVERHEATING WHICH RESULTS IN OIL SEAL LEAKS AND BEARING NOISE." AND ALSO NOTES THAT "DIFFERENTIALS FROM THE VINS QUOTED BELOW ARE MANUFACTURED WITH A NEW CASING PAINT WHICH OVERCOMES THE ABOVE MENTIONED ISSUES." BELOW IS AN FULL EXCERPT OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED SSM #34304: SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE, # SSM34304 MODELS LM - NEW RANGE ROVER LA - DISCOVERY 3 LS - RANGE ROVER SPORT TITLE FRONT & REAR DIFFERENTIAL NOISE & OIL LEAKS LAST MODIFIED 03-MAR-2009 12:23 CATEGORY: DRIVELINE SYMPTOM: 509000 AXLE CONCERNS CONTENT: FRONT & REAR DIFFERENTIAL NOISE, MINOR OIL SEAL LEAK & DEBRIS IN OIL. CONCERN: NOISE (WHINE OR HUMMING) FROM THE FRONT OR REAR DIFFERENTIAL. A MINOR OIL LEAK MAY BE EVIDENT WITH POSSIBLE DEBRIS IN OIL. OIL WILL BE BLACK IN COLOR. CAUSE: THE CASING BLACK PAINT /SEALER DEGRADES, DETACHES AND CONTAMINATES THE OIL. THIS RESULTS IN THE OIL OVERHEATING WHICH RESULTS IN OIL SEAL LEAKS AND BEARING NOISE. NOTE: DIFFERENTIALS FROM THE VINS QUOTED BELOW ARE MANUFACTURED WITH A NEW CASING PAINT WHICH OVERCOMES THE ABOVE MENTIONED ISSUES. PLEASE ONLY RAISE AN EPQR FOR DIFFERENTIAL ISSUES WHICH OCCUR POST THE QUOTED VIN NUMBERS: DISCOVERY 3 LR3 - LA8A459201 RANGE ROVER SPORT - LS8A141510 RANGE ROVER. LM8A268394. *TR
2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER SPORT (N/A). WHILE THE CONTACT WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, HE NOTICED SMOKE AND A STRONG BURNING ODOR. THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WITH THE GEAR PLACED IN PARK AND THE ENGINE IN OPERATION. THERE WERE SMALL FLAMES ERUPTING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF IMMEDIATELY AND THE FLAMES WERE NO LONGER VISIBLE. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,200. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.