2003 Land Rover Discovery II

Routine

Owners filed 63 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
58,000 milesMedian miles at failure

55 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 50,00060,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine14
010
Engine and Engine Cooling13
000
Engine5
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip4
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals and Linkages2
200
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip › Control Unit/Module2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
000
Service Brakes, Electric2
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission2
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Tailgate › Latch2
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft12E010000
Filed Mar 15, 2012180 vehiclesJaguar Land Rover North America, Llc

Defect. JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, INC. (LAND ROVER) IS RECALLING CERTAIN REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLINGS, LAND ROVER BRANDED PART NUMBER TVF100010, MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2011 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2011, SOLD FOR USE AS SERVICE PARTS FOR CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1995-1999 DISCOVERY, 1999-2004 DISCOVERY II, AND 1995 RANGE ROVER CLASSIC VEHICLES. SOME OF THE REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLINGS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO THE REQUIRED ENGINEERING DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXHIBIT THE ONSET OF JOINT SEPARATION, PRECLUDED BY DRIVE LINE VIBRATION.

Risk. IF THIS INCREASED VIBRATION WARNING SIGN IS IGNORED, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE DRIVE COUPLING CAN OCCUR. THE DRIVESHAFT MAY DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION RESULTING IN LOSS OF DRIVE AND LOSS OF TRANSMISSION PARK FUNCTIONALITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH AND/OR INJURY.

Remedy. LAND ROVER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA AT 1-201-818-8500.

Engine and Engine Cooling04V006000
Filed Jan 6, 20045,264 vehiclesLand Rover

Defect. ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACTIVE CORNERING ENHANCEMENT (ACE) PUMP BANJO BOLT LOOSES TORQUE AND ALLOWS FLUID TO LEAK PAST THE JOINT.

Risk. THE FLUID FROM THE PUMP JOINT CAN IGNITE, RESULTING IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR LEAKAGE. IF NO LEAKAGE IS EVIDENT, THE BANJO BOLT WILL BE RE-TIGHTENED. IF LEAKAGE IS EVIDENT, THE BANJO BOLT AND DOWTY WASHERS WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip04V005000
Filed Jan 6, 2004100,174 vehiclesLand Rover

Defect. CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS," AND NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) MODULATOR VALVE COVER RETAINING BOLTS CAN CRACK DUE TO STRESSES TRANSMITTED BY THE FLEXING VALVE COVERS.

Risk. THIS CAN PRODUCE AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR TOTAL LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKING FUNCTION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL STRENGTHEN THE ABS MODULATOR ASSEMBLY VALVE COVERS AND REPLACE THE RETAINING BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXEPCTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Dec 11, 2016158,510 milesAZ

ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AFTER I PURCHASED IT AND I HAD JUST GOT THE BEST RECOMMENDED OIL AN SPARK PLUGS / WIRES NO MONEY TO REPAIR

Air Bags2 injured
Filed Jul 7, 2016CA

WE WERE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON I 5. IN RED BLUFF CALIFORNIA HEADED TO LODI CA.THE CAR JUST STARTED MAKING A NOISE AND THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED SWIIRVING LEFT TO RIGHT WITH CONTROL OR RESPONSE FROM THE STEERING WHEELL WE HIT GOING 65MPH.AND WE WERE SMASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL HEAD ON. THEN SPUN OUT ALL OVER THE FREEWAY. CAR IS TOTALED AND NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.HAPPENED AT 1435 IN THE AFTERNOON. DRY SUNNY CONDITIONS , AND WE HAD A 11 MONTH OLD IN THE CAR BEHIND ME ON PASSENGER SIDE. AND A 4 YR OLD BEHIND MY WIFE WHOM WAS DRIVING. SCARY , MY GOAL IS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHER FAMILY'S LIKE MINE. MY WIFE AND I WERE LUCKY TO ONLY WALK AWAY INJURED. AND KIDS TRAMITIZED BUT ALIVE.. THANK GOD. BUT ANOTHER FAMILY MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY UNLESS THIS IS ADDRESSED.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 25, 2015NY

THE STEERING AIR BAG BLOWOUT FOR NOTHING, THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY THE MOTOR WAS WORKING I'M WHASING THE LAND ROVER AND THAT HAPPENED, I'M CONFUSE.

