Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
17
Latest Sep 27, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
5
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported
Overview
Our database contains 17 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Land Rover Discovery, most frequently naming the engine, powertrain (other) and visibility categories. 5 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
Monthly complaints peaked at 1 in Dec 2002. Most recent month: 1.View as table
Monthly owner complaints for the 2002 Land Rover Discovery
Month
Complaints filed
Cumulative
Dec 2002
1
1
Nov 2003
1
2
Jan 2004
1
3
May 2004
1
4
Aug 2004
1
5
Aug 2006
1
6
Oct 2006
1
7
Dec 2008
1
8
Feb 2009
1
9
Mar 2010
1
10
Jul 2011
1
11
Nov 2011
1
12
Jan 2012
1
13
Dec 2012
1
14
Jun 2016
1
15
Apr 2017
1
16
Sep 2017
1
17
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Engine630.0%
Powertrain (other)420.0%
Visibility210.0%
Driver assistance210.0%
Electrical15.0%
Brakes15.0%
Body & structure15.0%
Steering15.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
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
NHTSA ID
11030242
Incident
Jun 4, 2012
Mileage
132,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 11, 2017
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.
NHTSA ID
10971834
Incident
Apr 2, 2017
Mileage
180,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 28, 2016
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.
NHTSA ID
10881207
Incident
Jan 8, 2014
Mileage
70,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Dec 4, 2012
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
NHTSA ID
10487284
Incident
Nov 27, 2012
Mileage
25,600 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 8, 2012
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
NHTSA ID
10442835
Incident
Jan 18, 2011
Mileage
160,700 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 16, 2011
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
NHTSA ID
10436133
Incident
Jul 15, 2011
Mileage
85,101 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 27, 2011
Fire reported
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.
NHTSA ID
10415382
Incident
Jul 1, 2011
Mileage
147,081 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 3, 2010
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
NHTSA ID
10316330
Incident
Mar 1, 2010
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
SFCC_08MAR18_16
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The 'Service Required' warning text will not appear on the Instrument Cluster (IC) if a vehicle has reached its service point.
SFCC-14SEP17
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Presentation from Dealer Shop Foreman Conference Call
INFORMATION REGARDING STEERING BOX REPLACEMENT. *YH
760601
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT DOOR WEATHER SEAL WIND NOISE. *YH
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.