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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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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

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

What owners actually said

48 reports
100,000 miles · Sep 9, 2014
Electrical SystemEngineSeatsFire

THE FIRST ISSUE IS ABOUT A SEAT FIRE. MY HUSBAND WAS JUST PULLING INTO OUR DRIVE WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT CAUSING HIM TO HAVE A BURN. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE OIL PUMP. I HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND ASKED OUR MECHANIC WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. H…

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THE FIRST ISSUE IS ABOUT A SEAT FIRE. MY HUSBAND WAS JUST PULLING INTO OUR DRIVE WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT CAUSING HIM TO HAVE A BURN. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE OIL PUMP. I HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND ASKED OUR MECHANIC WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. HE SAID THE THE OIL PUMP WAS BAD AND WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE OIL PUMP AND IF THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THAT TOO. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL ALERT DATED MARCH 14, 2003, JUST THREE MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED MY CAR. A CLASS ACTION SUIT WAS STARTED IN MAY 2003 BUT I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE SUIT. I CALLED LAND ROVER OF AMERICA AND WAS TOLD I WAS THE ONLY LAND ROVER OWNER TO HAVE A FIRE IN THE SEAT, WHICH I FOUND WAS UNTRUE THEN I CALLED THEM BACK WHEN THE OIL PUMP WENT AND SAID THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTYAND WAS TOO OLD FOR LAND ROVER TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 100,000 MILES ON IT. WE LIVED IN JUNEAU AT THE TIME AND THERE ARE FEW ROADS. WE WERE THERE UNTIL 2007 WHEN WE MOVED TO MONTANA. I AM TIRED OF EXCUSES FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I PAID ALMOST $40,000DOLLARS FOR THE CAR THAT SHOULD LAST ME A LONG TIME. IT WAS TO BE MY RETIREMENT CAR. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE EXPERIANCED TO NO AVAIL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10631948

96,700 miles · Apr 29, 2014
Engine

LOW OIL PRESSURE RED LIGHT WHEN LOWERING THE SPEED TO STOP. IN 2003, LAND ROVER ISSUED AN TECH ALERT #TA03 1201 FOR THE OIL PUMP FAILURES DUE TO THEIR MANUFACTURING ERROR WITH VIN# 3A[XXX] ? 3A[XXX]. BELOW IS THE ORIGINAL TEXT FROM THEIR ALERT. WHY THEY HAVEN'T MADE THE RECALL YET? IT'S SO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH ENGINE …

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LOW OIL PRESSURE RED LIGHT WHEN LOWERING THE SPEED TO STOP. IN 2003, LAND ROVER ISSUED AN TECH ALERT #TA03 1201 FOR THE OIL PUMP FAILURES DUE TO THEIR MANUFACTURING ERROR WITH VIN# 3A[XXX] ? 3A[XXX]. BELOW IS THE ORIGINAL TEXT FROM THEIR ALERT. WHY THEY HAVEN'T MADE THE RECALL YET? IT'S SO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH ENGINE CAN DIE OR BURN ANYTIME, AND THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE ACCORDING TO THEIR TECH ALERT. SEE BELOW: 2003 DISCOVERY SERIES II OIL PUMP FAILURES VEHICLES AFFECTED DISCOVERY SERIES II (LT) 3A[XXX] ? 3A[XXX] SITUATION OIL PUMP FAILURES ON 2003 DISCOVERY SERIES II VEHICLES MAY BE THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING ERROR. LOCATING DOWEL PINS MAY BE SLIGHTLY MISALIGNED PERMITTING ASSEMBLY OF THE OIL PUMP TO THE ENGINE BLOCK, BUT PLACING STRESS ON THE PUMP HOUSING WHICH CAN ULTIMATELY LEAD TO LEAKAGE OR FAILURE. RESOLUTION WHENEVER AN OIL PUMP FAILURE IS ENCOUNTERED ON VEHICLES WITHIN THE ABOVE VIN RANGE THE ONLY EFFECTIVE REPAIR CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IS REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE ENGINE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE FRONT COVER/OIL PUMP MANUFACTURED TO THE LATEST TOLERANCES. USE THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS TO AFFECT A REPAIR: ? LBB112301 4.6 ENGINE ASSEMBLY LEV ? LBB111461 4.6 ENGINE ASSEMBLY NON-LEV. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

NHTSA ODI #10585482

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

97,165 miles · Sep 21, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

TECHNICAL SERVICE REPORT FROM INDEPENDENT BRITISH LAND ROVER SPECIALISTS, BETHESDA MD: CUSTOMER STATES ENGINE MAKES A TAPPING NOISE, MOSTLY AT IDLE. DIAGNOSIS - VERIFIED NOISE. OIL LIGHT ON DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE, VEHICLE IN VIN RANGE FOR OIL PUMP FAILURE DUE TO MISALIGNED FRONT COVER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. OIL PUMP DAMAG…

