1996 Land Rover Discovery Owner Complaints

I NOTICED THE PROBLEM FIRST WHEN I WAS REFUELING AT THE GAS STATION. WHEN THE PUMPS "GALLON" GAUGE REACHED ABOUT 14 GALLONS I HEARD A SHOP PLAYING SOUND AND LOOKED DOWN TO FIND THAT ALL THE GAS I WAS PUMPING IN WAS SPILLING ON THE GROUND.I LATER REALIZED AFTER INSPECTING IT, THERE'S A STRESS CRACK THAT LEAKS FUEL WHILE FILLING TANK OR WHILEDRIVING IF TANK IS CLOSE TO FULL. THIS RESULTS IN HORRIBLE HEAD ACHES FROM THREE CONSTANT SMELL OF GASOLINE INSIDE MY LAND ROVER WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11156949

Incident

Oct 1, 2018

ABS SYSTEM IS FAULTY. ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS,DRY PAVEMENT, AND LOW OR HIGH PRESSURE ON PEDAL. I CAN HEAR THE PUMP ACTIVATE FOR NO REASON. I ALSO FEEL THE PEDAL VIBRATE AND THE TRUCK CONTINUES TO ROLL. ALMOST KILLED A PEDESTRIAN ONCE OR TWICE. AFTER IT DID THE SAME TO MY WIFE I CLIPPED THE SENSORS AND TOOK OUT THE LIGHT BULB IN THE DASHBOARD. I DRIVE BETTER THAN THE ABS ECU COMPUTES. NO PROBLEMS SINCE COMPLETELY DEACTIVATING AND UNPLUGGING SYSTEM. PLEASE INCLUDE NEW RANGES OF VEHICLES IN THESE RECALLS. I WILL BE POWERLESS TO HAVE THIS REIMBURSED OTHERWISE. ALSO NEED TO RE-EVALUATE RECALL RANGE FOR THE FUEL NECK FILLER PROBLEM. MY TRUCK WAS IN FOR THE TANK RECALL BUT THEY FAILED TO DO THE FILLER NECK AND I HAVE SPENT YEARS TRADING OUT IAC, THROTTLE SENSORS, AND MAF SENSORS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU SANFRANCISCO LAND ROVER. SARCASM INTENDED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10895778

Incident

Apr 5, 2010

Mileage

150,000 mi

GAS TANK RECALL DONE IN SAN FRANCISCO BUT THEY FAILED TO CHECK THE FUEL FILLER NECK PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE MYSTERY ISSUES EVER SINCE, RULING OUT THE FUEL TANK AND PUMP AS THEY WERE BOTH NEW. I HAVE SINCE TRACKED THE PROBLEM TO THE FUEL FILLER NECK THAT THE DEALER FAILED TO FIX. I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE TO HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY AND REPAIRED IN THE SAME MANNER. MY VEHICLE DOES NOT COME UP IN A RECALL SEARCH FOR THE FILLER NECK AND I BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE MINE. I HAVE READ ALL 80 OF THE COMPLAINTS RELATIVE TO THIS PROBLEM AND MINE IS LESS THAN 40 UNITS AWAY FROM THE COMPLAINT VEHICLES. I ALSO HAVE BEEN BATTLING THE ABS PROBLEMS OF NOT STOPPING AND THE ABS ACTIVATION FOR NO REASON. I ALMOST WRECKED A FEW TIMES BECAUSE OF THE ABS KICKING ON FOR NO REASON- LOW SPEED, DRY PAVEMENT, EASY SOFT BRAKE PRESSURE. I CLIPPED THE FRONT WHEEL ABS SENSORS AND I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH ABS SINCE. FAULTY SOFTWARE IN THE ABS ECU IS PROBABLY TO BLAME BUT IT WOULD DO NO GOOD TO BLAME THE COMPUTER WITH BODIERS LYING IN THE STREET.

NHTSA ID

10895775

Incident

Apr 5, 2010

Mileage

150,000 mi

CAR WON'T START BUT TURNS OVER NORMALLY. BEGINNING ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO SO I'VE NOTICED A FEW TIMES IT FEELING LIKE ITS GOING TO DIE LIKE IT'S BEING HELD BACK A LITTLE BIT WHEN I'M DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY NOT HAVING ENOUGH TO GET IT GOING LIKE SOMETHING IS CLOGGED OR SOMETHING.... FUEL PUMP I WAS WONDERING AND GOING TO GET IT CHECKED BUT IT ONLY HAPPENS WHEN I'M ON THE FREEWAY FOR A LITTLE BIT AND WHEN I SLOW DOWN IT FEELS LIKE ITS GOING TO DIE ALSO AFTER GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY ARE SLOWING DOWN BUT IT DOES IT ALSO WHEN I'M GOING AT HIGHER SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY BUT ONLY THEN NOT WHEN I'M DRIVING THROUGH TOWN.

