IllustrationSEAT WARMER HAS BEEN IN USE FOR TEN MINUTES WHEN CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE AND A SMALL HOLE IN DRIVER'S SEAT. CONSUMER FELT THAT IF VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL CONSUMER COULD HAVE BEEN BURNED. DEALER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
1998 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: 10 of 33 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.
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports4 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
33 reportsNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 18000 MILES. CONSUMER HAD CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALE R SAID THAT BRAKES HAD TO BE INSPECTED EVERY 3000 MILES. BRAKE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO BAD OPERATION OF VEHICLE.*AK
WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY FROM AN INTERIOUR RAMP (NO SHOULDER) WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. WAITED IN LEFT LANE WITH FLASHERS ON AND SEAT BELT FASTENED UNTIL IDOT APPEARED (LAND ROVER ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HAD NOT YET ARRIVED) SINCE DISCOVERY'S CAN NOT BE TOWED, THE IDOT TRUCK HAD TO PUSH MY VEHICLE ACROSS SIX LANES OF TRAFF…
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WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY FROM AN INTERIOUR RAMP (NO SHOULDER) WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. WAITED IN LEFT LANE WITH FLASHERS ON AND SEAT BELT FASTENED UNTIL IDOT APPEARED (LAND ROVER ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HAD NOT YET ARRIVED) SINCE DISCOVERY'S CAN NOT BE TOWED, THE IDOT TRUCK HAD TO PUSH MY VEHICLE ACROSS SIX LANES OF TRAFFIC AND NORTH TWO MILES TO AN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION SITE. THE DEALER REPLACED MY FUEL PUMP. IN THE THREE MONTHS SINCE THEY REPLACED THE ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP, THE CAR HAS FAILED TWO MORE TIMES. EACH TIME THE FUEL PUMP IS CITED. NOW IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THREE WEEKS AS THEY AWAIT AN ADAPTER HARNESS FROM OVERSEAS. I HAVE ZERO FAITH IN THE AUTO. I AM AFRAID THAT MY CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE INJURED WHEN THE CAR FAILS AGAIN. THE DEALER IS BEING DIFFICULT. HE OFFERED US $22, 600 FOR OUR CAR AND SAID WE COULD GET A DIFFERENT '98 WITH 2,000 MORE MILES THAN OUR S FOR $26,995! HE ACTUALLY IS THINKING I AM GOING TO LET HIM MAKE MONEY FROM THIS FRIGHTENING SITUATION. *AK
THE FIRST INCEDENT OCCURED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP AND SENT THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD AND INTO THE DITCH. THE MFG WAS CONTACTED AND I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER. WHILE ENROUTE BACK TO TN TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THE SECOND INCEDENT OCCURED. THE SECOND INCED…
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THE FIRST INCEDENT OCCURED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP AND SENT THE TRUCK OFF THE ROAD AND INTO THE DITCH. THE MFG WAS CONTACTED AND I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER. WHILE ENROUTE BACK TO TN TO TAKE THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER THE SECOND INCEDENT OCCURED. THE SECOND INCEDENT OCCURED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 70 MPH. THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP AND MADE THE TRUCK UNCONTROLABLE IT TOOK BOTH LANES TO BRING THE TRUCK BACK UNDER CONTROL BEFORE IT STOPPED ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. IF I WOULD NOT HAVE HAD AHOLD OF THE STEERING WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE ROLLED OR IF ANY CARS WOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT.
OWNER HAS ZERO CONFIDENCE IN PRODUCT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TOWED 5 TIMES FOR NOT RUNNING, VEHICLE HAS ON;Y 30K MILES 1 1/2 YEARS OLD. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
WHILE ENTERING REAR OF VEHICLE A CHILD WAS BURNED BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE TAIL PIPE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
THE DESIGN LOCATION OF THE ANCHOR POINTS OF THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELTS PROHIBITS THE INSTALLATION OF A CHILD RESTRAINT. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENTS). YH
THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELTS ARE ANCHORED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PRECLUDE THE SAFE INSTALLATION OF MORE THAN ONE CHILD RESTRAINT. AS WE ARE EXPECTING OUR SECOND CHILD IN SIX WEEKS, THIS IS A PARAMOUNT CONCERN. DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THIS WITH LAND ROVER, EITHER THROUGH RETROFITTING THE SEAT BELTS TO ACCOMODATE A CHIL…
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THE REAR OUTBOARD SEAT BELTS ARE ANCHORED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO PRECLUDE THE SAFE INSTALLATION OF MORE THAN ONE CHILD RESTRAINT. AS WE ARE EXPECTING OUR SECOND CHILD IN SIX WEEKS, THIS IS A PARAMOUNT CONCERN. DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS TO RESOLVE THIS WITH LAND ROVER, EITHER THROUGH RETROFITTING THE SEAT BELTS TO ACCOMODATE A CHILD RESTRAINT OR TO RELEASE US FROM OUR LEASE WITHOUT PENALTY SO THAT WE MAY PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE, THEY MAINTAIN THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. A GENTLEMAN TRAINED BY NHTSA INFORMED ME OF THIS PROBLEM AT A SAFETY INSPECTION. LAND ROVER HAS SUGGESTED THAT MY CHOICE OF CHILD RESTRAINT IS NOT BEST SUITED TO THE DISCOVERY. THEY HAVE NOT INDICATED A RESTRAINT WITH BETTER SUITABILITY. FURTHERMORE, UPON RETURN TO THE NHTSA TRAINED FACILITY, I WAS TOLD THAT NO RESTRAINT CAN BE INSTALLED IN THE REAR OUT BOARD POSITION. *AK
THE REAR SHOULDER BELTS ARE NOT PLACED CORRECTLY, SO THAT A CHILD SAFETY SEAT DOES NOT FIT PROPERLY IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE PART WHERE THE SEATBELT IS MOUNTED ON TOP OF THE WHEEL BASE WHICH PLACES THE SEATBELT, IS TOO HIGH TO PUT A CSS. DLR SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM. *AK
Official recalls
198V040000 · 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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.