Engine
Filed Apr 3, 201485,000 milesTX

MY ENGINE STARTED MAKING A KNOCKING SOUND AND THEN A SOUND SIMILAR TO METAL SCRATCHING METAL. I HAD A MASTER MECHANIC LOOK AT THE ENGINE AND HAD SEVERAL PART REPLACED 1500.00 WORTH TO BE EXACT AND STILL THE SOUND OCCURS. I CONTACTED LAND ROVER AND BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS USED AND OVER THE WARRANTY THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BUT SUGGEST A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND IT APPEARS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGE BY LAND ROVER THAT THE LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 2003 THE OIL PUMP WAS FAULTY, HOWEVER HAVE DENIED ANY KIND OF SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM TO MULTIPLE CUSTOMERS OTHER THAN SUGGESTING A NEW ENGINE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND AS A CONSUMER WE CAN BE EXPECTED TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS ON A VEHICLE WHICH THE MANUFACTURE KNOWING AND WILLINGLY MANUFACTURE THE A VEHICLE WITH FAULTY EQUIPMENT. ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND THERE IS NO SAFETY RISK TO THIS FAULTY EQUIPMENT ITS STILL WRONG TO PRODUCE A TECHNICAL WITH FAULTY EQUIPMENT. I AM OTHER CUSTOMERS ARE HOPING BY CONTACTING THE NHTSA SOMETHING WILL BE DONE. *TR

Engine
Filed Feb 4, 201455,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE OIL PUMP WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

Engine
Filed Jan 7, 2013150,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL PUMP FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND FAIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE OIL PUMP FAILED, THE ENGINE WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

Engine
Filed Dec 18, 201275,000 milesTX

I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ONLINE ISSUE WITH MY LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II, MY VIN IS NOT THE SAME HOWEVER THE SAME EXACT ISSUES. "2003 DISCOVERY SERIES II OIL PUMP FAILURE" I HAVE A LOAD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM MY ENGINE, THE VEHICLE IS STILL RUNNING, AND OIL CHANGES, TREATMENTS ETC CANNOT STOP THE KNOCK. NOT GETTING ANY WARNING LIGHTS OF LOW PRESSURE HOWEVER IT IS AT THE LAND ROVER DEALERSHIP OF FORT WORTH NOW AND THEY CONFIRMED THE SAME. THIS A $12,000 FIX FOR AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL OR NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC. I HAVE OVER 300 POSTINGS ON LINE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES BUT ALL IN 60 MINS OF LOOKING AND SURE THERE ARE THOUSANDS MORE. I'M NOT SURE HOW TO SEARCH FOR RECALLS OVER IN GREAT BRITAIN BEING THAT SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT?S WHERE MY VEHICLE WAS IMPORTED FROM WITH THE SALTY VIN NUMBER BUT ANY DIRECTION WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 19, 201289,000 milesTX

