Land Rover Maintenance: Cost, Plans and Service Schedule

Are Land Rovers expensive to maintain?

Land Rover maintenance is expensive compared with other manufacturers because of the specialized labor and parts these vehicles require. For example, Kelley Blue Book puts the average cost of an oil change between $35 and $75, but with a Land Rover requiring synthetic oil, it can easily cost more than $100. In fact, a Range Rover oil change can be over $500.

Land Rover maintenance costs vary by specific year and model. For example, the flagship Range Rover is slightly costlier on average to maintain than the Range Rover Sport or Range Rover Evoque. Each model year can also have unique strengths and weaknesses that lead to differing average costs.

Land Rover repair costs by model

According to RepairPal, a site that estimates car repair and maintenance prices, the Defender 90 is the most budget-friendly Land Rover, costing owners an average of $675 per year in maintenance and repairs. On the high end, the Discovery Sport averages more than $1,700 per year in upkeep.

How Land Rover maintenance costs compare with other automakers

Land Rovers visit the repair shop almost twice as often as other vehicles, RepairPal reports, and the likelihood of one of these visits turning into a severe repair is 16%. The industry average rate is 12%.

Land Rover maintenance and replacement costs

Ownership costs for your Land Rover include scheduled maintenance and unexpected repairs. Your car care budget should accommodate predictable expenses like preventive care along with a flexible margin for unplanned repair costs.

Maintenance and repair costs by model

As with most luxury car brands, Land Rover's repair costs are expensive because of the specialized labor and components that are required. It’s best to be aware of common problems for your vehicle and budget accordingly. Some repairs (like replacing your engine or transmission) aren’t common but very pricey.

Land Rover maintenance schedule

Regular maintenance is key to keeping your Land Rover in good condition. You can find your vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedule in your manual (and we recommend you follow that schedule), but here’s a general idea of what to expect, according to Land Rover San Antonio.

• Every 5,000 miles: Change oil and engine filter; inspect tire pressure and tread, car batteries and cables; lubricate the chassis.
• Every 10,000 miles: Check coolant and transmission fluid levels; inspect steering and suspension.
• Every 15,000 miles: Inspect drive belts, exterior lighting and exhaust system; check doors and hood latch assembly; inspect brake system, onboard diagnostic system and underbody; replace windshield wiper blades; check power steering system, cooling system and windshield washer fluid levels; inspect wheels and tires.
• Every 30,000 miles: Inspect brake lines and hoses; change brake system fluid; inspect drive shaft, fuel lines and seat belt restraint system; check steering system and power steering hose; inspect suspension and wiring harness.
• At 60,000 miles, you should repeat all the above services and then bring your Land Rover in every 5,000 miles after that.

Common Land Rover issues

Land Rover drivers have reported numerous issues with their vehicles, including check engine lights, engine failures and transmission problems. Some have expressed frustration with the lack of reliability and safety concerns with their cars, leading to disappointment and regret over their purchases.

One Land Rover reviewer in New York told us it cost over $2,000 to fix a broken window regulator. Another reviewer in Colorado told us it cost $15,000 to fix a broken timing chain. Similarly, Sheh in Georgia said it cost $20,000 to fix a broken timing chain and engine.

Of course, this isn’t the case for every Land Rover driver. “I have experienced very few repair problems and, when I do, I rely on a local non-Land Rover owned repair facility,” Joseph in South Carolina told us. “My total costs for repair over the past 13 years does not exceed $5,000.”

If you’re buying a used Land Rover, make sure it’s had a thorough pre-purchase inspection. You can either arrange this yourself or purchase a certified pre-owned (CPO) Land Rover. CPO Land Rovers come with a 165-point inspection and either a 1-year/unlimited mile or 2-year/100,000-mile CPO warranty.

You’ll also want to inspect any used vehicle’s service history and maintenance records — overdue services could signal elevated risk of an expensive repair down the line.

Are Land Rovers worth it?

RepairPal claims that the average Land Rover costs $1,174 each year in repairs and maintenance. With an industry average of $652, that means Land Rover owners spend nearly twice as much as the average driver.

It’s hard to guess what will go wrong with new models because they haven’t been on the road long enough for trends to appear.

Compared with repairs, which can happen unexpectedly at any time, maintenance is relatively easy to budget for because you know what preventive services you’ll need ahead of time. Prices for individual maintenance services can vary based on your vehicle and location, so call a service center to get pricing. With that information and the schedule in your manual, you should be able to calculate how much Land Rover maintenance will cost you in the long run.

Land Rover prepaid maintenance plans

Land Rover offers a prepaid plan that covers regular service for your vehicle. The key benefit is it helps your vehicle last longer and perform better. You pay ahead of time to make maintenance easier and possibly cheaper, and the cost can be rolled into vehicle financing.

What's included in the basic plan?

• Oil and filter changes
• Air and pollen filter replacements
• Brake fluid changes
• Spark plug and fuel filter changes (if needed)
• Top-up of fluids (like coolant, brake fluid, windshield washer, etc.)
• Battery and brake checks
• Tire inspection
• Leak checks

Land Rover warranties

Land Rover offers factory warranties to help mitigate the price of repairs. New Land Rovers come with a New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which covers them for up to four years or 50,000 miles. Land Rover’s warranties, like most warranties, will pay to fix manufacturer-made errors but not damage from accidents on the road.

The problem with relying on your Land Rover’s warranty to protect you from paying out of pocket when it breaks down is that, eventually, your warranty period will run out. When that happens, you may find yourself wondering if you’re better off dipping into your savings for repairs or simply selling your Land Rover and replacing it with a vehicle that’s still under warranty.

Land Rover genuine parts

When you buy your Land Rover, you can also purchase a warranty specific to parts and accessories. With the Parts and Accessories Warranty, all genuine parts and accessories purchased from Land Rover will be replaced or repaired free of charge for the duration of the warranty. The benefit of this additional warranty is that it keeps your car covered for a longer duration than the standard 12-month warranty.

To get the most out of your warranty, it's recommended to choose genuine Land Rover parts for repairs and modifications. It's important to confirm what parts are being used when you get any repairs or maintenance work done on your car, so you understand the equipment. If you have a warranty or extended warranty, check with your service provider to see what work is covered.

» MORE: Car warranty vs. car insurance

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