IllustrationON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, APPLYING THE BRAKES HAS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO RACE, ACCELERATING THE CAR WHILE CAUSING THE BRAKE POWER ASSIST TO FAIL. WITHOUT POWER ASSIST, BRAKING REQUIRES VERY HIGH PEDAL PRESSURE AND MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE CAR. THI
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Discovery years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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
What owners actually said
65 reportsFAILURE WITH THIS VEHICAL HAS BEEN WITH; BRAKES, STEERING, ENGINE, MIRROR, FUEL INJECTION, DOOR WINDOW NOT WORKING, DOOR LOCKS FAIL, LINKAGE CONTROL FOR SPEED
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES ABS KICKS IN AND PEDAL STIFFENS. OWNER HAS TO PUMP BRAKE PEDAL. ONLY HAPPENS AT LOW SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY GOING DOWN HILL. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
FUEL TANK IS CRACKED WHERE THE GAS GOES INTO FUEL TANK, CAUSING FUEL LEAKAGE. *AK
AUTO DIMMING FEATURE HAS DIMINISHED TO A SMALL PART OF THE MIDDLE OF THE MIRROR. NO OTHER DIMMING IS POSSIBLE.*AK
THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES WITH THREE DIFFERENT DRIVERS. ONCE IT WAS MYSELF, ONCE MY HUSBAND, AND WHEN OUR FRIEND WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR AT THE BODY SHOP AFTER REPAIRS FROM PREVIOUS INCIDENT, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER HE PARKED THE CAR. LEFT FOR 5 MIN, AND CAME BACK AND RESTARTED THE CAR. IT "TOOK OFF" AT A RAPID SPEED. WHEN MY …
Read full complaint
THIS HAPPENED THREE TIMES WITH THREE DIFFERENT DRIVERS. ONCE IT WAS MYSELF, ONCE MY HUSBAND, AND WHEN OUR FRIEND WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR AT THE BODY SHOP AFTER REPAIRS FROM PREVIOUS INCIDENT, IT HAPPENED AGAIN AFTER HE PARKED THE CAR. LEFT FOR 5 MIN, AND CAME BACK AND RESTARTED THE CAR. IT "TOOK OFF" AT A RAPID SPEED. WHEN MY HUSBAND HAD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT THE SAME PARKING LOT A MONTH BEFORE, THE GAS PEDAL ENGAGED AND TOOK OFF. THAT TIME HE HIT THE SUPPORT POLES FOR THE SHOPPING CENTER. IT HAPPENED TO ME, ON THE FIRST OCCASSION, AFTER I HAD COME TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP, LESS THAN 3 MILES PER HOUR, COMING INTO MY GARAGE,. THE GAS PEDAL DROPPED AWAY FROM MY FOOT AND ENGAGED BY ITSELF. *AK
NO SUMMARY
1996 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*734306
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
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ENGINE WILL STALL, LEAVING CONSUMER WITHOUT A WARNING OF THE SITUATION. *AK
Official recalls
298V040000 · 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
1PE96060 · 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