Range Rover Hybrid: DPF Issues & Black Smoke Problems

Hey there! I've got some experience with luxury SUVs and I've actually gone through something very similar with my 2013 Range Rover Sport Hybrid (I used to own an Evoque too). Those symptoms sound really familiar. Mine had the exact same issues, black smoke, check engine light, weak acceleration, and that nasty exhaust smell. Turned out one of the lambda sensors was toast. Got it fixed at my regular workshop for around 375 Euro, and it's been running smooth ever since. Can you share more details about what driving conditions trigger these symptoms? Also, have you scanned for error codes? This would help confirm if we're dealing with the same issue. Just a heads up, these issues shouldn't be ignored as they can lead to bigger problems if left unchecked. Feel free to ask any specific questions!

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm currently at 158766 KM and had my last service about 3 months ago. The symptoms usually show up during normal city driving, especially when accelerating from a stop. Haven't had a chance to scan for codes yet, but planning to do that tomorrow. The weird thing is everything was fine right after my service, but these issues started popping up gradually over the last few weeks. My hybrid system seems to be working okay, it's just when the petrol engine kicks in that I notice these problems. Interesting about your lambda sensor fix, was it a straightforward repair? I'm hoping it's something similarly simple and not a major exhaust system issue. How long did yours take to fix?

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details. Yeah, I totally remember when mine started acting up like that, it was super frustrating! The lambda sensor fix on my Range Rover Sport was pretty straightforward actually. The whole thing took about 2-3 hours at the workshop, but that included some diagnostic time too. The way you're describing it, problems showing up gradually after the service and mainly when the petrol engine kicks in, that sounds exactly like what I experienced. Mine also started acting up a few months after a routine service, around the 165,000 KM mark. The good news is that the lambda sensor replacement was a relatively simple fix. My mechanic just had to remove the old sensor, clean up the connection area, and pop in the new one. Just make sure whoever does it uses the right OEM part, I learned that lesson the hard way when I tried using a cheaper alternative first (spoiler alert: had to get it done twice!). Definitely get those codes read tomorrow, that'll tell us if we're dealing with the same issue. If you get P0130 or P0135 codes, then we're probably looking at the same problem. Let me know what you find out, yeah? I'm curious to see if your issue matches what I went through with mine!

Thanks so much for all this detailed info! It's really reassuring to hear that your fix was relatively simple and quick. I'll definitely make sure to ask for OEM parts, good tip about avoiding the cheaper alternatives! Never worth the hassle of doing things twice. I've actually just booked an appointment with my mechanic for tomorrow morning to get those codes read. Will be sure to mention the lambda sensor possibility to them, especially if those P0130 or P0135 codes come up. Really hoping it's the same straightforward fix you had. Just curious, did you notice any improvement in fuel economy after the repair? Mine's been drinking fuel like crazy lately with all these issues. Either way, thanks again for sharing your experience. It's made me feel a lot better about the whole situation knowing it might not be as serious as I first thought!