RoadVitals

2003 Land Rover Discovery Ii Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Oct 20, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
22%
of 63 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Land Rover Discovery Ii submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Oct 20, 2010
Crash reported

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

NHTSA ID
10361405
Incident
Nov 10, 2009
Mileage
62,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 13, 2010

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

NHTSA ID
10342877
Incident
Jun 11, 2010
Mileage
60,000 mi
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 20, 2009

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

NHTSA ID
10281181
Incident
Jan 1, 2008
Mileage
38,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 18, 2009

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

NHTSA ID
10269009
Incident
May 10, 2009
Mileage
30,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 7, 2008

THE PROBLEM IS WITH OUR 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE PROBLEM OCCURS ALMOST DAILY. THE TRACTION CONTROL, ABS, AND HILL DESCENT (REFERRED TO AS THE THREE AMIGOS). I FEEL THIS IS VERY MUCH A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO LACK OF BRAKING AND TRACTION WHEN THESE LIGHTS ALL ARE ON. WHEN THESE LIGHTS ARE ON THE TRACTION CONTROL DEVICE DOES NOT FUNCTION. DUE TO LIVING IN ILLINOIS WEATHER THIS CREATES PROBLEMS DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE COVERED ROADS-IN WHICH IN OUR AREA WE SEEM TO BE HAVING A SHORTAGE ON SALT FOR THE ROADS. THE FULL REASONING AS TO WHY I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WAS TO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ROAD CONDITIONS (I DIDN'T THINK PROBLEMS WITH SYSTEM FAILURES WOULD OCCUR WITH THE COST OF THESE VEHICLES) I FEEL THIS IS A RECALL PROBLEM. PUTTING MANY PEOPLES LIVES IN JEOPARDY WHO ACTUALLY FEEL THEY ARE SAFE WHILE DRIVING UNTIL THEY EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE OF THIS SYSTEM IN THESE VEHICLES WHILE ON A WEEKEND TRIP OR FOUR WHEELING AS WHICH THEY WERE DESIGNED TO DO. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT I CREATED ON MY VEHICLE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THE COMPANY CREATED WHEN THEY PRODUCED THESE VEHICLES AND SOLD THEM. I DO NOT FEEL IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THEIR FLAW THAT THEY MADE IN THE PRODUCTION OF THESE VEHICLES WITH DEFECTIVE SYSTEM ALLOWING FAILURE DURING DRIVING CONDITIONS IF A SYSTEM FAILS THAT IS DEFECTIVE. AS TO ANY DEATHS RELATED IN THIS INCIDENT -THE ANSWER WOULD BE AS OF THIS TIME NO AND I PRAY THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN, AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THE POLICE WHERE CALLED BECAUSE I'M QUITE SURE THEY COULD CARE LESS IF THE TRACTION CONTROL OR MY ABS ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND THANK GOD THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANY PROPERTY DESTRUCTION OR CRASHES YET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10251011
Incident
Dec 7, 2008
Brakes
Filed Oct 14, 2008

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II ABS FAULT. I CANNOT DRIVE MORE THAN 5 MILES WITHOUT THE ABS, HILL DESCENT CONTROL, AND TRANSFER CASE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATING. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS FAULT IS A RESULT OF AN ABS SYSTEM FAILURE. AFTER FAULT HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE CARS COMPUTER, ABS IS NON-RESPONSIVE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING MANY OF THE LAND ROVER DISCOVERY VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO MY MECHANIC WHO HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY MORE THAN ONE ELEMENT TO THE ABS SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. THIS OCCURS EVERYDAY AND I'M STILL WORKING ON A RESOLUTION. I CANNOT SELL THE CAR IN GOOD CONSCIOUS WITH SUCH A HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10245333
Incident
Aug 1, 2007
Mileage
43,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 11, 2007

