VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
2003 Land Rover Discovery
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 48 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Land Rover Discovery, most frequently naming the engine, powertrain (other) and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 4 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
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| May 2002 | 1 | 1 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 2 |
| Sep 2003 | 1 | 3 |
| Nov 2003 | 2 | 5 |
| Nov 2004 | 1 | 6 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 7 |
| Nov 2005 | 1 | 8 |
| Mar 2006 | 2 | 10 |
| Sep 2006 | 1 | 11 |
| Apr 2007 | 1 | 12 |
| May 2007 | 1 | 13 |
| Jan 2008 | 1 | 14 |
| Feb 2008 | 2 | 16 |
| Mar 2008 | 1 | 17 |
| Jun 2008 | 1 | 18 |
| Jan 2009 | 1 | 19 |
| Dec 2009 | 1 | 20 |
| Feb 2010 | 1 | 21 |
| Apr 2010 | 1 | 22 |
| Oct 2010 | 1 | 23 |
| Nov 2010 | 1 | 24 |
| Oct 2011 | 3 | 27 |
| Mar 2012 | 1 | 28 |
| Apr 2012 | 2 | 30 |
| Jun 2012 | 1 | 31 |
| Dec 2012 | 2 | 33 |
| Sep 2013 | 1 | 34 |
| Jan 2014 | 1 | 35 |
| Feb 2014 | 1 | 36 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 37 |
| Sep 2014 | 1 | 38 |
| Mar 2015 | 1 | 39 |
| May 2015 | 1 | 40 |
| Sep 2015 | 1 | 41 |
| Mar 2016 | 1 | 42 |
| Nov 2016 | 1 | 43 |
| Mar 2018 | 1 | 44 |
| Jul 2018 | 1 | 45 |
| Aug 2018 | 1 | 46 |
| Jan 2020 | 1 | 47 |
| Aug 2020 | 1 | 48 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Engine1928.8%
- Powertrain (other)913.6%
- Brakes913.6%
- Driver assistance812.1%
- Electrical69.1%
- Suspension34.5%
- Tires & wheels23.0%
- Airbags23.0%
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
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govRecent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER N/A. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE BOUGHT FOUR TIRES THAT TURNED OUT TO BE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. THE TIRES WERE FEDERAL TIRES, TIRE SIZE 255/45/R20, AND NO DOT GIVEN. THE TIRES WERE PROVIDING SUCH A ROUGH AND BOUNCY RIDE THAT TWO SHOCK ABSORBERS WERE BUSTED IN THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE TIRES AND TOOK THEM TO AN UNKNOWN TIRE DEALER. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO REBALANCE THE TIRES THEN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT TWO OF THE FOUR TIRES WERE OUT OF ROUND. THE DEALER SAID THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO SPEAK TO THE TIRE MANUFACTURER TO GET THE TIRES REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT RETURNED A CALL TO THE CONTACT IN OVER EIGHT MONTHS. THE CONTACT NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS 109,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF *AS
- NHTSA ID
- 11351310
- Incident
- Dec 2, 2019
- Mileage
- 109,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE BOSCHE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE COOLANT TO BOIL IN THE MAIN CYLINDER HEAD AND MIX WITH THE OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS QUOTED A COST OF $7,000 FOR THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (LAND ROVER NORTH ATLANTA 1505 MANSELL RD, ALPHARETTA, GA 30009, (770) 587-2000) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000. *JS
- NHTSA ID
- 11302986
- Incident
- Jan 16, 2020
- Mileage
- 144,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING 45 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, LEFT THE ROAD, AND CRASHED INTO A CULVERT AND A HIGHWAY SIGN. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE SPINE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- NHTSA ID
- 11121302
- Incident
- Aug 21, 2018
ON MY WAY HOME FROM PICKING UP MY GRANDCHILD THERE WAS SOME VIBRATING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE AUTOMOBILE. THAN A LOUD EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY RUBBER BURNING SMELL AND LOST OF CONTROL OF CAR. MANAGED TO PULL OVER CAR WOULD NOT ROLLING HAD TO ENGAGE PARKING BRAKE. HAD CAR TOWED HOME. DRIVE SHAFT SEPERATED AND DESTROYED TRANSMISSION PAN. BROKE PIECES OFF OF TANSMISSION. CHANGE ROTORS AND BRAKE AND CAR STILL WILL NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT SLIDING A BIT. ABS LIGHTS COME ON EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS. BOTH INCIDENTS HAPPEN WHILE IM DRIVING STREETS OR HIGHWAY.
