It’s fair to say that the words ‘Range Rover’ and ‘Sport’ had never been thought of in the same sentence before 2006, which was the year the company decided to branch out and offer something that would appeal to a much younger market. And the Range Rover Sport was that car.
It looked like a modern version of the original Range Rover, and featured modern engines, plenty of luxury equipment, cutting-edge four-wheel drive and up-to-the-minute safety technology.
The strategy worked, with more than 400,000 being sold between 2006 and 2013. Not all of them to footballers, either.
However, Land Rover’s reputation for reliability and longevity was a little on the shaky side, and there were numerous owners who were left stranded at the side of the road by various issues. If only they’d had Haynes Autofix to hand (mind you, this was in the days before smartphones), they could have diagnosed a whole range of issues, and repaired many of them.
But the Haynes Range Rover Sport Autofix is precisely what you need if you plan to buy one of these cars now. It’ll help get you moving again if your car has a hissy fit.
What recalls has the Range Rover Sport Mk1 (2006-2013) been subject to?
Land Rover has been forced to recall the Range Rover Sport on a number of occasions. For example, 14,330 cars were recalled because the fuel pump front bearing could fail, with an attendant risk of fuel leakage and fire. And 14,215 examples were recalled because the upper spoiler could become detached. Oil getting into the brake servo caused 77,262 cars to be recalled, then incorrectly placed wheel balance weights could impact the front-left brake hose. A coolant leak has caused a recent recall, too.
Faulty seatbelt buckles on the left-rear seat caused 277 cars to be recalled, too.
However, given that some of these cars will be 20 years old by now, we’d expect all recall work to have been carried out. If it hasn’t been on any car you’re looking at – tread carefully.
What common problems does the Range Rover Sport Mk1 have?
The Range Rover Sport (2006-2013) is known to suffer an issue that renders the battery flat, and the problem lies with the battery control unit.
Noisy front brakes have also been known to afflict numerous Range Rover Sport models. The problem lies with dodgy front brake pads.
You might notice that your Range Rover Sport throws up an occasional coolant warning, but when you have a look the coolant level is normal. An iffy expansion tank is the cause.
The under-bonnet area can also generate a problem that causes a humming noise to emit from up front on 5.0-litre V8 models, so you’d be wise to search for a worn idler pulley. And if you happen to hear a knocking noise from your front and rear suspension, then dodgy anti-roll bar bushes are the cause.
Does the Range Rover Sport have battery problems?
When you get into your Range Rover Sport Mk1, one of the most fundamental expectations you have is that it will start. So, it’s a real concern is you turn on the ignition and nothing happens. The dashboard lights up with more warnings than Apollo 13, there’s no radio, and definitely no comforting thrum of an engine ticking over. The battery is flat, and it’s a problem that can afflict the vehicle not because the battery itself is knackered, but because the battery control unit has gone on the blink.
There are a few things you can do at home. Use you Haynes Range Rover Sport Autofix to disconnect the battery, then place it on charge. After that, use Autofix to find all the car’s earth points, and make sure they’re all connected properly. Then if the car starts, it’s a case of taking it to an expert and getting the software updated on the control unit.
Are your Range Rover Sport's front brakes squeaking?
The Range Rover Sport was a sold as a high-end, luxury vehicle, but nothing is going to shatter that impression quicker than brakes that shriek every time the pedal is depressed.
Unfortunately, this precise issue can annoy owners of the vehicle, both when slowing down to a halt in town, or when manoeuvring slowly.
The issue lies with dodgy brake pads. These can be either contaminated or simply getting worn out, and the only option is to replace them.
However, the brake-pad replacement procedure is contained within your Haynes Sport Autofix, so simply follow the instructions and we’ll get you back on the road – and stopping in a suitably silent and regal manner.
What’s going on with your Range Rover Sport (2006-2013) coolant warnings?
Warning lights. It’s never good to see one of those, because it means something isn’t as it should be, and needs to be fixed.
And that’s the case with the Range Rover Sport Mk1 coolant system, which is known to cause the dashboard to display a warning light. However, all is not as it seems, because while you might normally assume a coolant warning means that a hole has appeared somewhere vital, and the coolant is now on the road and not inside the engine, that isn’t so in the Range Rover Sport.
It turns out that the coolant level sensor inside the expansion tank can wear over time, which results in excessive vertical movement as the vehicle moves along – and this movement is what causes the car’s ECU to generate a coolant warning.
The only way to resolve the issue is to replace the coolant reservoir, so simply follow the instructions in your Haynes Sport Autofix on how to drain and refill your vehicle’s coolant, then unscrew and replace the expansion tank. Then it’s just as case of following the instructions to refill the system. Hery presto – no more warning lights.
Is your Range Rover Sport Mk1 making a humming noise?
If you’re fortunate enough to have the wherewithal to invest in a Range Rover Sport with the 5.0-litre V8 engine under the bonnet, then we can only admire the balance you must have on your petrol station loyalty card. They lust love you.
And while the V8 engine generates an undeniably throaty burble, there have also been occasions when it has also produced an unusual humming noise.
This can be traced to a faulty idler pulley for the auxiliary drivebelt, and the only solution is to replace the pulley.
To do so, you’ll need to remove the auxiliary drivebelt, then find the worn pulley, unbolt it and fit a new one. Then it’s simply a case of investing in a new auxiliary drivebelt and fitting that.
What’s that knocking noise in your Range Rover Sport Mk1?
No denying it, the roads are in a shocking state, which means they’ll expose any shortcomings in your vehicle’s suspension in a heartbeat.
So it’s less than ideal that the standard suspension on the Range Rover Sport can be prone to generating a knocking noise. Indeed, if you find a particularly bumpy piece of road, it can sound like someone’s playing a drum solo.
The issue is bushes – more accurately the front and rear anti-roll bar bushes, which can wear prematurely – likely on modern roads.
However, Haynes Sport Autofix can give you technical drawings of the relevant components, plus torque figures, so you can undertake any repair work with confidence.