My P460e Autobiography has done just 8,000 miles in it's 16 months from new. It's only ever really been used on motorways, 'A' roads and super smooth roads through Europe, so hasn't exactly had a rough life. When I last returned from France, I noticed at the start of the trip that their was a creaking noise behind the front, top of the dashboard (centre to off n/s centre).

I soon got on a billiard table smooth toll road and the noise went. I haven't really driven the car since, until today. Now the noise is back and it's almost constantly creaking.

I've gently pushed down on all of the plastic dashboard top components, and there's no movement in these whatsoever, so I think it must be something beneath the top surface.

I'm slightly reluctant to take it back to the dealer, as last time they had it in for a sidestep issue, they managed to put a deep scratch in one of the rear door tread plates where they'd been working. Apart from this, despite it's 8,000 miles covered, the car inside and out is completely pristine, so I don't fancy the prospect of them dismantling the whole dashboard and putting it back together!

Has anyone else had a similar creaking sound, and also, if they are unable to rectify this and the car continues to creak, where do I stand legally, as if this creak doesn't go, I won't be able to live with it and I don't see why I should suffer any kind of loss, as to me the car is still "as new".

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Many thanks

No L460 experience, but my 2012 WM had an annoying intermittent buzzing from the dashboard. This turned out to be a build defect. One of the aircon ducts had not been attached properly. The dealer fixed it under warranty and there was no damage to the interior. I sympathise, that sort of thing can drive one up the wall, not helped if passengers comment on it. I have known the dealer I use damage things when doing repairs, but they owned up and replaced the damaged part.

On the legal position, I think after 16 months you would be relying on the LR warranty rather than the Consumer Rights Act 2015. You would perhaps also have a damages claim if you could prove that the defect causing the noise existed when the car was supplied, but that would be difficult and costly, and a court might not be especially sympathetic and could take the view that if the car worked satisfactorily otherwise it was "de minimis" and so not deserving of a legal remedy. LR/the dealer might well argue successfully that the state of UK roads is so poor that even a perfectly built car could have things rattled loose over 16 months. In general litigation is an expensive and uncertain hassle which is best avoided if possible.

You would need to give a franchise dealer (not necessarily the supplying dealer) the chance to fix it. I don't think you could reject the car, and it is worth noting that even when the CRA gives a right to reject, with motor vehicles there is a deduction from the refund of the value of the use the owner has had. If work under warranty is refused or is unsuccessful you would be back to the damages claim route as per the previous paragraph, hard going and unlikely to be worth it. That would also apply on a sale because you could not stand it any more, the chances of persuading the court that you got £x less than you would otherwise have done because the dashboard creaks seem poor.

The best strategy seems to find a competent and trustworthy dealer (if possible) and ask them to fix it under warranty. Good luck. Only Range Rovers since 1988

Thank you for taking the time out of your day to reply CS, it's very much appreciated and some good points you make.

I'm hoping that they can rectify the problem, as I do love the car. In addition to the circa £140k cost price, I then spent a further £4k changing the privacy glass, to green glass, as this was not a factory option on the LWB (unless 7 seats), so it's always been my full intention to keep this car and never sell it.

I guess I'll just have to take the car back to a main dealer and give them the chance to establish and rectify the fault. It's just that my gut feeling is, they won't be able to and will likely cause more issues along the way.

Would you suggest that I stick with the supplying dealer, just in case there does come a point where they can't resolve the issue - I say this, as I suspect it'll put me in a stronger position, otherwise the supplying dealer will likely say, you should have brought it back to us - Would you agree?

Belgravia / Caraway LWB Autobiography, now with Green Glass:

The supplying dealer would be the natural first point of call and one would hope you might have some goodwill there having bought at least that car from them. There is also the question whether you know someone sufficiently better to leave "the devil you know". The dealers are the gatekeepers for warranty claims so they will need to support the claim with LR.

In my 322 example I took the workshop foreman for a drive over some bumpy roads until the car made the noise and he could listen and try to pinpoint where it was coming from, that might be worth doing in your case too. In that case the impression I got was that it was not especially fiddly to take the dash off, so maybe there is less risk of them making a mess of it than you fear. You could consider taking some pictures of the "before" condition in case there is a problem. The appearance of the car certainly speaks to your being a fastidious owner.  Only Range Rovers since 1988

Thank you CS, I do have a contact at the supplying dealer from past issues (Service Manager), so will try him and do as you suggest, requesting a test drive together to try and establish the fault.

What's most frustrating, is that my 19 year old, 2007MY 138,000 mile 4.4 Jaguar Petrol V8, still doesn't have a single creak!!!

Thank you once again

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

The problem with having issues like this looked at and hopefully remedied by main dealers is that they are unlikely to be a straightforward fix and potentially time consuming. The labour rate paid by the manufacturers is not exactly attractive and the remuneration paid to technicians is based on 'book' time, which in this case it's probably not easily ascertained so the job is likely to be rushed.

I've had cars damaged at dealers and although rectified afterwards, it's time consuming and the results aren't quite 'as new'.

I think if I was in your position I would look at taking the car to a reputable restorer of high end cars and
to see if they could fix it. They should be familiar with and very capable of dismantling without causing damage. A few hundred quid spent there could be the most pain free solution.

By the way, it's good to see you here again AJA! 2017 SDV8 Autobiography

Thank you for your kind email recordman, it's great to hear from you too, and thank you for your input.

I've not been around for a while, as my health has been a bit up and down and I've bought a new money pit..... Photo at the end.

That's interesting what you say, I never knew that the manufacturer's rate for warranty work was different, but now you mention it, I suppose it's no surprise and that would make sense.

Garages are a nightmare, every time I take a car in, I always expect it to come back with some sort of damage / job not fixed, simply because experience has taught me this.

I'l have another listen to the car when I get chance. We've also just had a new puppy arrive, so my wife won't come with me on a test drive, as she doesn't want to leave the new arrival!

The noise does seem to be a bit intermittent, worse in warmer weather, although I can't say for sure.

Will let you know how I get on, and thanks again for your message. I hope all is well with you also.

New money pit images below:

Click image to enlarge

What a beautiful new acquisition! I wish you all the best with your health, new puppy, new mobile fun toy and hope that you can get the annoying noise fixed one way or another. 2017 SDV8 Autobiography

Sorry delete pm Filters are in fact so good that in certain circumstances, when the ambient air is already polluted, a diesel car will tend to extract more particles from the air than it emits. Emissions Analytics worked with........etc etc

He who dies with the most toys wins...

Thank you recordman, all the best to you too

Will reply to PM Bill

Hi aja500

Creaking does seem to be a common quirk with the L460, I had some creaking coming from the rear of mine, but bizarrely only when we had some hot days. When it went in for an oil change at 6 months i asked the dealer to look at it, they knew exactly what it was. Basically the door seals, they just lubricated the seals and its been ok.

I recently did the LR experience day and the L460 we took out had only done 800 miles and it was full of creaks when going around the off road track. ------------------------------------------
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L322 3.0 I6 55 FFRR Autobiography Santorini Black

Thanks for your reply Tomo, that's really interesting - It's funny you should say that, as I said exactly the same thing to my wife only yesterday, the times I have noticed the creaking has been in warmer weather. Maybe something is expanding in the heat behind the dash.

I haven't driven the car since last week, so will try and take it out again in the next few days and see how it is. I think it's supposed to be getting bit cooler. If it happens again, I'll try and video it and send it to the Service Manager.

Thanks again for sharing this experience - If it is heat related, I'll just have to drive it in the colder months, which let's face it, is usually most of the year anyway!