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2003 Land Rover Discovery

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

39 reports with mileage · 9 unknown

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. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Power Train complaints

10 reports
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165,000 miles · Jul 14, 2018
Power TrainService Brakes

ON MY WAY HOME FROM PICKING UP MY GRANDCHILD THERE WAS SOME VIBRATING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE AUTOMOBILE. THAN A LOUD EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY RUBBER BURNING SMELL AND LOST OF CONTROL OF CAR. MANAGED TO PULL OVER CAR WOULD NOT ROLLING HAD TO ENGAGE PARKING BRAKE. HAD CAR TOWED HOME. DRIVE SHAFT SEPERATED AND DESTROYED TRANSMIS…

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ON MY WAY HOME FROM PICKING UP MY GRANDCHILD THERE WAS SOME VIBRATING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE AUTOMOBILE. THAN A LOUD EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY RUBBER BURNING SMELL AND LOST OF CONTROL OF CAR. MANAGED TO PULL OVER CAR WOULD NOT ROLLING HAD TO ENGAGE PARKING BRAKE. HAD CAR TOWED HOME. DRIVE SHAFT SEPERATED AND DESTROYED TRANSMISSION PAN. BROKE PIECES OFF OF TANSMISSION. CHANGE ROTORS AND BRAKE AND CAR STILL WILL NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT SLIDING A BIT. ABS LIGHTS COME ON EVERY TIME THIS HAPPENS. BOTH INCIDENTS HAPPEN WHILE IM DRIVING STREETS OR HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11111344

66,450 miles · Feb 4, 2014
EnginePower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

PURCHASED LAND ROVER DISCOVERY LESS THEN A MONTH AGO, SINCE THEN THE DASH BOARD LOOKS LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE WITH THE NUMBER OF WARNING LIGHTS THAT ARE ON. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE ABS MODULATOR WAS OUT AND IT WOULD $3500.00 JUST FOR THE PART, EVEN THOUGH I RESEARCHED IT AND FOUND A REPAIR KIT FOR UNDER A $100. HOWEVER, T…

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PURCHASED LAND ROVER DISCOVERY LESS THEN A MONTH AGO, SINCE THEN THE DASH BOARD LOOKS LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE WITH THE NUMBER OF WARNING LIGHTS THAT ARE ON. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE ABS MODULATOR WAS OUT AND IT WOULD $3500.00 JUST FOR THE PART, EVEN THOUGH I RESEARCHED IT AND FOUND A REPAIR KIT FOR UNDER A $100. HOWEVER, THE MOST RECENT WARNING LIGHT IS THE OIL LIGHT AND THE CAR OVER HEATS IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, AND KNOCKS AND BINGS. AFTER READING THE SEVERAL POST ON THIS WEB SIGHT, I TOO AM NOW PART OF A LONG LIST OF CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE MAJOR ISSUES WITH LAND ROVER. WHAT A MISTAKE IT WAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562976

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2014
Power Train

2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE VIBRATION ISSUES AND RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE APPROACHED THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, HE HEARD A VERY LOUD BANGING NOISE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CALLED HIS LOCAL DEALER, TO EXPLAIN ABOUT THE RECALL NOTICE HE RECEIVED, BUT THE DEALER INFO…

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2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE VIBRATION ISSUES AND RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED AS HE APPROACHED THE TRAFFIC LIGHT, HE HEARD A VERY LOUD BANGING NOISE FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER CALLED HIS LOCAL DEALER, TO EXPLAIN ABOUT THE RECALL NOTICE HE RECEIVED, BUT THE DEALER INFORMED HIM, SINCE THE VEHICLE HAD A 105,000 MILES AND HE WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 08V635000.

NHTSA ODI #10558846

132,337 miles · Apr 23, 2012
Power Train

OWN A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WAS DRIVING WHEN VECHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND DRIVE ROUGH - IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT, A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VECHICLE. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STOPPED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THEY FOUND THAT THE FRONT DRIVE SHA…

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OWN A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WAS DRIVING WHEN VECHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND DRIVE ROUGH - IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT, A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VECHICLE. THE CAR IMMEDIATELY STOPPED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND WOULD NOT MOVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THEY FOUND THAT THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT "DOUBLE SPICER HAD BROKE AT THE TRANSFER CASE MOUNTING POINT AND WOULD NEED A NEW DRIVE SHAFT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A CASE WAS FILED WITH LAND ROVER - HOWEVER, I AM ALSO DOCUMENTING THIS AS A SAFTEY CONCERN SO THAT OTHERS COULD BE AWARE OF THIS DANGER BEHAVIOR OF THE VEHICLE STOPPING IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT WARNING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY FATAL IF VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVEN DURING A HIGH TRAFFIC PERIOD. THIS INCIDENT WAS ALSO VERY FRIGHTING FOR MYSELF AND THE KIDS THAT WERE IN THE CAR WITH ME AND I AM PRAYING THAT LAND ROVER TAKE THIS SAFETY ISSUE VERY SERIOUS AND ISSUE A RECALL FOR ALL OF THEIR LAND ROVER MODELS (NOT JUST THE RANGE ROVER) BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY HURT FROM THIS ABNORMAL FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10456179

89,000 miles · Oct 17, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING A PARKING SPACE WHEN NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND INFORMED HIM THAT THE DRIVE-SHAFT WAS BROKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO S…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT WAS EXITING A PARKING SPACE WHEN NOISE WAS HEARD FROM UNDER THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE FAILURE AND INFORMED HIM THAT THE DRIVE-SHAFT WAS BROKEN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.

