Range Rover L494 Sport Suspension Fault: Best Fix

The Range Rover L494 is the second generation of the Range Rover Sport, a smaller, quicker cousin to the legendary British SUV. Produced from 2014 - 2022, the L494 offered drivers much of the capability of its larger relative but geared slightly more for highway driving. While the vehicle gained fans around the world, Range Rover Sport suspension faults have been a persistent issue among owners of the vehicle.

In this article, we explore the causes and effects of L494 suspension issues and the best ways to fix them. Keep reading to learn how to spot and stop Range Rover air suspension faults without breaking the bank.

Range Rover Sport Suspension Problems

Issues with the Range Rover L494’s air suspension are relatively common to the vehicle. The vehicles come equipped with a suspension warning light that appears on the dash when the onboard diagnostic system detects an issue. In the table below, you’ll see three of the messages that might appear when this happens.

What To Do When You See a Range Rover Suspension Warning

While your vehicle may be technically driveable with a suspension fault, it is often unsafe. Doing so will almost always make the problem worse and can cause problems to spread to other parts of your Range Rover. 

You should not ignore a suspension warning light of any kind until the root cause of the issue has been identified and resolved. If you receive a notification about a suspension fault, avoid driving and give it your attention as soon as you can.

Early Warning Signs of a Fault Range Rover Sport Air Suspension

The earlier you address suspension issues in your L494, the better. And while the diagnostic system can pick up on problems with the air suspension, there may be signs that your vehicle is experiencing issues even before your Range Rover’s computer notices.

There are a few things you may notice that could indicate the early stages of suspension failure:

• Noisy compressor: The air compressor that generates pressurized air to inflate the suspension typically runs quietly and quickly. If you hear it running noticeably loud or cycling longer than seems normal, it could be because it is overworking trying to compensate for a fault in the system.
• Bouncy ride: Range Rovers are known for their luxuriously smooth ride. If you feel a lot of bumps and dips in the road, this is abnormal for your vehicle and could indicate a problem with the air suspension.
• Swaying or pulling in turns: Your L494 air suspension actively responds to turns by shifting the resistance in the springs to compensate for the way weight is distributed when the vehicle is turning. If you feel like the body of the vehicle is “pulling” or “swaying” when turning, the suspension is not doing its job properly.
• Leaning or sagging: Your Range Rover Sport should sit completely level when at rest. When the air suspension is starting to wear out, the vehicle may sag or lean to one corner or side when parked. Most often, this happens in the rear of the vehicle, but it can happen at any point.
• Increased stopping distance: The suspension is what absorbs much of the force of bringing your Range Rover to a stop. If your brakes are in good shape but the vehicle is taking longer than it should to come to a stop, the suspension could be the problem.

How To Check for Suspension Problems on Your Range Rover L494

There is a simple, old-school way to actively look for suspension issues on your Range Rover Sport if you’re starting to suspect them known as “the bounce test.” One of the primary jobs of any suspension is to keep the vehicle at the proper ride height. When healthy, it should respond to changes by quickly returning the vehicle to this height. The bounce test is a quick and easy way to see if the suspension on your L494 is doing this job as it should. This test involves just a few steps:

1. Walk to one corner of the vehicle and push the bumper down firmly.
2. Watch the corner to see how it responds. It should pop back into place almost instantly. If it takes a long time to come back up or bounces up and down before settling, there is likely a problem at that corner.
3. Repeat the test at each corner.

How To Fix Range Rover Sport Air Suspension Fault

There are several ways to address problems with your L494 air suspension. Whatever you do, the most important thing is to address any suspension issues immediately. However, there are some major differences in the expense and effectiveness of these methods.

Fix Range Rover Sport Air Suspension Fault at the Dealership

Any Range Rover (or Land Rover) owner knows that nothing comes cheap when you take your vehicle to the dealership for repairs. Both parts and labor are notoriously expensive for these vehicles. However, air suspensions also have a well-earned reputation for being expensive to repair. 

The service center at the Jaguar/Land Rover dealership will replace fault components in your vehicle with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. These parts match the ones currently on your vehicle that need replacing.

While OEM parts are approved by the manufacturer and offer guaranteed fitment, they are also the most expensive replacements you can buy. For example, just one Range Rover OEM air spring is likely to set you back nearly $800 at retail price. An OEM replacement air compressor for your Range Rover Sport can cost nearly $1,600 for the part alone.

As you can see, replacing any of the main components on your Range Rover Sport air suspension is expensive even before you account for labor. It’s also important to consider that for parts such as the air springs or ride height sensors, you’ll likely need to replace all four to completely fix your issue.

