2003 Land Rover Discovery Problems

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

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.

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.

PURCHASED LAND ROVER DISCOVERY LESS THEN A MONTH AGO, SINCE THEN THE DASH BOARD LOOKS LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE WITH THE NUMBER OF WARNING LIGHTS THAT ARE ON. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE ABS MODULATOR WAS OUT AND IT WOULD $3500.00 JUST FOR THE PART, EVEN THOUGH I RESEARCHED IT AND FOUND A REPAIR KIT FOR UNDER A $100. HOWEVER, THE MOST RECENT WARNING LIGHT IS THE OIL LIGHT AND THE CAR OVER HEATS IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, AND KNOCKS AND BINGS. AFTER READING THE SEVERAL POST ON THIS WEB SIGHT, I TOO AM NOW PART OF A LONG LIST OF CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE MAJOR ISSUES WITH LAND ROVER. WHAT A MISTAKE IT WAS. *TR

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.

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.

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.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V133000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

THE FIRST ISSUE IS ABOUT A SEAT FIRE. MY HUSBAND WAS JUST PULLING INTO OUR DRIVE WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT CAUSING HIM TO HAVE A BURN. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE OIL PUMP. I HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND ASKED OUR MECHANIC WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. HE SAID THE THE OIL PUMP WAS BAD AND WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE OIL PUMP AND IF THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THAT TOO. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL ALERT DATED MARCH 14, 2003, JUST THREE MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED MY CAR. A CLASS ACTION SUIT WAS STARTED IN MAY 2003 BUT I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE SUIT. I CALLED LAND ROVER OF AMERICA AND WAS TOLD I WAS THE ONLY LAND ROVER OWNER TO HAVE A FIRE IN THE SEAT, WHICH I FOUND WAS UNTRUE THEN I CALLED THEM BACK WHEN THE OIL PUMP WENT AND SAID THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTYAND WAS TOO OLD FOR LAND ROVER TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 100,000 MILES ON IT. WE LIVED IN JUNEAU AT THE TIME AND THERE ARE FEW ROADS. WE WERE THERE UNTIL 2007 WHEN WE MOVED TO MONTANA. I AM TIRED OF EXCUSES FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I PAID ALMOST $40,000DOLLARS FOR THE CAR THAT SHOULD LAST ME A LONG TIME. IT WAS TO BE MY RETIREMENT CAR. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE EXPERIANCED TO NO AVAIL. *TR

WAS MOVING VERY SLOWLY - IN A PARKING GARAGE. BEGAN PULLING INTO A SPACE AND APPLIED BRAKES. ENGINE REVVED (THROTTLE OPENED?) AND ACCELERATED BY ITSELF A FEW FEET IN TO A WALL. GIVEN THAT IT WAS ONLY A FEW FEET AND A LARGE CEMENT WALL, NO MAJOR DAMAGE. MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE, THE BRAKES WERE SQUEALING AND THERE WERE WITNESSES AND PROBABLY VIDEO GIVEN THAT IT IS A PARKING GARAGE. BURNING BRAKE SMELL ALSO VERY APPARENT. I WORK IN INSURANCE AND KNOW OF THIS SORT OF CLAIM. I DID NOT MOVE MY FOOT, OPENED THE DOOR AND LOOKED, FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE. FLOOR MAT WAS NOT A FACTOR. *TR

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

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.

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

WHILE DRIVING AT LEGAL HIGHWAY SPEED ON INTERSTATE 95 IN CONNECTICUT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE SUDDENLY BLEW CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE, FORTUNATELY WITHOUT IMPACT OR DAMAGES. THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED OR DELAMINATED. *TR

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.

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.

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.

LEAK IN SUNROOF DRAIN ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES, RESULTED IN WATER DAMAGE IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING A BURNT MIRROR LIGHT AND BLOWN SPEAKER IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. *TR

LEAK IN SUNROOF DRAIN ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES, RESULTED IN WATER DAMAGE IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING A BURNT MIRROR LIGHT AND BLOWN SPEAKER IN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. *TR

TECHNICAL SERVICE REPORT FROM INDEPENDENT BRITISH LAND ROVER SPECIALISTS, BETHESDA MD: CUSTOMER STATES ENGINE MAKES A TAPPING NOISE, MOSTLY AT IDLE. DIAGNOSIS - VERIFIED NOISE. OIL LIGHT ON DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE, VEHICLE IN VIN RANGE FOR OIL PUMP FAILURE DUE TO MISALIGNED FRONT COVER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. OIL PUMP DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED, AND NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. CORRECT REPAIR IS ENGINE REPLACEMENT, AS DAMAGE TO BEARINGS CAN OCCUR. FAILURE ALSO CAUSED BY BLOCK ALIGNMENT POSITIONING. AT THIS POINT, NO NOTICEABLE ENGINE DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED, AND TO AVOID ENGINE REPLACEMENT CAN REPLACE OIL PUMP ASSEMBLY. OIL PUMP REPLACEMENT WOULD ONLY BE TEMPORARY X, AS PROBLEM WILL MOST LIKELY ARISE YEARS DOWN THE LINE. WILL NEED TO CHECK FRONT COVER FOR DAMAGE DURING REPAIR. ADDITIONALLY, LARGE OIL LEAK FROM INTAKE END SEALS DETECTED. RECOMMEND REPLACE OIL PUMP, ALIGN FRONT COVER, REPLACE INTAKE GASKET WHILE NOTING THERE MAY BE CHANCES OF ENGINE FAILURE, BEARING DAMAGE & DAMAGE TO FRONT COVER DETECTED DURING SERVICE. NOTES: TO AVOID ENGINE FAILURE, REPLACED OIL PUMP AT A COST OF $2,600 DUE TO MISALIGNED FRONT COVER FROM THE LAND ROVER MANUFACTURER. WILL LIKELY NEED TO REPLACE ENGINE IN THE FUTURE AT AN EXPECTED COST OF $10,000 DUE TO BLOCK ALIGNMENT POSITIONING MANUFACTURING ERRORS FROM LAND ROVER. CUSTOMER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS IN THEIR ENTIRETY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE CAUSED BY ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING DEFECTS, AS LAND ROVER HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. PLEASE ASSIST - THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF VERY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS POSTED ON MULTIPLE LAND ROVER FORUMS ONLINE.