NHTSA ODI #10430439

67,000 miles · Oct 17, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT FRACTURED. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS INDEED FRACTURED. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT FRACTURED. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS INDEED FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

NHTSA ODI #10430437

73,000 miles · Feb 26, 2010
Power Train

I HAVE FAITHFULLY FOLLOWED THE PASSPORT TO SERVICE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS AND THE VEHICLE WAS LAST SERVICED ON 1/17/10. UPON DELIVERY, THE CAR WAS MAKING A WHISTLING SOUND, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS A BELT THAT NEEDED LUBRICATION. . ON 02/25/10, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ROUGH FOR ABOUT 7 MILES WHEN THE DRIVE SHAFT BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10314476

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2009
Power Train

FRONT DRIVESHAFT BROKE AND CAUSE VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE. ALL FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE TRANSFER BOX. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253681

47,000 miles · Mar 3, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSuspension

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MISALIGNED WHILE MAKING TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADJUSTED THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THE DRAG LINK WAS REPLACED, BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DURING ANOTHER VISIT, THE DE…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS MISALIGNED WHILE MAKING TURNS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADJUSTED THE STEERING WHEEL, BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER AGAIN AND THE DRAG LINK WAS REPLACED, BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. DURING ANOTHER VISIT, THE DEALER NOTICED THE BRACKET ON THE FRAME WHERE THE FRONT TRACK BAR BOLTS WAS FRACTURED. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEALER DETERMINED THE FRACTURE WAS CAUSED BY A COLD WELD OR WAS NOT WELDED PROPERLY WHEN MANUFACTURED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BY THE SERVICE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS EVENTUALLY TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT FRAME SHOP FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A FRAME ALIGNMENT MACHINE; THE BRACKET WAS BENT BACK INTO PLACE AND WELDED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS POSSIBLY MANUFACTURED WITH THIS DEFECTIVE FRAME WELD AND IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN WELDED MECHANICALLY. THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS MISALIGNED WHICH CAUSED THE TAIL PIPE TO RATTLE. THE WAS A FLUID LEAK COMING FROM THE TRANSFER BOX DUE TO A FAILED INPUT SHAFT SEAL. UPDATED 04/06/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10151738

11,000 miles · Nov 5, 2003
Electrical SystemPower TrainCrash

I PARKED MY LANDROVER DISCOVERY IN THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, PULLED THE KEY OUT AND WALKED TOWARD THE STORE. AFTER A CRASHING NOISE I TURNED AROUND TO SEE MY CAR HAD ROLLED BACK INTO A VAN. MY TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN "DRIVE" AND I HAD BEEN ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNIGTION. I CALLED MY LANDROVER DEALER. AFT…

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I PARKED MY LANDROVER DISCOVERY IN THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, PULLED THE KEY OUT AND WALKED TOWARD THE STORE. AFTER A CRASHING NOISE I TURNED AROUND TO SEE MY CAR HAD ROLLED BACK INTO A VAN. MY TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN "DRIVE" AND I HAD BEEN ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNIGTION. I CALLED MY LANDROVER DEALER. AFTER EXPLAINING WHAT HAPPENED I ASKED WHY THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED IN THE "DRIVE" POSITION, HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW AND WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT. HE THEN DIRECTED ME TO THE COLLISION CENTER FOR REPAIRS. THE NEXT DAY I FOUND OUT FROM A FRIEND WITH A DISCOVERY THAT HIS KEY CAN NOT BE REMOVED IN "DRIVE". WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN HE TOLD ME THE KEY SHOULDN'T HAVE COME OUT. WHEN I QUESTIONED HIM AS TO WHY HE DIDN'T EXPLAIN THAT TO ME THE DAY BEFORE, HE TOLD ME I HAD MISUNDERSTOOD. HE WAS VERY EVASIVE WHEN I ASKED HIM WHY HE HAD NOT TOLD ME TO BRING MY CAR IN TO BE CHECKED. BASICALLY HE BLEW ME OFF. FROM THERE I INVESTIGATED ON MY OWN BY CALLING THE NTSB ON SEPTEMBER 25TH. AFTER TALKING TO A SAFETY STANDARD ENGINEER I WAS DIRECTED TO A COMPLIENCE ENGINEER. I LEARNED THAT ACCORDING TO THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD #114 NO CAR SHOULD BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION UNLESS THE TRANSMISSION IS IN "PARK". I ALSO CALLED LANDROVER NORTH AMERICA. THEY HELPED EXPEDITE THE SITUATION. THE SERVICE MANAGER HERE FOUND THAT IT HAD BEEN LEFT IN THE "TRANSIT MODE" FROM DELIVERY OVERSEAS. HE SAID THE CARS ARE SUPPOSE TO BE CHECKED AT PORT AND AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD FAILED TO DO THE ROUTINE CHECK AND CHANGE THE COMPUTER OVER. IT TOOK THEM 4 WEEKS TO REPAIR MY CAR. LANDROVER OFFERRED TO INCURE THE $2500 COST. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD SITUATION IF MY CAR WOULD HAVE ROLLED BACK AND HIT A PERSON. I AM DISSAPOINTED IN THE LOCAL DEALER AND HOW THEY HANDLED THE SITUATION. I MADE A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO THE DEALERSHIP. AND THE NTSB HAS SHOWN MORE INTEREST THAN MY LOCAL DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10045545

Official recalls

1

03V133000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables

Apr 14, 2003

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE THROTTLE CAN STICK INTERMITTENTLY DURING ITS OPERATION. THE EXACT POINT OF STICKING IS NOT PREDICTABLE AND CAN RESULT IN A HIGHER ENGINE SPEED THAN EXPECTED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE CASE WHERE A THROTTLE FAILS TO RETURN TO IDLE, PARTICULARLY AFTER A HIGH DEGREE OF ENGINE THROTTLE APPLICATION, THE DRIVER WILL EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY IN BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO REST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-201-818-8500.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.