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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

What owners actually said

48 reports
65,010 miles · Mar 10, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

OIL PUMP FAILURE. LAND ROVER ISSUED A TECHNICAL ADVISORY TO ALL OF THEIR DEALERS IN MARCH 2003 WARNING THAT DUE TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IN THE ENGINE BLOCK DOWELS BEING MISDRILLED WHERE OIL PUMP HOUSING IS MOUNTED, THAT THE MISALIGNMENT CAUSES THE OIL PUMP HOUSING TO BE STRESSED EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE OIL PUMP TO FAIL. THE ONL…

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OIL PUMP FAILURE. LAND ROVER ISSUED A TECHNICAL ADVISORY TO ALL OF THEIR DEALERS IN MARCH 2003 WARNING THAT DUE TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IN THE ENGINE BLOCK DOWELS BEING MISDRILLED WHERE OIL PUMP HOUSING IS MOUNTED, THAT THE MISALIGNMENT CAUSES THE OIL PUMP HOUSING TO BE STRESSED EVENTUALLY CAUSING THE OIL PUMP TO FAIL. THE ONLY EFFECTIVE REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN 2006 WHICH HAD COME OFF LEASE. I HAD IT SERVICED AT LAND ROVER DEALER IN SOUTHAMPTON NY AND THEY NEVER ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND THAT MY VEHICLE FELL WITHIN THE VIN RANGE REFERRED TO IN THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY. OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THERE ARE OVER 30,000 VEHICLES CURRENTLY ON THE ROAD WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL AND WHY DOES LR NOT REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ENGINES? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10451043

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

83,000 miles · Oct 3, 2011
Electrical SystemCrash

WAS MOVING VERY SLOWLY - IN A PARKING GARAGE. BEGAN PULLING INTO A SPACE AND APPLIED BRAKES. ENGINE REVVED (THROTTLE OPENED?) AND ACCELERATED BY ITSELF A FEW FEET IN TO A WALL. GIVEN THAT IT WAS ONLY A FEW FEET AND A LARGE CEMENT WALL, NO MAJOR DAMAGE. MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE, THE BRAKES WERE SQUEALING AND THERE WERE…

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WAS MOVING VERY SLOWLY - IN A PARKING GARAGE. BEGAN PULLING INTO A SPACE AND APPLIED BRAKES. ENGINE REVVED (THROTTLE OPENED?) AND ACCELERATED BY ITSELF A FEW FEET IN TO A WALL. GIVEN THAT IT WAS ONLY A FEW FEET AND A LARGE CEMENT WALL, NO MAJOR DAMAGE. MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE, THE BRAKES WERE SQUEALING AND THERE WERE WITNESSES AND PROBABLY VIDEO GIVEN THAT IT IS A PARKING GARAGE. BURNING BRAKE SMELL ALSO VERY APPARENT. I WORK IN INSURANCE AND KNOW OF THIS SORT OF CLAIM. I DID NOT MOVE MY FOOT, OPENED THE DOOR AND LOOKED, FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE. FLOOR MAT WAS NOT A FACTOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10428271

72,000 miles · Nov 18, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONDUCTED AN OIL CHANGE NOV 2010 ENGINE FAILED NOV 2010 ENGINE STILL HAS FULL OIL 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY ENGINE FAILURE. DUE TO OIL PUMP FAILURE. THIS A KNOWN MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT LAND ROVER WILL NOT REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10366783

Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2010
Tires

WHILE DRIVING AT LEGAL HIGHWAY SPEED ON INTERSTATE 95 IN CONNECTICUT THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE SUDDENLY BLEW CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE, FORTUNATELY WITHOUT IMPACT OR DAMAGES. THE ENTIRE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE HAD SEPARATED OR DELAMINATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10360969

102,000 miles · Apr 19, 2010
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

I HAVE 2003 LAND ROVER, DISCOVERY CAR THAT REQUIRES CONSTANT REPLACEMENT OF THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND ITS RADIO/CD PLAYER. THIS IS MY FIFTH REPLACEMENT SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR. IN ADDITION TO THIS, THE ENGINE OIL CONSTANTLY LEAKS...TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR NUMEROUS TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAY…

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I HAVE 2003 LAND ROVER, DISCOVERY CAR THAT REQUIRES CONSTANT REPLACEMENT OF THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM AND ITS RADIO/CD PLAYER. THIS IS MY FIFTH REPLACEMENT SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE CAR. IN ADDITION TO THIS, THE ENGINE OIL CONSTANTLY LEAKS...TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIR NUMEROUS TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON....TOOK IT IN A FEW TIMES AND THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR CENTER SAID IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL SENSOR PROBLEM. THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS WOULD COME ON AND GO AWAY ON ITS OWN. SINCE MARCH 2010, THE BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS DECIDED TO STAY LIT. WILL TAKE IT IN FOR VEHICLE INSPECTION AT THE DEALERSHIP. JUST YESTERDAY, ALL MY PASSENGER WINDOWS CAN NOT BE MOVED UP OR DOWN WITH THE WINDOW CONTROLLER. A SIMILAR PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURE NUMEROUS TIMES ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER WINDOWS. THEY WERE REPLACED EACH TIME IT WAS TAKEN IN. THIS IS A LEMON CAR AND I SHOULD HAVE HAD IT REPORTED BACK IN 2003 WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10326500

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

78,000 miles · Dec 30, 2009
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY PURCHASED IN 2007. WHILE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED UP TO 65 MPH. HE HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO DECELERATE. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND . THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER , AND THE TECH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY PURCHASED IN 2007. WHILE MERGING ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED UP TO 65 MPH. HE HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN ORDER TO DECELERATE. HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND . THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER , AND THE TECHNICIAN THEN STATED THAT THE FAILURE OF THE SPEED CONTROL CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE UNINTENTIONALLY. HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL CAMPAIGN ID 03V133000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES). THE MASTER CYLINDER AND TRANSMISSION WERE REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE GREATER THAN $3,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000. THE CURRENT WAS 87,391.

NHTSA ODI #10297588

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

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.