WHILE DRIVING LOW MILEAGE 2003 DISCOVERY II SE7, ENGINE BEGAN TO KNOCK IN UPPER ENGINE AREA ON DRIVER SIDE. PULLED INTO LOCAL REPAIR SHOP IMMEDIATELY AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A ROD AS THE NOISE DISSIPATES WHEN IDLED ABOVE 1000 RPM. TOOK IT TO A LOCAL LAND ROVER SHOP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS EITHER A BAD OIL PUMP OR THE SLEEVE IN THE CYLINDER AT THE BACK OF THE ENGINE HAS COME LOOSE AND IS KNOCKING UP AGAINST THE HEAD GASKET. TECHNICIAN PRIVATELY INDICATED BOTH ARE KNOWN ISSUES AND THAT A NEW ENGINE IS REQUIRED IN EITHER CASE AND THAT LR NORTH AMERICA KNOWS OF THE ISSUES AND HAS REFUSED TO ASSIST OWNERS OR ISSUE A RECALL. COST OF NEW ENGINE IS BETWEEN $8,000 AND 12,000 DEPENDING ON WHO YOU TALK WITH. SINCE THE ONLY REAL ISSUE SO FAR IS THE NOISE FACTOR (SOUNDS LIKE A DIESEL WHILE IDLING), TECHNICIAN FURTHER ADVISED IT WOULD BE BEST TO KEEP DRIVING THE LR UNTIL IT COMPLETELY FAILED AS THE PRICE OF NEW ENGINE WOULD NOT BE MORE AND I SHOULD GET AS MUCH FROM THE ORIGINAL AS POSSIBLE. REQUEST NHTSA LOBBY ON BEHALF OF OWNERS TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED BETWEEN OWNERS AND LRNA. ISSUES ARE OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECTS AND LR SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE PROBLEM AND OFFER SOME TYPE SOLUTION TO THE CONSUMER. THE NHTSA SHOULD ISSUE SOME SORT OF FINE IF POSSIBLE TO FORCE LR TO MAKE GOOD ON THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 4, 201157,000 milesNJ

I OWN A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SE. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 57,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED. RECENTLY I NOTICED A TAP COMING FROM THE ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT OVER TO THE LOCAL LAND ROVER DEALER. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS, I WAS INFORMED THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE IN ORDER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, AT A COST OF $14,000. WHAT A JOKE! THERE IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THESE TRUCKS MAINTAINING ADEQUATE OIL PRESSURE IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM RUNNING PROPERLY. ONCE AGAIN THE CONSUMER GETS THE SHAFT. I AM NOW STUCK, ALONG WITH A LOT OF OTHER LR OWNERS, FACED WITH A HUGE REPAIR BILL. THIS MATTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOOKED INTO AS A POSSIBLE RECALL. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control › Cables
Filed Nov 23, 201093,235 milesCO

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II HSE TODAY, THE THROTTLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY STUCK IN THE FULL POSITION. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO AVOID TRAFFIC, CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND GET THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LAND ROVER DEALER, AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE BUTTERFLY VALVE HAD STUCK. I RESEARCHED THIS AND CAME UP WITH NHTSA CASE NUMBER 03V133000 WHICH DEAL WITH THIS EXACT ISSUE FOR THIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. THE DEALER CLAIMS THERE ARE NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS FOR MY VEHICLE AND REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PART UNDER THIS ISSUE. I FIND IT HIGHLY COINCIDENTAL THAT I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT ISSUE DESCRIBED IN THE NHTSA CASE. IN REVIEWING THE CASE INFORMATION THERE WERE OTHER REPORTS OUTSIDE OF THE DATE RANGE THAT LAND ROVER CLAIMS APPLY TO THIS DEFECT. I CONTACTED THE LAND ROVER CORPORATE OFFICE AND THEY SAID THEY WERE REVIEWING THE CASE, BUT THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE SINCE THE RECALLS ARE VIN SPECIFIC. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE DID ADMIT THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES OCCUR ON OTHER VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THIS FAILURE AND IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *TR

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Oct 22, 201090,000 milesNY

2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II "SLABS CONTROL UNIT" OTHERWISE KNOWN BY THE OWNER & MECHANICS AS THE "3 AMIGOS (ABS,HDC,TC)...... I AM SURE YOU HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE INTERNET HAS SEVERAL UNHAPPY OWNERS COMPLAINING. THIS UNIT CONTROLSTHE 4-WHEEL ANTI-LOCK BRAKING, HILL DESCENT AND 4 WHEEL TRACTION CONTROL ALONG WITH SELF LEVELING SUSPENSION. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE DEALER WANTS TO INSTALL A NEW UNIT AT A COST OF OVER $1500 TO 2500 DEPENDING ON LABOR COST. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE ALREADY CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION IN THE ABOVE, ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipCrash
Filed Oct 20, 201062,000 milesAR

