2002 Land Rover Discovery

Routine

Owners filed 17 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling5
020
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer1
000
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Suspension1
000
Structure › Body1
000
Steering › Rack and Pinion › Pinion Shaft1
000
Service Brakes1
101
Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft1
000
Power Train › Driveline1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service BrakesCrash1 injured
Filed Sep 27, 2017132,000 milesCA

CATASTROPHIC INJURIES SUSTAINED!!!! LOSS OF LIFE ALMOST OCCURRED! I WAS DRIVING MY LAND ROVER ON A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE BRAKE DRUM FELL APART WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND PARTS FROM THE BRAKE DRUM PIERCED THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND CAME IN THROUGH THE DRIVER SEAT I WAS SITTING IN AND CAUSE ME MAJOR INTERNAL INJURIES THAT LED TO ME BEING HOSPITALIZED FOR 52 DAYS. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN OR THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE THE FAILURE CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND I WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE INCLUDED PICTURES THAT HELP PEOPLE BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. THE PICTURES OF THE CAR PARTS THAT WERE REMOVED FROM MY ABDOMINAL AREA AND PICTURES OF THE SEAT I WAS SITTING ON. I FILED A LAW SUIT AND IT SETTLED OUT OF COURT SO THIS IS THE BEST WAY I COULD THINK OF TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT THE DANGER THESE VEHICLES POSSES. *BF

Power Train
Filed Apr 11, 2017180,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND COASTED TO THE SHOULDER. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDERNEATH, AND NOTICED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS SHREDDED AND DISCONNECTED AND THE THROTTLE WAS IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE CONTACT CONNECTED THE CABLE BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ENGAGE IN GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

Steering › Rack and Pinion › Pinion Shaft
Filed Jun 28, 201670,000 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE SPEED WAS ABOVE 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT SHAFT WAS REPLACED TWICE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

Suspension
Filed Dec 4, 201225,600 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHEN THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRAME AND THE SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A SAFETY HAZARD AND WOULD NOT LET THE VEHICLE LEAVE THE LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,600. UPDATED 2/25/13 *CN UPDATED 03/07/2013 *JS

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 8, 2012160,700 milesTX

OIL LEAK ON ENGINE, OIL PAN LEAK, WATER PUMP LEAK, NO POWER ON ENGINE IT LOST THE POWER FROM OVER HEATING, MECHANIC WANTS TO REPLACE ENGINE I WAS QUOTED 3700 DOLLARS. HOW CAN I KNOW IF THIS ENGINE WAS A DEFECT. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Nov 16, 201185,101 milesMN

OF ALL THE PERSONAL VEHICLES I'VE EVER OWNED, I'VE NEVER HAD ONE THAT CAUSES ME TO DRIVE LIKE I WAS ON "PINS & NEEDLES". I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN OUT OF THE BLUE THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS LET GO, WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. AFTER INVESTIGATING WITH DEALER INQUIRIES AND INDEPENDENT SHOPS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH LAND ROVER V8 ALUMINUM ENGINES.THE DEALERSHIP(S) I SPOKE WITH ACTUALLY AGREED WITH MY CONCERNS BUT SAID "TALKING TO LAND ROVER IS LIKE TALKING TO A DOG, THEY HEAR YOU BUT WON'T DO A THING ABOUT IT". I COULD UNDERSTAND IF THIS VEHICLE WAS HIGH MILEAGE OR WAS REALLY ABUSED. SOMEONE NEEDS TO ADDRESS THESE PEOPLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Jul 27, 2011147,081 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING AND SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE WARRANTY COMPANY. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 147,081. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Mar 3, 2010MI

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THREE TIMES NOW OUR LANDROVER DISCOVERY (2002) HAS ACCELERATED WITHOUT INTENT. ONCE PULLING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY NEARLY CRASHING INTO A PERSON, ANOTHER TIME FROM A DEAD STOP AND I HAD TO SWERVE NOT TO HIT A HOUSE, AND NOW A THIRD TIME WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING SLOWLY DOWN A STREET -- ALL OF A SUDDEN OUR CAR ACCELERATED AND NEARLY HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Feb 17, 2009106,000 milesNY

CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *TR

Power Train › Driveline
Filed Dec 17, 200855,000 milesMI

I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN MY 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY MADE A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND STOPPED MY CAR. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED AND AFTER INSPECTION WAS TOLD THE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE 55K MILES AND THE REPAIRS ARE OVER $1,000.00. ALSO I JUST HAD A MECHANICAL INSPECTION A FEW MONTHS AGO AND WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS FINE. *TR

Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Filed Oct 3, 200662,000 milesAL

DRIVESHAFT FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES. FORTUNATELY, I WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT PROCEED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM THAT LANDROVER CONTINUES TO DENY. *NM

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed Aug 28, 2006IN

DEFECTIVE SUNROOF SUNROOF LEAKS INTO OCCUPANT COMPARTMENT AT WINDSHIELD POSTS BOTH SIDES WHICH IN TURN RUNS DOWN INTO ELECTRICAL FUSES CAUSING TICKING NOISES AND SHORTS. *NM

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 10, 200442,600 milesNC

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER FROM THREE TO SEVEN TIMES . UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER SUSTAINED THREE SPINE AND PELVIC FRACTURES, AND NEEDED MASSIVE SURGERY TO THE RIGHT KNEE. *AK

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed May 25, 200458,345 milesMD

FIRE ORIGINATED RIGHT REAR SECION ENGINE AROUND HEATER HOSES-ONE HEARTER HOSE LEAKED OR RUPTURED ALLOWING ENGINE COOLANT TO DRIP DOWN ONTO HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD IGNITING THE COOLANT CAUSE FIRE

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed Jan 13, 2004NY

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFire
Filed Nov 12, 200315,218 milesNM

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME WHERE IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *PH

Structure › Body
Filed Dec 6, 2002SC

WHILE DRIVING THE SRS INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON, WHICH INDICATES THAT THE AIR BAGS MAY NOT DEPLOY IF VEHICLE IS IN AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE SERVICED. THE DEALERSHIP ARE REPLACING THE HARNESS PER CONSUMER. TS

17 of 17 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20261100Routine
20250200Routine
20247410Routine
20237500Routine
20229500Routine
202111500Routine
202018601Fatalities reported
201938400Routine
201837400Routine
201755310Routine
20165000Routine
20062000Routine
200429020Routine
200348120Routine
2002 — this page17030Routine
200113110Routine
200030120Routine
199917310Routine
199833240Routine
199735220Routine
199665300Routine
199549463Fatalities reported
199415210Routine

Compare every Discovery 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.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.