Use Aftermarket Air Suspension Replacement Parts to Fix Range Rover Sport Air Ride

Due to the demand for Range Rover L494 suspension fault solutions, many reputable third-party parts manufacturers have begun producing aftermarket air ride components for the vehicles. These parts are typically half as expensive or even less than the cost of the OEM components. They are also often similar or sometimes even superior in quality, fit, and function to the OEM parts. 

But while you can save money on components by going with aftermarket parts, you’ll still need them installed. One of the reasons air suspension systems are expensive to fix on any vehicle is that they are inherently complex and time-consuming to work on. 

And when it comes to working on a Range Rover Sport, that time is even more expensive than it is for most brands of cars. In 2022, one shop in Brooklyn, NY was reported as charging $499.99 per hour. Your local dealership or independent shop may not charge that much, but even with the savings on aftermarket components, you’ll still have to shell out big bucks to fix your L494 air ride.

Replace Your Range Rover Sport Air Suspension

The most affordable fix for your L494 suspension fault isn’t to fix it at all, but to replace it entirely. Instead of taking multiple expensive trips to the dealership to repair your Range Rover air ride, you can do away with those problems for good by installing a suspension replacement kit from Strutmasters. This kit trades in your troubled air ride components for a simple, sturdy, and dependable coilover suspension.

2014-2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport (L494) 4 Wheel Air Suspension Conversion Kit (LB104F)

$1,379.00

Convert Your Air Suspension To A Passive Coil Spring Suspension. End Your Air Suspension Problems Forever... Strutmasters 2014-2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport (L494) Chassis Four Wheel Air Suspension Conversion Kit is the perfect solution to your air suspension problems.… read more

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For just $1,379, you can replace your entire Range Rover Sport suspension with an entirely new one. Rather than a complex web of computer-controlled moving parts and pressurized air, this kit sits your L494 on robust steel struts and coil springs. The result is a long-lasting, permanent fix for your vehicle that ends your air suspension woes once and for all.

Fast, Easy Installation for Even More Savings

The Strutmasters Range Rover L494 air suspension conversion kit offers massive savings on parts alone, but the savings don’t stop there. Engineers at Strutmasters have also designed these kits to be simple to install to help you save even more money.

In fact, many owners decide to do the work themselves due to the ease of installation. Every kit is packaged with detailed instructions to help you complete the installation. The job is very doable for most people who are reasonably handy with a wrench. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Common tools such as wrenches and a mallet
• Gloves
• A sturdy jack
• About one hour per wheel

Even if you decide to trust the job to a mechanic, the job is a quick one for any professional. This means you won’t have to fork out huge sums of money for labor to complete the installation — even at Range Rover mechanic rates.

Why You Should Consider a Range Rover Sport Suspension Conversion Kit from Strutmasters

Air suspensions like the ones that come on the Range Rover L494 offer a smooth, responsive ride when healthy — so it’s understandable that you may think twice about converting to a passive coil system. But many Range Rover Sport owners are discovering the many benefits of installing a kit from Strutmasters. These include:

• Optimal fit: Some manufacturers repurpose parts meant for one vehicle to be used on others that offer a “good enough” fit to save money. Strutmasters engineers and thoroughly tests each component to make sure it fits and performs exactly as it is supposed to.
• Ideal performance: The coil springs used in this kit have been tuned and rated to match the feel and performance of the original suspension as closely as possible. While your new ride may have a slightly “sportier” feel than the OEM suspension, most owners report a similar level of comfort and ride control.
• Premium materials: Strutmasters uses the best-quality materials available in every part that comes with its conversion kits — from the struts themselves down to the nuts and bolts used to secure them to the body, ensuring longevity and dependability.
• Quality guarantee: The L494 suspension conversion kit, just like every other kit and component sold by Strutmasters, comes with a one-year warranty against manufacturing and material defects. This guarantees that you get parts that work as promised and conveys the confidence Strutmasters has in its products.
• Customer support: When you buy from Strutmasters, you get support from the company’s Suspension Experts before, during, and after the sale. Whether you need help finding exactly the kit or components you need, installing your kit, or assistance down the road, you’re just a phone call away from dedicated customer support based in the company’s Roxboro, NC headquarters.

Strutmasters has been a leader in the suspension industry for 25 years running, providing affordable, dependable solutions for millions of customers with a name built on quality and service. You can order your Range Rover L494 (Range Rover Sport) air suspension conversion kit from our website if you’re ready. If you need help making sure you’re getting the product you need for your vehicle or have some questions, you can reach our Suspension Experts at 866-597-2397 between 8AM and 9PM Monday through Friday and 9AM to 6PM on Saturdays. You can also message our chat help to reach a real, live salesperson.

Give you and your Range Rover Sport the fix it deserves so you can get back to enjoying the drive as it was meant to be enjoyed.