1. APPLIED THE BRAKES. 2. EVERY TIME I APPLY BRAKES AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN STARTED 3. DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING WHICH CAN BE DONE... APPARENTLY ALL SUCH MODELS HAVE THIS ISSUE, WHICH GENERATES THE QUESTION AS TO WHY LAND ROVER HAS NOT BEEN MADE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, MUCH LIKE WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE HAD SUCH AN ISSUE BEEN INCURRED WITH A CHEVROLET, FORD OR TOYOTA? THIS ISSUE HAS ALREADY BEEN RECORDED AS SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA ITEM NO. 10016118? THIS DEMONSTRATES THERE ARE RECOGNIZED PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS MODULATOR AND SYSTEM, RESULTING IN THE ABS/ EMERGENCY BRAKE / HILL DESCENT AND TRACTION CONTROL LAMPS ILLUMINATING ON THE DASH, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM TO INCUR FAILURE WHEN NEEDED? THE NUMBER OF VEHICLE OWNERS INCURRING THIS PROBLEM INDICATES THERE IS A SERIOUS INHERENT DEFECT WITHIN THIS VEHICLE, WHICH I AND MANY OTHERS CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY SUCH HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED... THERE HAS APPARENTLY BEEN ANOTHER RECALL FOR AN ABS COMPONENT IN THIS VEHICLE (NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NO. 04V005000) AND THIS PRELIMINARY RECALL SHOULD ALSO BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE THIS ISSUE WITH THE ABS SYSTEM? THIS ISSUE IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND WIDESPREAD AMONG THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND THE NHTSA SHOULD FINALLY REQUIRE LAND ROVER TO CORRECT SUCH. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 21, 201086,000 milesTX

I HAVE EXPERIENCED WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME OIL PUMP SYMPTOMS OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF. DESPITE READING "FULL", MY TRUCK SEEMS TO HAVE DIFFICULTY ADEQUATELY LUBRICATING. SO, SOME DAYS IT'S SOUNDED LIKE A TANK!! *TR

Child Seat
Filed Jul 27, 201051,100 milesPR

I JUST BOUGHT A LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 2 SERIES HSE WITH 50,000 PLUS MILES 2 WEEKS AGO AND JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE OIL PUMP PROBLEM. MY DISCOVERY IS WITHIN THE AFFECTED VIN# AND ALREADY HAS THE OIL LIGHT ON. SO WHAT'S THE UPDATE ON THIS MATTER?? ANY RECALL FROM LAND ROVER???? *TR

Service Brakes, Electric
Filed Jul 13, 201060,000 milesME

2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II -ABS STOPS WORKING, IMPAIRED BRAKING, TRACTION CONTROL STOPS WORKING, BAD ABS MODULATOR CONNECTION. HAPPENS SPONTANEOUSLY. REPLACED ABS MODULATOR. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Apr 2, 201061,000 milesWA

