One of the easiest things you can do to keep yourself safe in any vehicle is to buckle your seatbelt. Even with all the fancy tech in today's cars, that seatbelt is your first line of defense against injury if you're involved in an accident. It's so important that every state except for New Hampshire requires everyone to buckle up and there are increasingly stringent government regulations about how seatbelt warnings work.
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- Base Trim Transmission
- 8-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
- Four-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
- 355 HP @5500 RPM
- Base Trim Torque
- 365 lb.-ft. @ 2000 RPM
- Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
- 19/26/22 MPG
- Base Trim Battery Type
- Lead acid battery
- Make
- Land Rover
- Model
- Range Rover Sport
- Segment
- Midsize Luxury SUV
- Base Trim Curb Weight
- 5090 lbs.
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- Base Trim Engine
- 3.0L Turbo Inline-6 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
- 8-Speed Automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
- All-Wheel Drive
- Base Trim Horsepower
- 395 hp
- Base Trim Torque
- 406 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
- Fuel Economy
- 18/26 MPG
- Make
- Land Rover
- Model
- Range Rover
- Segment
- Large Luxury SUV
- Base Trim Curb Weight
- 5,240 lbs
Seatbelts are not new technology, but sometimes, an automaker runs into trouble making something as simple as seatbelts work properly. This time around, it's Land Rover, which builds some of the most capable vehicles in the world. The issue is with the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. The problem potentially impacts 7,276 vehicles, although only 25 percent of that number is estimated to be defective.
Discovered During Quality Checks
According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue was raised on February 25, 2025, when the Product Safety and Compliance Committee opened an investigation after a supplier report of the center seat belt buckle not reliably latching during end-of-the-line testing. This is the final quality control check that vehicles undergo before they're shipped out to dealers or customers. It includes diagnostic scans, visual inspections, and safety systems checks.
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After physical trials and input from the supplier, the committee was notified on March 4th that the parts would not consistently meet safety regulations in various markets and countries. At that time, the committee notified the Recall Determination Committee. On March 6th, it was determined that this was a non-compliance defect and that a recall would need to be issued. Despite the faulty component, no reports of accidents or injuries have been made so far.
It's Somebody Else's Fault, Of Course
The issue is specifically with the second-row center seatbelt buckle. One of the supplier's jigs, which is a specialized tool used in the assembly process, did not properly secure the buckle's internal cable in the right location during the riveting process. This put the internal cable in the wrong location where it could obstruct the tongue and prevent latching.
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The fix is an easy one, but it will require a visit to the dealership. There, the center seat buckle and buckle retaining bolt will be replaced at no charge to the customer. Dealers will receive notifications on March 20th with letters being sent out to customers on May 2nd.
Source: NHTSA