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1996 Land Rover Discovery

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
65Owner complaints

Model-year median: 17

2Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
15
199449
199565
199635
199733
199817
1999
Compare all Discovery years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
15Structure
10Electrical System
9Latches/locks/linkages
9Vehicle Speed Control
9
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
6Visibility
6Engine And Engine Cooling
5Unknown Or Other
5Suspension
4Fuel/propulsion System
3Power Train
3Service Brakes
3Steering
3Equipment
2Seat Belts
2Wheels
2Air Bags
1Engine
1Fuel System, Other
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Air
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 11 of 65 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports4 injury reports

Structure complaints

10 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2014
Structure

SIDE STEP BROKE OFF, SUBSTANTIATED BY SIMILAR NHTSA COMPLAINT # = 603676. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652122

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2014
Latches/locks/linkagesStructure

COMPONENT(S): LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES ON ALL DOORS: RIGHT FRONT DOOR LATCH REQUIRES SLAMMED SHUT AND WON'T OPEN WITHOUT KEY TRAPPING PASSENGER INSIDE OR FAILS TO LATCH FULLY WHEN CLOSING CAUSING THE DOOR TO "BOUNCE" BACK OFF THE DOOR SEALS.---REAR DOOR LOCK REQUIRES KEY----DRIVER DOOR KEY BROKE OFF INSIDE. DESPITE MY VEHICLE BEI…

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COMPONENT(S): LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES ON ALL DOORS: RIGHT FRONT DOOR LATCH REQUIRES SLAMMED SHUT AND WON'T OPEN WITHOUT KEY TRAPPING PASSENGER INSIDE OR FAILS TO LATCH FULLY WHEN CLOSING CAUSING THE DOOR TO "BOUNCE" BACK OFF THE DOOR SEALS.---REAR DOOR LOCK REQUIRES KEY----DRIVER DOOR KEY BROKE OFF INSIDE. DESPITE MY VEHICLE BEING A 1996 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY WITH ONLY ONE PREVIOUS OWNER, DEALER CLAIMS MY VIN# IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL FOR DOOR LATCH REPAIRS SUBSTANTIATED BY PREVIOUS COMPLAINTS SUBMITTED FOR MY YEAR/MAKE/MODEL, SO PLEASE RE-OPEN INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE ALL 1996 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY VIN#S: SIMILAR NHTSA COMPLAINT #S= 605132, 823508, 983887, 508953, PE96060, 603247, 602621, 603962. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10652115

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2003
Latches/locks/linkagesService Brakes, AirStructure

ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. PROBLEM STILL EXITS. LEFT REAR TIRE SPEED SENSOR FAILED CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH ABS SYSTEM, CAUSING TIRE TO BLOW OUT. RESULTING IN LEFT REAR WHEEL/RIM TO BE COMPLETELY SHATTERED INTO PIECES. ALSO BRAKES AND CALIPERS TOTALLY DAMAGED. BRAKES ARE NOT SAF…

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ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE IN TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. PROBLEM STILL EXITS. LEFT REAR TIRE SPEED SENSOR FAILED CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH ABS SYSTEM, CAUSING TIRE TO BLOW OUT. RESULTING IN LEFT REAR WHEEL/RIM TO BE COMPLETELY SHATTERED INTO PIECES. ALSO BRAKES AND CALIPERS TOTALLY DAMAGED. BRAKES ARE NOT SAFE OR RELIABLE. REAR,FIFTH DOOR HAS HINGE AND SECURE LOCKING PROBLEMS. MAJOR RUSTING ON VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10000897

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

FAILURE WITH THIS VEHICAL HAS BEEN WITH; BRAKES, STEERING, ENGINE, MIRROR, FUEL INJECTION, DOOR WINDOW NOT WORKING, DOOR LOCKS FAIL, LINKAGE CONTROL FOR SPEED

NHTSA ODI #748367

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2000
Structure

CONSUMER CAME ACROSS RECALL 96V247 AND ISN'T SURE THAT THE VEHICLE EVER RECEIVED RECALL REPAIR, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE PREVIOUS OWNER WHO DID NOT RECEIVE THE RECALL NOTICE. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #554459

Mileage unknown · Sep 22, 1997
Structure

FRONT DOOR LOCK KNOB STUCK.

NHTSA ODI #605142

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 1997
EquipmentStructureSuspension

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI #603676

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 1997
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesSeat Belts

IGNITION FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #602621

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 1996
Structure

SOMETIMES THE POWER DOOR WOULDN'T LOCK AND UNLOCK, TOOK TO DEALER ON THREE OCCASSIONS . PLEASE DESCRIBE .

NHTSA ODI #802701

Mileage unknown · May 1, 1996
Structure

FAILURE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WHEN DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR COMES OPEN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #983887

Official recalls

2

98V040000 · Air Bags:frontal; Vehicle Speed Control

Feb 24, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING CAN CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSIBLE LINK WHICH WILL PROTECT THE ROTARY COUPLER FROM OVERHEATING.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. 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.

Consequence: DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING CAN CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSIBLE LINK WHICH WILL PROTECT THE ROTARY COUPLER FROM OVERHEATING.

Air Bags:frontal

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. 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.

Consequence: DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING CAN CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSIBLE LINK WHICH WILL PROTECT THE ROTARY COUPLER FROM OVERHEATING.

96V247000 · Structure:body:door:hinge And Attachments

Dec 12, 1996

THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR CAN FAIL TO LATCH FULLY WHEN CLOSING, CAUSING THE DOOR TO "BOUNCE" BACK OFF THE DOOR SEALS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE DOOR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT OR PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL CORRECTIVE HARDWARE ON THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR. DELAERS WILL ALSO CHECK THE DOOR LATCHES FOR THE OTHER DOORS AT THE SAME TIME.

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

1

PE96060 · Door Open While Driving

Opened Oct 21, 1996 · Closed Dec 16, 1996

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

IT IS ALLEDGED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR OPENS WHILE DRIVING