Land Rover Range Rover Sport D350
The 3.0L Ingenium straight-six diesel with 48V mild-hybrid is more refined than the 2.0L diesel. Main issues: oil filter housing recall N908 (fire risk, 2021–2025), EGR coking and DPF on short trips. The 48V DC-DC converter is the designed-in weak link of the MHEV system.
D350: powerful and refined
At 260 kW with mild hybrid the D350 is the most convincing Range Rover Sport diesel. Endless pull in the mid-range, barely any diesel character in the acoustics. Motorway express with an off-road pass.
Engine Weaknesses 6
Incorrect plastic specification for the Ingenium I6 oil filter housing. The housing can crack and spray engine oil under pressure onto hot components such as the turbocharger. Fire risk. Recall N908.
Symptoms: Visible oil leak, oil puddles after parking, oil warning light, in severe cases smoke or fire
The DT306 electronic turbocharger actuator develops faults from overheating and deposits. Repair is labour-intensive due to the engine layout.
Symptoms: Power loss, engine warning light, uneven acceleration, delayed turbo response
The DT306 common rail injectors can fail from fuel contamination and internal wear. On the inline-six diesel all 6 injectors are affected.
Symptoms: Rough idle, diesel knock, black smoke, misfires, engine warning light
The DT306 EGR system carbons up particularly with short-trip use. A clogged EGR cooler raises operating temperatures and promotes overheating.
Symptoms: Rough idle, power drop, black smoke under acceleration, engine warning light
The DT306 DPF blocks with predominantly urban driving. Forced regeneration cycles increase fuel consumption and can cause oil dilution.
Symptoms: DPF full warning, reduced engine power, strong fuel smell from exhaust
On the 48V mild hybrid system, the DC-DC converter from 48V to 12V fails. Since MHEV vehicles have no conventional alternator, the 12V battery drains — complete vehicle shutdown is possible.
Symptoms: Charging system fault warning, red battery symbol, dimming lights, infotainment shutdown
Vehicle Weaknesses 8
Air suspension compressor and air springs fail regularly. Vehicle drops after parking, compressor runs continuously. Valve block, height sensors and reservoir tank also affected. Replacing one air spring costs over 1,500 euros.
Panoramic roof drain hoses corrode at the connector fitting and break off. Rainwater runs uncontrolled into the body, collects under the driver's seat and damages the audio amplifier and ECUs. Several vehicles written off.
Door lock module defective — doors can open unintentionally while driving. Land Rover recall for over 65,000 vehicles (2014–2016). Sealed unit must be completely replaced; no partial repair possible.
Brake discs warp prematurely due to the vehicle's high mass. Brembo calipers with steel guide pins in aluminium housings corrode and seize. Average disc life approximately 50,000 km. ECU-controlled pistons require specialist diagnostics.
Diesels from 2016 with AdBlue/SCR systems show excessive consumption and sensitive NOx sensors. Overfilling damages the sensor. Vehicle immobilises itself when AdBlue tank is empty. Fault diagnosis starts at 75 euros.
Front lower wishbones (straight and curved variants) wear early due to vehicle weight. Bushings are barely possible to press in correctly — full arm replacement recommended. Wheel alignment essential after repair.
The most common cause of the SRS warning light is a broken wire in the thin cables under the front seats. Land Rover solution: overlay cable repair. Cheaper than replacing the control unit. Simple OBD diagnosis is sufficient to narrow down the fault.
InControl Touch and InControl Touch Pro freeze while driving or boot spontaneously. Instrument cluster and infotainment go black simultaneously. Bluetooth connections drop. Software updates improve the situation but do not resolve the issue permanently.
Reports & Tests
The Range Rover Sport L494 shows surprisingly few problems following the platform change.
113 owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2013–2022). Most reported: Electrical (32), Engine (25), Brakes (13).