THE FIRST ISSUE IS ABOUT A SEAT FIRE. MY HUSBAND WAS JUST PULLING INTO OUR DRIVE WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT CAUSING HIM TO HAVE A BURN. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE OIL PUMP. I HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND ASKED OUR MECHANIC WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. HE SAID THE THE OIL PUMP WAS BAD AND WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE OIL PUMP AND IF THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THAT TOO. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL ALERT DATED MARCH 14, 2003, JUST THREE MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED MY CAR. A CLASS ACTION SUIT WAS STARTED IN MAY 2003 BUT I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE SUIT. I CALLED LAND ROVER OF AMERICA AND WAS TOLD I WAS THE ONLY LAND ROVER OWNER TO HAVE A FIRE IN THE SEAT, WHICH I FOUND WAS UNTRUE THEN I CALLED THEM BACK WHEN THE OIL PUMP WENT AND SAID THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTYAND WAS TOO OLD FOR LAND ROVER TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 100,000 MILES ON IT. WE LIVED IN JUNEAU AT THE TIME AND THERE ARE FEW ROADS. WE WERE THERE UNTIL 2007 WHEN WE MOVED TO MONTANA. I AM TIRED OF EXCUSES FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I PAID ALMOST $40,000DOLLARS FOR THE CAR THAT SHOULD LAST ME A LONG TIME. IT WAS TO BE MY RETIREMENT CAR. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE EXPERIANCED TO NO AVAIL. *TR

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

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE ANCHORS FOR THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THE REAR SEAT SEAT BELTS ARE MOUNTED TOO FAR FORWARD ON THE REAR WHEEL WELL TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. WE HAVE A BRITEX BABY SEAT. FROM WHAT I UNDESTAND FROM A CERTIFIED SEAT INSTALLER IS THAT ALL BABY SEATS DO NOT MOUNT PROPERLY IN THE LAND ROVER DISCOVERIES. THE SEAT ROTATES TO THE SIDE AND HAS SIGNIFICANT LATERAL MOVEMENT. I FEEL THIS IS UNSAFE.*AK

I PARKED MY LANDROVER DISCOVERY IN THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, PULLED THE KEY OUT AND WALKED TOWARD THE STORE. AFTER A CRASHING NOISE I TURNED AROUND TO SEE MY CAR HAD ROLLED BACK INTO A VAN. MY TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN "DRIVE" AND I HAD BEEN ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNIGTION. I CALLED MY LANDROVER DEALER. AFTER EXPLAINING WHAT HAPPENED I ASKED WHY THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED IN THE "DRIVE" POSITION, HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW AND WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT. HE THEN DIRECTED ME TO THE COLLISION CENTER FOR REPAIRS. THE NEXT DAY I FOUND OUT FROM A FRIEND WITH A DISCOVERY THAT HIS KEY CAN NOT BE REMOVED IN "DRIVE". WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN HE TOLD ME THE KEY SHOULDN'T HAVE COME OUT. WHEN I QUESTIONED HIM AS TO WHY HE DIDN'T EXPLAIN THAT TO ME THE DAY BEFORE, HE TOLD ME I HAD MISUNDERSTOOD. HE WAS VERY EVASIVE WHEN I ASKED HIM WHY HE HAD NOT TOLD ME TO BRING MY CAR IN TO BE CHECKED. BASICALLY HE BLEW ME OFF. FROM THERE I INVESTIGATED ON MY OWN BY CALLING THE NTSB ON SEPTEMBER 25TH. AFTER TALKING TO A SAFETY STANDARD ENGINEER I WAS DIRECTED TO A COMPLIENCE ENGINEER. I LEARNED THAT ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD #114 NO CAR SHOULD BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION UNLESS THE TRANSMISSION IS IN "PARK". I ALSO CALLED LANDROVER NORTH AMERICA. THEY HELPED EXPEDITE THE SITUATION. THE SERVICE MANAGER HERE FOUND THAT IT HAD BEEN LEFT IN THE "TRANSIT MODE" FROM DELIVERY OVERSEAS. HE SAID THE CARS ARE SUPPOSE TO BE CHECKED AT PORT AND AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD FAILED TO DO THE ROUTINE CHECK AND CHANGE THE COMPUTER OVER. IT TOOK THEM 4 WEEKS TO REPAIR MY CAR. LANDROVER OFFERRED TO INCURE THE $2500 COST. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD SITUATION IF MY CAR WOULD HAVE ROLLED BACK AND HIT A PERSON. I AM DISSAPOINTED IN THE LOCAL DEALER AND HOW THEY HANDLED THE SITUATION. I MADE A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE DEALERSHIP. AND THE NTSB HAS SHOWN MORE INTEREST THAN MY LOCAL DEALER. *AK