I PURCHASED A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SERIES II HSE WITH 44K MILES. IN FEBRUARY 2008, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO LAND ROVER DEALER TO HAVE A FULL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. THE INSPECTION REPORT NOTED THAT VEHICLE WAS IN GREAT CONDITION WITH NO ISSUES NEEDING TO BE ADDRESSED. BUT ALONG WITH THE EVALUATION PAPER WORK PROVIDED BY THE LAND ROVER DEALER WAS A LAND ROVER TECHNICAL ALERT. THE TECHNICAL ALERT STATED THE FOLLOWING;' DISCOVERY SERIES II (LT) 3A771801 ' 3A808362 SITUATION OIL PUMP FAILURES ON 2003 DISCOVERY SERIES II VEHICLES MAY BE THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING ERROR. LOCATING DOWEL PINS MAY BE SLIGHTLY MISALIGNED PERMITTING ASSEMBLY OF THE OIL PUMP TO THE ENGINE BLOCK, BUT PLACING STRESS ON THE PUMP HOUSING WHICH CAN ULTIMATELY LEAD TO LEAKAGE OR FAILURE. RESOLUTION WHENEVER AN OIL PUMP FAILURE IS ENCOUNTERED ON VEHICLES WITHIN THE ABOVE VIN RANGE THE ONLY EFFECTIVE REPAIR CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IS REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE ENGINE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE FRONT COVER/OIL PUMP MANUFACTURED TO THE LATEST TOLERANCES. MY LAND ROVER VIN NUMBER FALLS WITHIN THE IDENTIFIED VIN NUMBER RANGE OF AFFECTED VEHICLES. JUMP AHEAD TO 2010. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON 26 MARCH 2010, THE OIL LIGHT CAME AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE RUMBLING SOUNDS. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. FEARING THE WORST, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AT A COST OF $545 TO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE OIL PUMP HAD FAILED. I SPOKE TO THE LAND ROVER DEALER AND TO LAND ROVER OF NORTH AMERICA. NEITHER WOULD COVER

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 13, 200999,000 milesFL

2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY OIL PUMP FAILURE. LAND ROVER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DOES NOT WANT TO DO A RECALL. *TR

Traction Control System
Filed Aug 20, 200938,000 milesCA

THE DEFECT IS ALREADY RECORDED AS SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA ITEM NO. 10016118. IN SHORT, THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SHUTTLE VALVES IN THE ABS SYSTEM, WHICH RESULT IN THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL/HILL DESCENT WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATION IN THE DASH, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY MAY PREVENT THE ABS FROM ACTIVATING AS NEEDED. DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME SPECIFIC ISSUE, A RECALL IS VERY APPROPRIATE. THERE ARE INHERENT PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS IN THESE CARS, AS IS PRELIMINARY EVIDENT IN THE FACT THAT THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A RECALL FOR ANOTHER COMPONENT IN THE ABS (NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NO. 04V005000). THIS ISSUE IS VERY WIDESPREAD AMONG OWNER'S OF THIS AUTOMOBILE. THE SAFETY SYSTEM OF THE AUTOMOBILE IS COMPROMISED AND THE NHTSA SHOULD REQUIRE LAND ROVER TO FINALLY ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed May 18, 200930,000 milesTX

MY 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SUFFERS FROM A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WHICH CAUSES THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL TO FAIL. HUNDREDS OF DISCOVERIES SUFFER FROM THIS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH NO FIX OR RECALL FROM LAND ROVER. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN COINED "THREE AMIGOS" AND CAN BE EASILY FOUND BY SEARCHING ONLINE. I AM DEPENDENT ON MY ABS AND CONSTANTLY AND CONSISTENTLY AM PUTTING MY FAMILY AT RISK WITH THIS CONSTANT AND CONSISTENT FAILURE. MY DISCOVERY RECENTLY SLID OFF OF THE ROAD DUE TO LOSS OF ABS DURING A RAIN STORM. I HAD 2 CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 29, 200958,000 milesKY

I HAVE A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. I JUST PAID TO REPLACE THE OIL PUMP ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT LAND ROVER PUBLISHED A TECHNICAL ALERT THAT STATES THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE ISSUE IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. DOWEL PINS ON THE BLOCK ARE MISALIGNED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER ERROR PER THE ALERT. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 58K MILES AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. LAND ROVER IS NOT OFFERING TO COVER ANY OF THE REPAIR COSTS EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A MANUFACTURER ERROR FROM THE START. *TR

20 of 63 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200422210Routine
2003 — this page63320Routine
200234430Routine
200131610Routine
2000401030Routine
199936700Routine

Compare every Discovery II year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 15, 2012. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.