Thread: Tell me your woe,s of owning 2013 2.2 DEFENDER

Originally Posted by AussieAub

I know it's not REQUIRED in accordance with the service book, but I asked to have it done over and above the service work. Why is it b******s if I've requested it in the chance there MAY be small shards of "new metal" floating around my new engine?

(read the post in it's entirety before making a blatantly passing comment )

From past experiences, maybe I just prefer to look after my engines more than the next person....

I think Specwarop might have been sympathising with you! Read his comment again from a different angle.

Is that the 20,000km service you're talking about? Because an oil change is definately required at that service.

Originally Posted by specwarop

My point is, the oil should be changed at the first service. The fact that the service book says it isnt required is a joke.

My misunderstanding, apologies!

Originally Posted by Beery

Is that the 20,000km service you're talking about? Because an oil change is definately required at that service.

No, this was at 10,000km.

Ouch there's some misery in there. I reckon I could handle some of that, but the grief I would cop from my wife for those breakdowns, recalls and wasted time going to the dealership would drive me nuts.

Toyota might be a dirty word here, but my 18 year old Prado has only once not made it home under it's own steam and that's after a rock punctured a hole in the petrol tank out of Alice Springs, could've happened to any car I suppose. It's probably been up the Birdsville track 15 times, Flinders Ranges 6 or so and around most of Australia.

Problem is, it's pretty boring and I still want a Defender. Guess it's not a rational choice.

No, not a Lemon - Par for the course I am afraid.

I have a MY12 110 with just under 75,000 km.

Some problems with the car that everyone seems to have then the rest are problems caused by poor technicians which could happen to anyone.

Think of it as character building

Let me see if i can remember it all.

1 Rear left mudflap replaced 3 times due to melting. (metal bracket now holds it down completely defeating the purpose of a mud "flap")
2 Rear door lock and latch replaced. (still gets stuck sometimes and you have to really slam the door to get it to shut properly)
3 Entire rear diff replaced.
4 A couple of wheel centre caps replaced because paint completely came off.
5 They have had a couple goes of getting the clutch to stop squeaking. (still squeaks)
6 Windscreen re sealed (black stuff now everywhere)
7 Rear right grab handle installed by a blind man with 1 arm so thats been re attached twice. (on a big angle now but because of the amount of holes they have drilled in the frame it cant be straightened)
8 Rear main engine seal being replaced next week.

Apart from all this the gears are incredibly rough and from memory the 110 of the same year model i test drove had a heap more power then what iv got in the 90.
If i keep going at this rate ill have a completely different car than the one i bought 9 months ago haha.

Having said all that it still puts a smile on my face every time i hop in, but i did spend 50 big ones on it so if much more happens ill be having a chat to Mr Landrover.

I have a 2013 Build 90 and I have had a total of zero problems with it so far. The worst is that it can take several attempts to unlock the car using the key fob, even though it locks on just one push of the button.

Perhaps it is just me, or because there seem to be less 90's on the road compared to 110's, most problems appear to be with 110's. Would there be any quality build differences between 90's and 110's? Perhaps different workers on a different line? Or are the 90's just naturally structurally stronger because they don't have the second set of door openings? Also perhaps there are less stresses on the engine and drive train assemblies due to the lighter weight of the 90?

Or maybe, just maybe I have scored myself a really good one....touch wood.

Originally Posted by T.Middo

Let me see if i can remember it all.

1 Rear left mudflap replaced 3 times due to melting. (metal bracket now holds it down completely defeating the purpose of a mud "flap")
2 Rear door lock and latch replaced. (still gets stuck sometimes and you have to really slam the door to get it to shut properly)
3 Entire rear diff replaced.
4 A couple of wheel centre caps replaced because paint completely came off.
5 They have had a couple goes of getting the clutch to stop squeaking. (still squeaks)
6 Windscreen re sealed (black stuff now everywhere)
7 Rear right grab handle installed by a blind man with 1 arm so thats been re attached twice. (on a big angle now but because of the amount of holes they have drilled in the frame it cant be straightened)
8 Rear main engine seal being replaced next week.

Apart from all this the gears are incredibly rough and from memory the 110 of the same year model i test drove had a heap more power then what iv got in the 90.
If i keep going at this rate ill have a completely different car than the one i bought 9 months ago haha.

Having said all that it still puts a smile on my face every time i hop in, but i did spend 50 big ones on it so if much more happens ill be having a chat to Mr Landrover.

Mr Landrover couldn't give a flying rats a$se about our problems because if they did we wouldn't be complaining about all the problems we've had with our cars.
I'm not gunna list all the problems I've had because I think I'll just end up crying.

Originally Posted by Brad H

Hey guys,


I have had a few problems with my 2012 110. I love it and mates tell me to get rid of it an buy a Toyota. But I don't want to go to the dark side!


We were so lucky in a way because before all the problems we had just done the Oodnadatta, Stezlecki and Birdsville tracks and had no problems. It is a wonder we made it through the trip.


First problem after getting home was the shaft between gear box and transfer case broke (towed). After a few more k's, next the gear box made very bad noises when changing gears. They replaced (with a new one) the gearbox, clutch, clutch plate and spigot bearing. They said the gearbox (the main shaft was so loose it would move 10 to 15 mm in any direction) was what caused the shaft to break previously.


So back on road and happy and then the turbo hose blew off (towed again). Replaced the hose (they knew this was likely because they don't tighten them properly in factory apparently) put the new bracket on the hose as part of a recall fix. Happy finally,


Then the other week the shaft between the gearbox and the transfer case stripped again (Towed). Asked the dealer if I really had a lemon? He said that he suspects that the shaft was not inspected properly after the gearbox replacement and it was damaged (same as the first time) by the faulty gearbox. So replaced the shaft again (put some special grease in it as there was a special bulletin to use a particular grease - not many tubes available in Australia) and I am on the road.


Love the car but hoping it is not a lemon with all these troubles and only 51K on the clock.


Cheers Brad

Honestly I would take that car back and ask for a replacement or your money back. IMO I bet they dont want you to do that. I speak to the people on the desk at my dealership and that has hapepned once. Not sure how severe the case was but they bought the car back off the person.