IllustrationOIL LEAK ON ENGINE, OIL PAN LEAK, WATER PUMP LEAK, NO POWER ON ENGINE IT LOST THE POWER FROM OVER HEATING, MECHANIC WANTS TO REPLACE ENGINE I WAS QUOTED 3700 DOLLARS. HOW CAN I KNOW IF THIS ENGINE WAS A DEFECT. *TR
2002 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: 13 of 17 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
6 reportsOF ALL THE PERSONAL VEHICLES I'VE EVER OWNED, I'VE NEVER HAD ONE THAT CAUSES ME TO DRIVE LIKE I WAS ON "PINS & NEEDLES". I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN OUT OF THE BLUE THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS LET GO, WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. AFTER INVESTIGATING WITH DEALER INQUIRIE…
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OF ALL THE PERSONAL VEHICLES I'VE EVER OWNED, I'VE NEVER HAD ONE THAT CAUSES ME TO DRIVE LIKE I WAS ON "PINS & NEEDLES". I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN OUT OF THE BLUE THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS LET GO, WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. AFTER INVESTIGATING WITH DEALER INQUIRIES AND INDEPENDENT SHOPS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH LAND ROVER V8 ALUMINUM ENGINES.THE DEALERSHIP(S) I SPOKE WITH ACTUALLY AGREED WITH MY CONCERNS BUT SAID "TALKING TO LAND ROVER IS LIKE TALKING TO A DOG, THEY HEAR YOU BUT WON'T DO A THING ABOUT IT". I COULD UNDERSTAND IF THIS VEHICLE WAS HIGH MILEAGE OR WAS REALLY ABUSED. SOMEONE NEEDS TO ADDRESS THESE PEOPLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING AND SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE WARRANTY COMPANY. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING AND SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE WARRANTY COMPANY. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 147,081. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *TR
FIRE ORIGINATED RIGHT REAR SECION ENGINE AROUND HEATER HOSES-ONE HEARTER HOSE LEAKED OR RUPTURED ALLOWING ENGINE COOLANT TO DRIP DOWN ONTO HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD IGNITING THE COOLANT CAUSE FIRE
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME WHERE IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *PH
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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.