Thread: New Defender reliability?

Originally Posted by akelly

Hi All,

I've been reviewing the threads about late model defender issues with interest. I'm planning to buy a new one in Jan/Feb but starting to wonder if that's such a good idea.

I have a 2000 model 130 at the moment, it has had it's share of minor issues. Generally it's very good though, and I do a lot of km (an average work trip will clock up 3000km).

What's the general feeling about the latest model - could I drive one out of the showroom and head into the wilderness? Mainly touring style work, getting from A-B including remote tracks and whatnot, but not rockcrawling or across the Simpson.

Cheers,

Adam

I've bought 3 new defenders over the years - the first two are a 2003 and a 2009, both have had their share of faults. The first one (TD5) spent a total of 9 months in the workshop over 17 visits to fix a variety of issues including 3 new diffs, complete body strip down to resolve poor panels and water leaks. The first dealer was incompetent, about half of those visits were to rectify things they broke on the previous visit. I changed dealers and found a good one with a good service manager, and things changed, one visit and all issues were resolved. I've still got that TD5, it's done 200,000 now and I'll keep it till it dies. I did just spend nearly $7,000 on a service though - but that did include new clutch, flywheel, power steering pump and harmonic balancer, things that tend to wear out on a TD5. But it's never stranded me, and in fact that last huge bill was more preventative maintenance, the clutch was only about 10% worn, the flywheel was knackered though.


The second one was a 2009 model. This one tested my patience to the limits, again it spent over 6 months in total in the workshop, water leaks, and due to a faulty tank breather it sucked in water and killed the fuel system. I had to do all the research to prove to Land Rover that it was not the fuel itself (I buy from one local servo who I know), but the breather, including showing them photos of how the stupid breather was located behind the rear wheel, directly in the road spray area. That episode I swear took a few months off my life - they were going to charge me $11,000 dollars for that repair. I think it ended up a good vehicle - but I never really trusted it after that. IT also had three diffs before finding one that would last more than a few thousand k.s.

I just sold it, and have bought a MY13 Limited Edition Defender. Time will tell how crap this one will be, and how much support I get from the dealers. I'm sure I'll swear off another new land rover in the first year or two, as I did with the past two.

I think there is term for this - masochist.

Originally Posted by BilboBoggles

I've bought 3 new defenders over the years - the first two are a 2003 and a 2009, both have had their share of faults. The first one (TD5) spent a total of 9 months in the workshop over 17 visits to fix a variety of issues including 3 new diffs, complete body strip down to resolve poor panels and water leaks. The first dealer was incompetent, about half of those visits were to rectify things they broke on the previous visit. I changed dealers and found a good one with a good service manager, and things changed, one visit and all issues were resolved. I've still got that TD5, it's done 200,000 now and I'll keep it till it dies. I did just spend nearly $7,000 on a service though - but that did include new clutch, flywheel, power steering pump and harmonic balancer, things that tend to wear out on a TD5. But it's never stranded me, and in fact that last huge bill was more preventative maintenance, the clutch was only about 10% worn, the flywheel was knackered though.


The second one was a 2009 model. This one tested my patience to the limits, again it spent over 6 months in total in the workshop, water leaks, and due to a faulty tank breather it sucked in water and killed the fuel system. I had to do all the research to prove to Land Rover that it was not the fuel itself (I buy from one local servo who I know), but the breather, including showing them photos of how the stupid breather was located behind the rear wheel, directly in the road spray area. That episode I swear took a few months off my life - they were going to charge me $11,000 dollars for that repair. I think it ended up a good vehicle - but I never really trusted it after that. IT also had three diffs before finding one that would last more than a few thousand k.s.

I just sold it, and have bought a MY13 Limited Edition Defender. Time will tell how crap this one will be, and how much support I get from the dealers. I'm sure I'll swear off another new land rover in the first year or two, as I did with the past two.

I think there is term for this - masochist.

If you are not a masochist then you are a very patient man and a true Land Rover diehard BilboBoggles. I think even after the problems that you had with the TD5 most people would be reluctant to have gone back for more. I wonder if anyone from the Land Rover Australia Executive reads these stories from people who are genuine Land Rover owners. After reading so many first hand tales of woe from owners who are also fans, I don't think I would take the chance and buy a new Defender. I am sure that I am not on my own with that statement. You buy a new vehicle to have reliability and a warranty that should be no fuss. Land Rover seem to be absent in both these fundamental areas.

