We purchased an '06 Range Rover supercharged just a couple months ago. It's perfect for our needs, pulling a camper, modest off-roading and general driving. It had 90,000 miles. After about a thousand miles of driving, it's stuck in 4L and the dealership says that the transmission needs full replacement (or rebuild). This will be about a 50% additional cost to the vehicle and make our investment well over the value of the car. What would cause a tranny to fail at 90K??

Needless to say we're disappointed and frustrated, but we're already $15K in (loss) and can't sell the thing as-is obviously. So in deciding whether to just cry and sell the thing at a terrible loss and get something else, OR repair it, what are the next major repairs we might expect? I know the air suspension is a likely candidate: what's the cost on that, and can the car be driven when it fails? What else should we consider? We're not a family that is, shall we say "well resourced". Any thoughts, experience and advice much appreciated!!

 

That would seem more like a transfer case issue than transmission. I think you would be well off to find a local shop that does Rover work as opposed to the dealership. Also check with folks like Abran here on the forum he is an extremely reputable vendor of used Rover bits with excellent service and prices. aaabeyta@mac.com
949.413.7396

The Air Suspension, can fail and it depends on what breaks for cost. Somethings are cheap and easy others are more expensive.

Transmission failures are not that common at 90k miles. Both of mine are going strong at well over 135k and I would be willing to bet when I do a service on them it will be their first.