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2003 Land Rover Discovery Ii

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Land Rover Discovery Ii do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 35.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

55 reports with mileage · 8 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

63 reports
90,000 miles · Oct 22, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II "SLABS CONTROL UNIT" OTHERWISE KNOWN BY THE OWNER & MECHANICS AS THE "3 AMIGOS (ABS,HDC,TC)...... I AM SURE YOU HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE INTERNET HAS SEVERAL UNHAPPY OWNERS COMPLAINING. THIS UNIT CONTROLSTHE 4-WHEEL ANTI-LOCK BRAKING, HILL DESCENT AND 4 WHEEL TRACTION CONTROL…

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2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II "SLABS CONTROL UNIT" OTHERWISE KNOWN BY THE OWNER & MECHANICS AS THE "3 AMIGOS (ABS,HDC,TC)...... I AM SURE YOU HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE INTERNET HAS SEVERAL UNHAPPY OWNERS COMPLAINING. THIS UNIT CONTROLSTHE 4-WHEEL ANTI-LOCK BRAKING, HILL DESCENT AND 4 WHEEL TRACTION CONTROL ALONG WITH SELF LEVELING SUSPENSION. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE DEALER WANTS TO INSTALL A NEW UNIT AT A COST OF OVER $1500 TO 2500 DEPENDING ON LABOR COST. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU ARE ALREADY CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION IN THE ABOVE, ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10361698

62,000 miles · Oct 20, 2010
Service Brakes, HydraulicTraction Control SystemCrash

1. APPLIED THE BRAKES. 2. EVERY TIME I APPLY BRAKES AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN STARTED 3. DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING WHICH CAN BE DONE... APPARENTLY ALL SUCH MODELS HAVE THIS ISSUE, WHICH GENERATES THE QUESTION AS TO WHY LAND ROVER HAS NOT BEEN MADE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, MUCH LIKE WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE HAD SUCH AN IS…

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1. APPLIED THE BRAKES. 2. EVERY TIME I APPLY BRAKES AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN STARTED 3. DEALER CLAIMS THERE IS NOTHING WHICH CAN BE DONE... APPARENTLY ALL SUCH MODELS HAVE THIS ISSUE, WHICH GENERATES THE QUESTION AS TO WHY LAND ROVER HAS NOT BEEN MADE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, MUCH LIKE WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN DONE HAD SUCH AN ISSUE BEEN INCURRED WITH A CHEVROLET, FORD OR TOYOTA? THIS ISSUE HAS ALREADY BEEN RECORDED AS SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA ITEM NO. 10016118? THIS DEMONSTRATES THERE ARE RECOGNIZED PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS MODULATOR AND SYSTEM, RESULTING IN THE ABS/ EMERGENCY BRAKE / HILL DESCENT AND TRACTION CONTROL LAMPS ILLUMINATING ON THE DASH, WHICH MAY CAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM TO INCUR FAILURE WHEN NEEDED? THE NUMBER OF VEHICLE OWNERS INCURRING THIS PROBLEM INDICATES THERE IS A SERIOUS INHERENT DEFECT WITHIN THIS VEHICLE, WHICH I AND MANY OTHERS CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY SUCH HAVE NOT BEEN RECALLED... THERE HAS APPARENTLY BEEN ANOTHER RECALL FOR AN ABS COMPONENT IN THIS VEHICLE (NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NO. 04V005000) AND THIS PRELIMINARY RECALL SHOULD ALSO BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE THIS ISSUE WITH THE ABS SYSTEM? THIS ISSUE IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND WIDESPREAD AMONG THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND THE NHTSA SHOULD FINALLY REQUIRE LAND ROVER TO CORRECT SUCH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10361405

86,000 miles · Aug 21, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkagesPower Train

I HAVE EXPERIENCED WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE SAME OIL PUMP SYMPTOMS OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF. DESPITE READING "FULL", MY TRUCK SEEMS TO HAVE DIFFICULTY ADEQUATELY LUBRICATING. SO, SOME DAYS IT'S SOUNDED LIKE A TANK!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10350872