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TECHNICAL SERVICE REPORT FROM INDEPENDENT BRITISH LAND ROVER SPECIALISTS, BETHESDA MD: CUSTOMER STATES ENGINE MAKES A TAPPING NOISE, MOSTLY AT IDLE. DIAGNOSIS - VERIFIED NOISE. OIL LIGHT ON DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE, VEHICLE IN VIN RANGE FOR OIL PUMP FAILURE DUE TO MISALIGNED FRONT COVER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. OIL PUMP DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED, AND NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. CORRECT REPAIR IS ENGINE REPLACEMENT, AS DAMAGE TO BEARINGS CAN OCCUR. FAILURE ALSO CAUSED BY BLOCK ALIGNMENT POSITIONING. AT THIS POINT, NO NOTICEABLE ENGINE DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED, AND TO AVOID ENGINE REPLACEMENT CAN REPLACE OIL PUMP ASSEMBLY. OIL PUMP REPLACEMENT WOULD ONLY BE TEMPORARY X, AS PROBLEM WILL MOST LIKELY ARISE YEARS DOWN THE LINE. WILL NEED TO CHECK FRONT COVER FOR DAMAGE DURING REPAIR. ADDITIONALLY, LARGE OIL LEAK FROM INTAKE END SEALS DETECTED. RECOMMEND REPLACE OIL PUMP, ALIGN FRONT COVER, REPLACE INTAKE GASKET WHILE NOTING THERE MAY BE CHANCES OF ENGINE FAILURE, BEARING DAMAGE & DAMAGE TO FRONT COVER DETECTED DURING SERVICE. NOTES: TO AVOID ENGINE FAILURE, REPLACED OIL PUMP AT A COST OF $2,600 DUE TO MISALIGNED FRONT COVER FROM THE LAND ROVER MANUFACTURER. WILL LIKELY NEED TO REPLACE ENGINE IN THE FUTURE AT AN EXPECTED COST OF $10,000 DUE TO BLOCK ALIGNMENT POSITIONING MANUFACTURING ERRORS FROM LAND ROVER. CUSTOMER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS IN THEIR ENTIRETY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE CAUSED BY ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING DEFECTS, AS LAND ROVER HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. PLEASE ASSIST - THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF VERY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS POSTED ON MULTIPLE LAND ROVER FORUMS ONLINE.

NHTSA ODI #10544783

134,000 miles · Dec 18, 2012
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE SLIGHT OIL LEAKS FOUND. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ADVISED TO CONTINUE TO …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE SLIGHT OIL LEAKS FOUND. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ADVISED TO CONTINUE TO CHECK THE OIL LEVELS AND TO ADD OIL IN THE VEHICLE UNTIL REACHING HIS DESTINATION. THE CONTACT WAS LATER DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD BANGING NOISE. THE CONTACT MOVED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE HE OBSERVED A FOREIGN OBJECT DISCHARGE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE AND CAUSE THE GRASS TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO EXTREMELY LOW OIL PRESSURE AND A BLOWN PISTON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 134,000.

NHTSA ODI #10489103

118,000 miles · Dec 17, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS LOW AND THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RESERVOIR WAS LEAKING AND THE COOLANT HOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS LOW AND THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RESERVOIR WAS LEAKING AND THE COOLANT HOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

NHTSA ODI #10489024

124,000 miles · Jun 23, 2012
Engine

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND THEN MY OIL AND ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED MY OIL PUMP WASN'T ANY GOOD AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATING I DISCOVERED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL ALERT SENT OUT TO…

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND THEN MY OIL AND ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED MY OIL PUMP WASN'T ANY GOOD AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATING I DISCOVERED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL ALERT SENT OUT TO DEALERSHIPS REGARDING 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II OIL PUMP FAILURES. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS WHEN I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE YEARS AGO. LAND ROVER IS LIABLE FOR THIS AND I WOULD LIKE THEM TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE VEHICLES UPON DISCOVERING THE ISSUE. NOT ALL CUSTOMERS HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNICAL ALERTS AND IF I DIDN'T RESEARCH THIS MATTER I WOULD HAVE NOT HAD A CLUE THIS MATTER EXISTED. PLEASE HELP ME. I HAVE A 6 MONTH OLD SON AND NEED RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10462863

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

85,000 miles · Apr 9, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXTREMELY LOUD KNOCKING NOISE INSIDE THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454611

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.