Maybe some? There was no recall and it was only the early years. And it took a while for the problem to present since it involved wear over use/time. So maybe some where but I don't think it would have been very many. I know my 2006 front diff is original and never replaced but it has always made noise so I have always wanted to replace it. But the noise has never gotten worse so it has turned into a "someday" project. Really with prices now I would probably just try to find a low milage one from a later D3 or any D4.

 

Ah I see, I remember my Dad had an 07 LR3 new and he had one of the diffs replaced under warranty, and some other folks I've met over the years also had similar issues.

 

07 did have have the coating/paint issue in the front diff. It was only some 04/05/06 model years including some RR sports. I actually am not even sure if mine was coated inside, likely since it is early 06 but not all were affected. The only recall for the front diff was the breather cap.

 

Our second LR3 was a 2008 that we bought in Knoxville, it had a little hum in the rear diff so the dealership gave it a oil change before we took delivery. By the time we got to Grand Rapids the hum had gone to a grind around corners and when we got to the NoMi home base it was growling all the time. Eventually I swapped the rear diff as the original was making a lot of noise all the time. The oil that came out as I drained the diff was a very pretty metal flake color. Swapping the diff fixed the noise and was a really difficult job, I do have an oil pit so I was able to do the job standing up with a floor jack under the diff and was still mighty unpleasant.
So they do go bad and can progress rapidly. Not what you want to hear for a 2300 mile trip but the metal coming out of that pumpkin is really rough.

 

Thanks for adding your experience! Game plan now is to replace it with a reman.

I’ll likely replace the rest of the rear end as well, air shocks, wheel bearings, bushings, etc.

I’m spoiled with a two-post lift and a pedestal transmission jack, so I have the tools, just need to develop the talent!

 

Its a good plan to swap all that out while you are in there since you end up basically removing it all to do the job.
I had already done the rear wheel bearings which were an adventure in themselves, trying not to destroy the brake backing plate..