Defender Hybrid: Help! Transmission Issues & Weird Noises

Hey there! I've got some experience with hybrid SUVs and had a super similar issue with my 2019 Range Rover Sport Hybrid last year. The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I went through! Turns out my transmission oil was critically low, causing those exact issues, rough shifts, weird noises, the works. My trusted mechanic did a full check and found the problem pretty quickly. Got it fixed for about 365 Euro, they topped up the fluid, did a thorough inspection, and everything went back to normal. What's your mileage? Have you noticed any leaks under the car? This info would help figure out if you're dealing with the same thing. Quick tip: Don't wait too long on this one, transmission issues can get expensive if left unchecked! Let us know what you find out.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My Defender's at 71837 KM and had its last service 3 months ago. I've started noticing some small drops on my parking spot recently, but wasn't sure if it was just condensation from the AC. Your repair cost sounds way better than what I was fearing! Will definitely get it checked out ASAP, don't want to risk any major transmission damage. Did your mechanic mention how long it took them to diagnose and fix the issue? I'm just trying to plan ahead since I use my car daily.

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up, yeah, those drops definitely sound suspicious, especially since they started recently. When I had my Range Rover Sport fixed, the whole process took about half a day, diagnosis was pretty quick (like 45 minutes) once they got it up on the lift. For reference, my hybrid was at around 68000 KM when this happened, so pretty close to where you're at now. The small drops you're seeing match what I experienced, I also thought it was AC condensation at first! But nope, turned out to be transmission fluid leaking from a worn seal. One thing I forgot to mention in my first reply, before getting it fixed, I noticed the transmission issues were worse when the car was cold, especially in the morning. Did you notice anything similar? Quick heads up, make sure to tell your mechanic about the recent service. Sometimes these issues can pop up if the fluid wasn't filled to the right level during maintenance. That's not what happened in my case, but worth mentioning. Let me know how it goes! Always happy to share more details about my experience if you need them.

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! Yes, actually, now that you mention it, the transmission does act up more in the morning during the first 10-15 minutes of driving. That's another sign pointing to what you experienced with your Range Rover Sport. I've just booked an appointment with my mechanic for tomorrow morning. Really appreciate the heads-up about mentioning the recent service, I'll definitely bring that up. It's such a relief to hear your repair was straightforward and didn't break the bank. Was getting worried this might turn into some major transmission rebuild nightmare! I'll update the thread once I get the diagnosis. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience, it's been super helpful in understanding what I might be dealing with!