NHTSA ID

10732282

Incident

Jul 6, 2015

Mileage

145,000 mi

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. UNDER NORMAL BRAKING ABS IS ACTIVATED WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AND CAUSES BRAKES VIBRATE/PULSE AND MAKE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STOP REQUIRING PUMPING OF BRAKE PEDAL. HAPPENS MOST FREQUENTLY AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN TURNING A CORNER, IE: OUT OF A DRIVEWAY WHEN VERY LIKELY TO HIS PEDESTRIANS OR ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHEN UNABLE TO BREAK. AT HIGHER SPEEDS UP TO 25-30 MPH THE SAME SITUATION ARISES BUT YOU GENERALLY HAVE MORE TIME AND DISTANCE TO RECOVER. OTHERWISE BREAKS WORK MOST OF THE TIME, WHICH MAKES THIS GLITCH SO FRUSTRATING AND SEEMINGLY UNRELATED TO BREAK PAD OR WEAR AND TEAR ISSUES, AS SUBSTANTIATED BY SIMILAR NHTSA COMPLAINT #S: 882300, 8011620, 10028658, 10024539, 10110112. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652143

Incident

Jan 24, 2014

Mileage

10 mi

ASCENDING MINIMAL INCLINES WHILE 55MPH AND ABOVE, ENGINE MISFIRES RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER AND INABILITY TO ACCELERATE, AS SUBSTANTIATED BY SIMILAR NHTSA COMPLAINT #: 603676 "AN ENGLISH CAR SPECIALIST IN RALEIGH, NC. DETERMINED IT WAS A SPEED SENSING TRANSMITTER. THIS DEVICE TELLS THE CAR'S COMPUTER HOW FAST THE CAR IS MOVING. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, IT WAS GETTING A SIGNAL OF 130 MPH. THINKING IT WAS MOVING TOO FAST, THE CAR WILL AUTOMATICALLY MISFIRE IN AN EFFORT TO SLOW IT DOWN. THEY REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR (FOR $120) AND THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR OLDER LRS AND THE DEALERS SHOULD KNOW THIS. THEY USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHARGE FOR A MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE VALVE JOB." *TR

NHTSA ID

10652135

Incident

Nov 27, 2012

Mileage

55 mi

AS A RESULT OF CHAFFING OF A CRUISE CONTROL WIRE, THE STEERING WHEEL ROTARY COUPLER CAN OVERHEAT AND INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG....THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED YET TO ME, BUT DESPITE MY VEHICLE BEING A 1996 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY WITH ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OWNER, DEALER CLAIMS MY VIN# IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL FOR SUBSTANTIATED BY PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED FOR THIS ISSUE WITH MY YEAR/MAKE/MODEL, SO PLEASE RE-OPEN INVESTIGATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 98V040000 TO INCLUDE ALL 1996 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY VIN#S SO IT CAN BE ADDRESSED BEFORE IT DEPLOYS IMPROPERLY. DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING CAN CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE VEHICLE CONTROL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652126

Incident

Nov 27, 2012

SIDE STEP BROKE OFF, SUBSTANTIATED BY SIMILAR NHTSA COMPLAINT # = 603676. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652122

Incident

Dec 10, 2013

AT 55MPH VEHICLE VIOLENTLY VIBRATING CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSE VEHICLE CONTROL, DUE TO POWER TRAIN, DRIVE SHAFT, TRACK BAR BUSHING. DESPITE MY VEHICLE BEING A 1996 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY WITH ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OWNER, DEALER CLAIMS MY VIN# IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL FOR DRIVE SHAFT REPAIR SUBSTANTIATED BY PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED FOR MY YEAR/MAKE/MODEL, SO PLEASE RE-OPEN INVESTIGATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 12E010000 TO INCLUDE ALL 1996 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY VIN#S. 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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652118