It is a real shame because I would like to buy one of the last current shaped Defenders before it is no more however as much as I am a fan I don't want the sort of pain and suffering that seem to go with owning a new Defender. It is a far cry from the reputation these vehicles have come from since their heroic efforts in the 50's in being a major workhorse in building the Snowy Mountain Scheme to the military operations the vehicles have been used in by the ADF. Not sure how the slogan Best4x4xfar stacks up these days.

Regards Warrick.

On the flipside, my 2010 Defender 90 (second one to be registered in WA following their re-launch in April 2010) has had it's 6 standard services to date and one output shaft seal replaced on recall (done during one of the services).

Left hand door striker plate was adjusted once on and Land Rover replaced the diff oils on my request after a particular long trip.

Maybe I've just been lucky (holding firmly onto the wooden desk top here), but I've never been left stranded by a Land Rover in 16 years and building roads accross the world none of mine has had particularly easy lives.

I don't deny that there are lemons out there, but my last project had quite a number of brand new mine spec vehicles (none Land Rover obviously) returned on flat beds with a long list of different issues.

Cheers,

Lou

Originally Posted by wpalmo

If you are not a masochist then you are a very patient man and a true Land Rover diehard BilboBoggles. I think even after the problems that you had with the TD5 most people would be reluctant to have gone back for more. I wonder if anyone from the Land Rover Australia Executive reads these stories from people who are genuine Land Rover owners. After reading so many first hand tales of woe from owners who are also fans, I don't think I would take the chance and buy a new Defender. I am sure that I am not on my own with that statement. You buy a new vehicle to have reliability and a warranty that should be no fuss. Land Rover seem to be absent in both these fundamental areas.

It is a real shame because I would like to buy one of the last current shaped Defenders before it is no more however as much as I am a fan I don't want the sort of pain and suffering that seem to go with owning a new Defender. It is a far cry from the reputation these vehicles have come from since their heroic efforts in the 50's in being a major workhorse in building the Snowy Mountain Scheme to the military operations the vehicles have been used in by the ADF. Not sure how the slogan Best4x4xfar stacks up these days.

Regards Warrick.

Warwick - I think the KEY thing is to find the right dealer, I reckon my experience would not have happened if I'd started with a competent dealer. I've now tried every dealer in Melbourne and have found the only one left I would trust. If it was not for this one dealer I would not have gone back. Since switching to this dealer my experience has been COMPLETELY different. That's why I went back.

It's not so much the issues, I think those exist on any new car - including japanese cars. IT's how the dealers fix them, and how many times it takes them. (What sort of retarded mechanic would swap a slightly clunking diff for one with a damage crown wheel, that makes a huge knocking sound, and then hand it back as fixed?). I know many people who have bought holden HSV's or Utes and have been driven insanse by silly little problems too.

All of the issues I have had have been minor and non terminal - just needed a mechanic who was capable of fixing it without breaking 3 other things, or using silastic to glue shut flappy vents etc....

Once you've driven a defender or indeed any proper Land Rover product with a decent chassis - you'll understand - you cannot consider any other vehicle. My old TD5 defender has character, very few other vehicles out there do. The basic vehicle itself is fantastic, I reckon there is little out there that can compete with a defender.


So that's why I went back.

Definitely agree on a decent dealer. My local actually lied to me regarding the acceptance of LR and chipping a new vehicle. And also mucked me around on delivery dates. Found the vehicle i bought at another dealer who has been awesome. Oddly enough when my car did get flat bedded it went to my local who did nothing to inspire a review of faith, and did't fill the car either.

This car has given me more grief than any other car I have previously owned, but it would be the first car I would go to if I had to replace it. Some how the issues they can bring get forgiven when it rolls again and that smile comes back.

We are not alone! Lemon laws protect you | carsguide.com.au,
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postscript from my previuos post "Love lost"


Just got the diagnosis on the "showstopper"

They found the turbo hose was split.
Should get hose replaced today and flat bedded back tomorrow.

Not what you would expect from a 10 month old vehicle that has only done 15K.

I think a will buy a roll of gaffa tape in case it splits again away from the highway!

There's a type of tape commonly referred to as 'Rescue Tape', it is a self amalgamating silicon tape that is meant for fixing split hoses of pretty much all types. Much better than gaffa tape!