1997 Land Rover Discovery

BRAKES FREQUENTLY FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE AT SPEEDS UNDER 20MPH. DEALER STATED IT WAS A BAD ABS SENSOR ON RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. IT WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $500.00 BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED. I SEE FROM INTERNET POSTINGS IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN '97 DISCOVERIES. THE REAL HAZARD IS THAT IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW MUCH FORCE IS APPLIED TO TE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP. I SEE FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS POSTED ON THIS SITE THAT A SUGGESTION IS TO DISCONNECT THEABS SYSTEM. IS THIS ACCEPTABLE TO THE NHTSA? HOW ABOUT A SAFTEY RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. INCLUDING ME.*AK

IT HAS BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP THESE SENSORS IN WORKING CONDITION FOR MORE THAN A MONTH. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET NEWSGROUPS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ACROSS ALL 97 DISCOVERY. THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED ADVICE IS TO DISCONNECT THE ABS BECAUSE IT WILL NEVER WORK. IN MY OPINION, IF WE HAVE REACHED THE POINT WHERE THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED ADVICE IS TO DISCONNECT THIS IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE, THE MANUFACTURER HAS A PROBLEM.

AT LOW RATES OF SPEED, IN DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE BRAKES FAIL TO WORK PROPERLY. ON MANY OCCASIONS, SOON AFTER STARTING TO DRIVE IN A FORWARD GEAR, NOT YET IN REVERSE (USUALLY ON A WARM MOTOR, AFTER A SHORT TIME NOT RUNNING) THE BRAKES FAIL TO ENGAGE FULLY AND THE VEHICLE FAILS TO STOP. THE DRIVER CAN LITERALLY STAND ON THE PEDAL, AND THE VEHICLE SLOWS ONLY SLIGHTLY. IT HAS ALWAYS OCCURRED AFTER BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE.*AK

WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP ABS SYSTEM WOULD LOCK UP WHEELS. BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO TO FLOOR AND FEEL MUSHY. THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 20 OR MORE TIMES FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. MECHANIC INDICATED EITHER HAND CABLE/ BRAKE CABLE, "T"BOX OR BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO SOME TYPE OF ENLARGEMENT DURING HEAT. PROBLEM WOULD ALWAYS RETURN. *AK

THE CAR BROKE DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY BUCKING AND HESITATING WHILE TRAVELING APPROX. 35MPH. AFTER PULLING INTO BREAKDOWN LANE CAR WAS TOWED TO LANDROVER OF HANOVER (MA). THEY REPORTED THAT THE TRANSFER BOX "SPLIT IN HALF" CAUSING ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE QUOTE RECEIVED AT THAT TIME WAS $14,000. NOT TRUSTING THAT DEALER, THE CAR WAS TOWED TO LAND ROVER METROWEST (MA). THEY REPLACED THE TRANSFER BOX AND REPORTED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE OK. 2 WEEKS LATER THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. METROWEST THEN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION. THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION FOR THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSFER BOX AND TRANSMISSION. THE COST WAS UPWARDS OF $5,000 WITH A USED TRANSMISSION AND TRANSFER BOX. THE VEHICLES WARRANTY RAN UP IN AUGUST OF 2000. 5 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE DAMAGE. I REQUESTED A GOODWILL ADJUSTMENT FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS DECLINED. IN ADDITION, ON 6/5/00 THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO LAND ROVER HANOVER FOR A RECALL ITEM O2 SENSOR. AT THAT TIME IT WAS FOUND THAT A TRANSFER BOX MOUNT STUD WAS RUSTED (WHILE UNDER WARRANTY). THE DEALER NEVER NOTIFIED ME WHEN THE PART CAME IN AND ONLY MENTIONED IN PASSING THAT THE PART WAS RUSTED AT ALL. IT IS MY FEELING THAT THE ABOVE MENTIONED REPAIRS AND PARTS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY BY THE MANUFACTURER. FURTHERMORE, ON MARCH 9, 2001 THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A UTILITY POLE AT 25-35 MPH. NEITHER THE DRIVER'S NOR PASSANGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. IF IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE SEATBELT, THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.