- NHTSA ID
- 11111344
- Incident
- Jul 13, 2018
- Mileage
- 165,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, IT CRASHED INTO A CURB, DROVE OVER THE SIDEWALK, AND INTO THE STREET. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (LAND ROVER PARAMUS, 405 NJ-17, PARAMUS, NJ), BUT NO FAILURE CODES WERE LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE THUMB, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11078346
- Incident
- Mar 2, 2018
- Mileage
- 72,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE SUBFRAME BY THE REAR AXLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE USED TO TOW ANOTHER VEHICLE OR TRAILER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10926406
- Incident
- Nov 14, 2016
- Mileage
- 65,000 mi
2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II OIL PUMP FAILURE: WE BOUGHT OURS PREVIOUSLY-OWNED FROM A LAND ROVER DEALER. NOTHING WAS MENTIONED ABOUT THE DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS 4.6 L ENGINE OR THE ATTACHED MARCH 14, 2003 TECHNICAL ALERT. IN SPITE OF REGULAR SERVICE, THE ENGINE FAILED BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT AND WE REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A USED ENGINE. NOW, IT MAY ALSO BE FAILING DUE TO INTERNAL OIL STARVATION. THERE ARE MANY POSTS ONLINE ABOUT THESE ENGINE FAILURES. LAND ROVER SENT OUT THEIR ALERT, BUT DID NOT OFFER THE ONLY REMEDY TO THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT - REPLACE THE ENGINE ($10-12K). LIKE MANY OTHERS, WE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND BEEN WITHOUT THE CAR WHILE OURS WAS IN THE SHOP BECAUSE OF A KNOWN DEFECT THAT THE LAND ROVER DEALER CHOSE NOT TO SHARE WITH US WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR. ATTEMPTS BY OTHERS TO SEEK HELP FROM LAND ROVER OF AMERICA OR THROUGH LEGAL ACTIONS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. SINCE THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAS MOST LIKELY EXPIRED ON THIS MATTER, THERE IS PROBABLY NO WAY TO EVER RECOVER THE FINANCIAL LOSSES. IT SEEMED LIKE A NICE CAR, BUT LAND ROVER REALLY DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE. DON'T BY A 2003-4 DISCOVERY UNLESS THE VIN HAS BEEN CHECKED TO BE SURE THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PRODUCTION SERIES INCLUDED IN THE LAND ROVER TECHNICAL ALERT -TA03 1201.
- NHTSA ID
- 10852355
- Incident
- Jul 1, 2012
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, AN ABNORMAL SOUND EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE AS IT STARTED TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,850.
- NHTSA ID
- 10778039
- Incident
- Sep 21, 2015
- Mileage
- 135,850 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The 'Service Required' warning text will not appear on the Instrument Cluster (IC) if a vehicle has reached its service point.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Presentation from Dealer Shop Foreman Conference Call
EQUIPMENT
Technical Bulletin: Squeaks & Rattles Kit Availability
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
SUBJECT REGARDING NEW STATE ULEV EMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS. *TT
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 7 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 7 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 9 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 54.7 |
| 2020 | 18 | 6 | 0 | 58.9 |
| 2019 | 38 | 4 | 0 | 60.5 |
| 2018 | 36 | 4 | 0 | 53.3 |
| 2017 | 54 | 3 | 0 | 45.6 |
| 2016 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2006 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 29 | 0 | 1 | 50.8 |
| 2003Viewing | 48 | 1 | 0 | 45.3 |
| 2002 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 43.2 |
| 2001 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 51.4 |
| 2000 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 49.2 |
| 1999 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 56.1 |
| 1998 | 33 | 2 | 0 | 57.2 |
| 1997 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 56.8 |
| 1996 | 65 | 3 | 1 | 55.1 |
| 1995 | 49 | 4 | 0 | 56.5 |
| 1994 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 53.4 |
| 1993 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.