51,100 miles · Jul 27, 2010
Child Seat

I JUST BOUGHT A LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 2 SERIES HSE WITH 50,000 PLUS MILES 2 WEEKS AGO AND JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THE OIL PUMP PROBLEM. MY DISCOVERY IS WITHIN THE AFFECTED VIN# AND ALREADY HAS THE OIL LIGHT ON. SO WHAT'S THE UPDATE ON THIS MATTER?? ANY RECALL FROM LAND ROVER???? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10345619

60,000 miles · Jul 13, 2010
Service Brakes, ElectricTraction Control System

2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II -ABS STOPS WORKING, IMPAIRED BRAKING, TRACTION CONTROL STOPS WORKING, BAD ABS MODULATOR CONNECTION. HAPPENS SPONTANEOUSLY. REPLACED ABS MODULATOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342877

61,000 miles · Apr 2, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

I PURCHASED A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SERIES II HSE WITH 44K MILES. IN FEBRUARY 2008, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO LAND ROVER DEALER TO HAVE A FULL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. THE INSPECTION REPORT NOTED THAT VEHICLE WAS IN GREAT CONDITION WITH NO ISSUES NEEDING TO BE ADDRESSED. BUT ALONG WITH THE EVALUATION PAPER WORK PROVIDE…

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I PURCHASED A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SERIES II HSE WITH 44K MILES. IN FEBRUARY 2008, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO LAND ROVER DEALER TO HAVE A FULL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. THE INSPECTION REPORT NOTED THAT VEHICLE WAS IN GREAT CONDITION WITH NO ISSUES NEEDING TO BE ADDRESSED. BUT ALONG WITH THE EVALUATION PAPER WORK PROVIDED BY THE LAND ROVER DEALER WAS A LAND ROVER TECHNICAL ALERT. THE TECHNICAL ALERT STATED THE FOLLOWING;' DISCOVERY SERIES II (LT) 3A771801 ' 3A808362 SITUATION OIL PUMP FAILURES ON 2003 DISCOVERY SERIES II VEHICLES MAY BE THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING ERROR. LOCATING DOWEL PINS MAY BE SLIGHTLY MISALIGNED PERMITTING ASSEMBLY OF THE OIL PUMP TO THE ENGINE BLOCK, BUT PLACING STRESS ON THE PUMP HOUSING WHICH CAN ULTIMATELY LEAD TO LEAKAGE OR FAILURE. RESOLUTION WHENEVER AN OIL PUMP FAILURE IS ENCOUNTERED ON VEHICLES WITHIN THE ABOVE VIN RANGE THE ONLY EFFECTIVE REPAIR CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IS REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE ENGINE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE FRONT COVER/OIL PUMP MANUFACTURED TO THE LATEST TOLERANCES. MY LAND ROVER VIN NUMBER FALLS WITHIN THE IDENTIFIED VIN NUMBER RANGE OF AFFECTED VEHICLES. JUMP AHEAD TO 2010. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON 26 MARCH 2010, THE OIL LIGHT CAME AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE RUMBLING SOUNDS. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. FEARING THE WORST, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AT A COST OF $545 TO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE OIL PUMP HAD FAILED. I SPOKE TO THE LAND ROVER DEALER AND TO LAND ROVER OF NORTH AMERICA. NEITHER WOULD COVER THE REPAIR IN SPITE OF THE TECHNICAL ALERT PUBLISHED AND PROVIDED BY THEM ON THIS CONDITION. THE ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IS $10,000. I BELIEVE THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OWNERSHIP AND REASONABLE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH A USED VEHICLE. BUT, THE ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE IS NOT REASONABLE. LAND ROVER MADE A MANUFACTURING 'ERROR', PUBLISHED IT AND THEN LEFT THE 'ERROR' TO THE CONSEQUENCE AND EXPENSE OF MYSELF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10323539

99,000 miles · Dec 13, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY OIL PUMP FAILURE. LAND ROVER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DOES NOT WANT TO DO A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10295488

38,000 miles · Aug 20, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicTraction Control System

THE DEFECT IS ALREADY RECORDED AS SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA ITEM NO. 10016118. IN SHORT, THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SHUTTLE VALVES IN THE ABS SYSTEM, WHICH RESULT IN THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL/HILL DESCENT WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATION IN THE DASH, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY MAY PREVENT THE ABS FROM ACTIVATING AS NEEDED. DUE TO THE OVERWHEL…

