I'm asking for help and advice on an issue I just discovered with my 2008 LR3. I bought this used (35,000 miles) LR3, Certified Pre Owned, from a the LR dealer in New York City for my wife. We have had it for about a month and it has almost exclusively been used as a city car (a real "Chelsea Tractor"). My wife went on the highway the other day to pick up some friends - about an hour's trip north of NYC. She called me to complain that there was something wrong with the steering of the car. I thought nothing of it - silly wife. This past weekend, I drove on the highway in this LR3 and I almost soiled myself in panick - literally had to change my diapers because I thought I would imminently crash the thing. As I get to 60+ MPH on any curvy highway with any type of bumps, the car starts to woble back and forth like it is going to roll over. This is highly noticeable to the driver and the passengers. The corrective action that a driver takes - turning the wheel to the left, for example, as the car wobbles to the right, has no bearing on the actual heading of the car. It is frightening. It does not appear to happen during city driving. I took the car to the dealership and described this problem. They told me the alignment was off, told me that they had fixed the problem and that they had done a full inspection of the car, steering and all. I was highly dubious as I mentioned to the dealer's mechanics that they needed to check the steering column as a first point, the Dynamic Stability Control and the ACE as well as the mechanical elements. So, of course, I took it back on the highway to test it today and almost had to change my diapers again. The problem still exists. The car is undrivable except under 35 mph right now. I hit a bump at high speeds the car, inexplicably, pulls to the left or right - like it is trying to self adjust itself. HELP!!! I'm not a car guy and would really appreciate any thoughts on this issue. It kind of feels like the car is being angled by a rut - like driving over a bridge with metal grating where your car wobbles as you cross the crates. Thanks a bundle for your help.

Helpless LR3 Owner... Waltmink1

 

Hm....I'm no expert....but maybe check the following:
1. Are the tires worn oddly?
2. Is anything bent?
3. Is there any suspension faults/codes coming up?

LMK if that helps.

 

Thanks. The tires are not worn oddly - they are all brand new and have been checked appropriately. I don't get any indicators on the dash telling me that there is an issue, but I suspect that something is massively amiss with either the steering column or the Dynamic Stability Control, Active Cornering Enhancement or Active Roll Mitigation. Otherwise, as you suggest, something has to be bent out of whack. I hope not to have been sold a car with bent parts so I'm thinking that is probably a lower probability. I've had three Range Rovers in the past and this is my first LR3 and the steering in this one feels completely different and frankly wrong - even a moderate bump will force the steering wheel left or right in the driver's hands - something I'm not used to with other cars or my previous RR's. Any additional advice is greatly appreciated. It is in the shop now (again) and I don't have a lot of confidence in their abilities, unfortunately.... Thanks!

 

Power Steering fluid level?

No prob!

 

Thanks, CopperMtnGuy. I've checked the fluid levels in all the major functioning areas for steering. All are at good levels. I'm thinking it is something a bit more exotic and problematic. Really not a great thing to have an expensive car that is not driveable.... Any other advice is appreciated! Thanks

 

Does it feel like the ride height changes?

 

Height does not change as far as I can tell...

 

I'm thinking something with the air bags are bad.

 

Before I owned my LR3, I owned a Jeep Wrangler.

At highway speeds, 60 MPH+, I had this exact issue where suddenly the truck will start shaking/wobbling like the axel or tires are going to rip off the car.

I believe it ended up being an issue with the wheel alignment or linkage or something. It is something you have to bring it in for, but it is nothing major. Just something got loose. Take it out with the mechanic to show them even.

 

Sounds like that could be an issue...but then the Wrangler was a solid axle in the front. The LR3 is independent.

Still worth a shot though!