Incident

Nov 27, 2012

Mileage

55 mi

COMPONENT(S): LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES ON ALL DOORS: RIGHT FRONT DOOR LATCH REQUIRES SLAMMED SHUT AND WON'T OPEN WITHOUT KEY TRAPPING PASSENGER INSIDE OR FAILS TO LATCH FULLY WHEN CLOSING CAUSING THE DOOR TO "BOUNCE" BACK OFF THE DOOR SEALS.---REAR DOOR LOCK REQUIRES KEY----DRIVER DOOR KEY BROKE OFF INSIDE. DESPITE MY VEHICLE BEING A 1996 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY WITH ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OWNER, DEALER CLAIMS MY VIN# IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL FOR DOOR LATCH REPAIRS SUBSTANTIATED BY PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED FOR MY YEAR/MAKE/MODEL, SO PLEASE RE-OPEN INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE ALL 1996 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY VIN#S: SIMILAR NHTSA COMPLAINT #S= 605132, 823508, 983887, 508953, PE96060, 603247, 602621, 603962. *TR

NHTSA ID

10652115

Incident

Nov 27, 2012

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE ACCELERATING AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE LACKED COMPRESSION. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CYLINDER WALLS WERE SCRATCHED, WHICH PREVENTED THE VEHICLE FROM GAINING HORSEPOWER. HE ALSO STATED THAT EXCESSIVE DIRT FROM THE DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK CAUSED THE ENGINE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ID

10204266

Incident

Apr 1, 2002

Mileage

63,000 mi

AT HIGHER SPEEDS, ABOVE 55 MPH, ENGINE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY MISFIRE AND RETURN TO NORMAL IN UNPREDICTABLE SEQUENCES. LOSS OF POWER AND INABILITY TO ACCELERATE, ESPECIALLY ON HILLS, THE WORST CONSEQUENCE. CHARLOTTE DEALER SAID IT COULD BE A STICKY EXHAUST VALVE, OFFERED $2900 TO PERFORM AN EXHAUST VALVE JOB. I DECLINED AND DECIDED TO TAKE THE CYLINDER HEADS OFF MYSELF AND TAKE THEM TO A MACHINE SHOP WERE THEY COULD CLEAN OUT AND RE-GRIND THE VALVES FOR ABOUT $500. MACHINE SHOP SAID THERE WAS NO SIGNS OF STICKING VALVES BUT I DIDN'T MIND SINCE I GOT TO PLAY AROUND AND TAKE THE ENGINE APART. THE ENGINE RAN GREAT AFTERWARDS BUT THIS DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. FINALLY TOOK CAR TO AN ENGLISH CAR SPECIALIST IN RALEIGH, NC. THEY DETERMINED IT WAS A SPEED SENSING TRANSMITTER. THIS DEVICE TELLS THE CAR'S COMPUTER HOW FAST THE CAR IS MOVING. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, IT WAS GETTING A SIGNAL OF 130 MPH. THINKING IT WAS MOVING TOO FAST, THE CAR WILL AUTOMATICALLY MISFIRE IN AN EFFORT TO SLOW IT DOWN. THEY REPLACED THE SPEED SENSOR (FOR $120) AND THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR OLDER LRS AND THE DEALERS SHOULD KNOW THIS. THEY USE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHARGE FOR A MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE VALVE JOB. *JB

NHTSA ID

10154685

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

Mileage

140,000 mi

LAND ROVER HAS A SAFETY RECALL ACTION L#B156 AND THE FEDERAL VEHICLE RECALL GOVERNMENT HAS THEIRS AS 04V20300. LAND ROVER BUILT A DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK THAT WILL LEAK AND INSTALLED IT IN MY VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS NEW. LAND ROVER NOW WANTS ME TO PAY FOR THE FUEL PUMP WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AS A RESULT OF THE RECALL. I FIND THIS DEMAND UNREASONABLE BOTH ON ITS POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MY OUT OF POCKET COST, AND THAT THEY WILL ONLY REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AND SEAL, WHILE DISTURBING 10 YEAR OLD HOSES/PUMPS/FUEL LINES ECT. WHEN CONTACTED LAND ROVER SAID THAT WAS THEIR POLICY. WHERE IS THE SAFETY IN THIS RECALL? *NM

NHTSA ID

10144063

Incident

Nov 30, 2005

Mileage

145,000 mi

ABS LIGHT IS ON. BRAKES APPEAR TO WORK NORMAL. OCCASIONAL, FOR NO APPEARANT REASON ABS KICKS ON AND CAUSES BRAKES VIBRATE/PULSE AND MAKE IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STOP. AFTER THAT FOR A SHORT PERIOD THE ABS LIGHT IS OFF. CLOSEST DEALER IS 3 HOURS AWAY AND I CAN'T FIND ANYONE AROUD TO LOOK AT IT. *AK

NHTSA ID

10110112

Incident

Jan 3, 2005

Mileage

100 mi

WE OWN A 1996 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. I NOTICED RECENTLY THAT IT WAS LEANING TO THE RIGHT. I MEASURED THE BUMPER TO BE APPROX. 2 INCHES LOWER ON THE RIGHT THAN THE LEFT. WHEN I BROUGHT IT INTO OUR LOCAL LAND ROVER DEALER THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE LAND ROVER TO LEAN TO THE RIGHT. SOUNDS UNSAFE TO ME.*AK

NHTSA ID

10105782

Incident

Jun 1, 2004

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START EACH TIME.*AK *TC

NHTSA ID

10087187

Incident

Feb 6, 2004

Mileage

110,000 mi

THE CONSUMER HAS COST HIM $22,620.00 IN REPAIRS FOR HEAD GASKET, TRANSMISSION BOX, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND STALLING PROBLEMS. *LA THE CLOCK AND BRAKE LIGHT HAD GONE OUT, THE VEHICLE BACKFIRED, AND MISSES. *SC

NHTSA ID

10059116

CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL PUMP. WHEN THE VEHICLE GOT HOT, IT ACTED AS IF IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE WEATHER WAS HOT. ALSO, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY TOLD HER THEY HAD TO PUT IT ON A COMPUTER. THIS VEHICLE WAS GIVING HER PROBLEMS, AND SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. *AK

NHTSA ID

10038570

Incident

Sep 9, 2003

VERY POOR EMERGENCY BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS 30MPH AND SLOWER. WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKING IS REQUIRED LIKE IN A LEFT TURN LAND AND THE PRECEDING CAR DECIDES TO STOP INSTEAD OF COMPLETING THE LEFT TURN, YOU CANNOT STOP QUICKLY. AT HIGHER SPEEDS UP TO 25-30 MPH THE SAME SITUATION ARISES BUT YOU GENERALLY HAVE MORE TIME AND DISTANCE TO RECOVER.EHICLE HAS BEEN LOOKED AT BY INDEPENDEND GARAGES AND MOST RECENTLY, AGAIN, GONE OVER BY THE LANDROVER DEALER IN SCOTTSDALE AZ. I LIVE IN A HILLY AREA IN PRESCOTT AZ AND EVEN COMING OUT OF A STEEP DRIVEWAY AT LOW SPEEDS, SUDDEN BRAKE APPLICATION CANNOT LOCK THE BRAKES OR CAUSE ABS TO OCCUR ON DRY PAVEMENT. PERSONAL OBSERVATION IS THE VEHICLE STOPS QUICKER ON WET PAVEMENT BECAUSE ABS HAPPENS. I HAVE USED THE INTERNET AND NEWSGROUPS AND THE IMPRESSION IS THE BRAKES ON THE OLDER DISCOVERY SERIES OF LANDROVERS, 1995-6-7 IS NOT GOOD. I WOULD SUSPECT THAT THE DAMAGE FROM A REAR END COLLISION WHERE I RAN INTO SOMEONE WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS, WAS PROBABLY MADE WORSE (1997). EMERGENCY BRAKING HAPPEND, BUT AS I HAVE DESCRIBED, BRAKING IS MARGINAL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10028658

Incident

Sep 2, 1997

CONSUMER HAS SAFETY CONCERN INVOLVING THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ON A 1996 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY I. *MR ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT IS OFF, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS HARD MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHT IS ON, THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO STOP HOWEVER THERE ARE NO ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED. *TT *JB

NHTSA ID

10024539

ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. PROBLEM STILL EXITS. LEFT REAR TIRE SPEED SENSOR FAILED CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH ABS SYSTEM, CAUSING TIRE TO BLOW OUT. RESULTING IN LEFT REAR WHEEL/RIM TO BE COMPLETELY SHATTERED INTO PIECES. ALSO BRAKES AND CALIPERS TOTALLY DAMAGED. BRAKES ARE NOT SAFE OR RELIABLE. REAR,FIFTH DOOR HAS HINGE AND SECURE LOCKING PROBLEMS. MAJOR RUSTING ON VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10000897

Incident

Dec 30, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING 65-70 MPH. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASION AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

NHTSA ID

8019430

Incident

Jun 15, 2000

BRAKES FALIED COMPREHENSIVELY WITH NO WARNING LIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID

763838

Incident

May 25, 2002

THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR FAILED CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS SYSTEM. *YH

NHTSA ID

566267

UNDER NORMAL BRAKING ABS IS ACTIVATED. DEALER REPLACED RIGHT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR. AT THIS TIME VEHICLE IS AT DEALERSHIP, SAME PART IS BEING REPLACED.*AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8011620

Incident

Nov 1, 2000