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THE DEFECT IS ALREADY RECORDED AS SERVICE BULLETIN NHTSA ITEM NO. 10016118. IN SHORT, THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SHUTTLE VALVES IN THE ABS SYSTEM, WHICH RESULT IN THE ABS/TRACTION CONTROL/HILL DESCENT WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATION IN THE DASH, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY MAY PREVENT THE ABS FROM ACTIVATING AS NEEDED. DUE TO THE OVERWHELMING NUMBER OF OWNERS EXPERIENCING THIS SAME SPECIFIC ISSUE, A RECALL IS VERY APPROPRIATE. THERE ARE INHERENT PROBLEMS WITH THE ABS IN THESE CARS, AS IS PRELIMINARY EVIDENT IN THE FACT THAT THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A RECALL FOR ANOTHER COMPONENT IN THE ABS (NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NO. 04V005000). THIS ISSUE IS VERY WIDESPREAD AMONG OWNER'S OF THIS AUTOMOBILE. THE SAFETY SYSTEM OF THE AUTOMOBILE IS COMPROMISED AND THE NHTSA SHOULD REQUIRE LAND ROVER TO FINALLY ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10281181

30,000 miles · May 18, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

MY 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SUFFERS FROM A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WHICH CAUSES THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL TO FAIL. HUNDREDS OF DISCOVERIES SUFFER FROM THIS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH NO FIX OR RECALL FROM LAND ROVER. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN COINED "THREE AMIGOS" AND CAN BE EASILY FOUND BY SEARCHING ONLINE. I AM DEPENDENT ON MY ABS A…

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MY 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SUFFERS FROM A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WHICH CAUSES THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL TO FAIL. HUNDREDS OF DISCOVERIES SUFFER FROM THIS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH NO FIX OR RECALL FROM LAND ROVER. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN COINED "THREE AMIGOS" AND CAN BE EASILY FOUND BY SEARCHING ONLINE. I AM DEPENDENT ON MY ABS AND CONSTANTLY AND CONSISTENTLY AM PUTTING MY FAMILY AT RISK WITH THIS CONSTANT AND CONSISTENT FAILURE. MY DISCOVERY RECENTLY SLID OFF OF THE ROAD DUE TO LOSS OF ABS DURING A RAIN STORM. I HAD 2 CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10269009

58,000 miles · Apr 29, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. I JUST PAID TO REPLACE THE OIL PUMP ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT LAND ROVER PUBLISHED A TECHNICAL ALERT THAT STATES THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE ISSUE IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. DOWEL PINS ON THE BLOCK ARE MISALIGNED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER ERROR PER THE ALERT. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 58K MILES AND HAS B…

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I HAVE A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. I JUST PAID TO REPLACE THE OIL PUMP ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT LAND ROVER PUBLISHED A TECHNICAL ALERT THAT STATES THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE ISSUE IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. DOWEL PINS ON THE BLOCK ARE MISALIGNED DUE TO A MANUFACTURER ERROR PER THE ALERT. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 58K MILES AND HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. LAND ROVER IS NOT OFFERING TO COVER ANY OF THE REPAIR COSTS EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A MANUFACTURER ERROR FROM THE START. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10267277

Official recalls

2

04V005000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Jan 6, 2004

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS," AND NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) MODULATOR VALVE COVER RETAINING BOLTS CAN CRACK DUE TO STRESSES TRANSMITTED BY THE FLEXING VALVE COVERS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CAN PRODUCE AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR TOTAL LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKING FUNCTION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL STRENGTHEN THE ABS MODULATOR ASSEMBLY VALVE COVERS AND REPLACE THE RETAINING BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXEPCTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.

04V006000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Jan 6, 2004

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACTIVE CORNERING ENHANCEMENT (ACE) PUMP BANJO BOLT LOOSES TORQUE AND ALLOWS FLUID TO LEAK PAST THE JOINT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE FLUID FROM THE PUMP JOINT CAN IGNITE, RESULTING IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR LEAKAGE. IF NO LEAKAGE IS EVIDENT, THE BANJO BOLT WILL BE RE-TIGHTENED. IF LEAKAGE IS EVIDENT, THE BANJO BOLT AND DOWTY WASHERS WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.