ANTI LOCK BRAKE FAILURE; MULTIPLE LIGHTS ILLUMINTE WHE HEAVY BRAKING DOWN HILLS. ALL BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE NEW. LIGHTS ON DASH EXTINGUISH UPON RESTART. VERY POOR BRAKING ALMOST ALLOWING VEHICLE TO TRAVEL INTO CROSS TRAFFIC. FELT AS THOUGH ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM STOPPED FUNCTIONING WITH STANDARD BRAKING REMAINING. HAPPENDED SEVERAL TIMES WITH MYSELF AND WIFE DRIVING VEHICLE. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND LOOKED UP INFO ON INTERNET. DEALER INDICATED IS WAS THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MODULATOR. MANY COMPLAINTS ON ROVER WEBSITES ABOUT THIS GOING FAIRLY EARLY IN LIFE OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP TOLD MY WIFE THAT THERE WAS STILL NORMAL BRAKING IF LIGHTS ARE ON,BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE USED LIKE YOUR BRAKING WITH ANTILOCK SYSTEMS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT LANDROVER HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM AS CAUSED SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WHEN BRAKING ON LIMITED HILLS. DEALERSHIP INDICATED PART WAS $1500 AND TOTAL JOB WAS $2100 TO REPLACE, BUT AGAIN SAID IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO DO AS BRAKING WOULD BE THERE IF LIGHTS WERE NOT ON. *TR

NHTSA ID
10208631
Incident
Oct 15, 2007
Mileage
58,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 5, 2006

HILL DESCENT CONTROL TRACTION CONTROL AND THE ABS LIGHT CONSTANTLY LIGHT UP, I JUST BOUGHT MY CAR,(LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AGO) WHEN APPLIED BRAKES SOMETIMES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. I WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, I TOOK THE CAR TO A SERVICE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY 2500 DOLLARS! I HAD OTHER PROBLEMS AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY PURCHASE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT ALL DISCOVERIES HAVE THIS PROBLEM I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE, THIS IS MY 3RD LAND ROVER AND THEY ALL HAD ABS FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10169979
Incident
Sep 12, 2006
Mileage
68,200 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 23, 2006

DISCOVERY 2 ABS ISSUES, MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH ABS SYSTEM. UPON APPLICATION ADDS A BIT OF TIME TO YOUR ANTICIPATED STOPPING DISTANCE. VERY DANGEROUS CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS ACCIDENT DEALER SHOP CANNOT FIND HOW TO FIX IT AND LIGHTS AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON CONSTANTLY. ABS SYSTEM IS NOT ENGAGED WHEN NEEDED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10153516
Incident
Nov 30, 2005
Mileage
64,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 21, 2006

2003 DISCOVERY II AND THE THREE MAIN LIGHTS ILLUMINATING, TWO TIMES THEY HAVE BEEN ON AND STAY ON, SOMETIMES NOW THEY TURN ON AND OFF. TRACTION CONTROL, ABS AND HILL DESCENT CONTROL. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD TRIP TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10153363
Incident
Aug 9, 2005
Brakes
Filed Nov 1, 2005

I HAVE A 2003 DISCOVERY II AND THE ABS MODULATOR IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THREE MAIN LIGHTS ILLUMINATING CONSTANTLY AND THEY ARE TRACTION CONTROL, ABS AND HILL DESCENT CONTROL, WHEN THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE IN AMBER COLOR WHILE I'M DRIVING I HAVE NO USE OF TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS ALSO MY BRAKES DON'T WORK WELL. *NM

NHTSA ID
10141437
Incident
Sep 1, 2005
Mileage
51,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 30, 2004

AFTER DEALERSHIP PERFORMED ABS VALVE COVER BOLT RECALL 04V005000 REPAIRS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10089999
Incident
Aug 16, 2004
Brakes
Filed Mar 11, 2003
Crash reported

GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER THAT YOU CAN BOTH STEP ON THEM AT THE SAME TIME OR SLIPS FROM BRAKE TO GAS THAT CAUSES A SUDDEN FORWARD SURGE.*JB

NHTSA ID
10010308
Incident
Feb 28, 2003
Mileage
10,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 2, 2002
Crash reported

THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS CAN BE HIT AT THE SAME VERY EASILY CAUSING THE CAR TO SURGE FORWARD. THE DEALER KNOWS IT BUT WILL NOT STAND BY THE CAR WHEN I WANTED TO RETURN IT. DT

NHTSA ID
770329
Incident
Nov 26, 2002

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .