RoadVitals

1996 Land Rover Discovery Electrical Problems

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

Data refreshed

Electrical 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.
10
Latest Aug 14, 2016
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.
15%
of 65 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.
0
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 the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Land Rover Discovery submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 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 electrical

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

BrakesElectricalFuel system
Filed Aug 14, 2016

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
BrakesElectrical
Filed Nov 3, 2014

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
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Nov 3, 2014

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
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Apr 6, 2006

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
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 10, 2004

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
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 18, 2000

VEHICLE SEVERELY STUMBLED WHILE CRUISING AT 70MPH AND ALMOST FAILED TO RUN. CONTINUED ON FOR MANY MORE MILES. REPEATED STUMBLING. AFTER SEVERAL INCIDENTS THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON.DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED "FOUND MISFIRE FAULT CODES STORED IN ECM MEMORY. PINPOINT TESTS INDICATE TROUBLE WITH STICKING EXHAUST VALVES, CAUSING MISFIRE." I DOUBT THE VEHICLE IS MEETING EMISSION STANDARDS. PERSONEL AT DEALER STATED IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH DISCOVERYS.

NHTSA ID
717489
Incident
Jan 14, 2000
Electrical
Filed Nov 4, 1997

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSING THE SEATS AND SUNROOF TO FAIL.

NHTSA ID
605127
Incident
Sep 1, 1996
Body & structureElectricalSuspension+1 more
Filed Sep 11, 1997

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID
603676
Heating & air conditioningElectricalInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Sep 9, 1997

WHEN IT IS COLD, TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE ITS SLIPPING/RPMS GO UP/SHIFTER BANGS INTO GEAR.

NHTSA ID
603962
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+4 more
Filed Feb 24, 1997

REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID
602621

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .