2003 Land Rover DISCOVERY II problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
63 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
58,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 55 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 63 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 17 | 27.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 7.9% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 6.3% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 4.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 14 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 13 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Traction Control System | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 14; Engine And Engine Cooling: 13; Engine: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Traction Control System: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 23 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 23; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 2
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 8 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
2002: 1; 2003: 5; 2004: 4; 2005: 1; 2006: 8; 2007: 10; 2008: 12; 2009: 6; 2010: 7; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 2
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10010308 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
GAS AND BRAKE PEDALS ARE SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER THAT YOU CAN BOTH STEP ON THEM AT THE SAME TIME OR SLIPS FROM BRAKE TO GAS THAT CAUSES A SUDDEN FORWARD SURGE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010308 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089999 · 2004-08-30 (August 30, 2004)
AFTER DEALERSHIP PERFORMED ABS VALVE COVER BOLT RECALL 04V005000 REPAIRS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014227 · 2003-04-10 (April 10, 2003)
STORED FAULT FOR OUTPUT SHAFT SPEED TRANSDUCER SENSOR FOR TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WON'T MOVE FASTER THAN 2 OR 3 MILES PER HOUR. WON'T SHIFT GEARS. DANGEROUS WHEN MERGING WITH TRAFFIC OR MAKING A LEFT TURN IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 1,981 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014227 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014348 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)
SECOND OCCURRENCE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER ONLY THREE DAYS OF DRIVING. LAND ROVER WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS ON 3 APRIL 2003 AND RETURNED TO ME ON 7 APRIL 2003. ON 10 APRIL 2003, AND 100 MILES LATER, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS A BUSY, MAIN THOROUGHFARE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED LEAVING ME STOPPED ACROSS THE ENTIRE MIDDLE OF THE LANE OF FAST APPROACHING ON-COMING TRAFFIC. MY LAND ROVER WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 10 APRIL 2003 AND REMAINS THERE TODAY 14 APRIL 2003 WHILE THE CAUSE IS RESEARCHED. VERY DANGEROUS "BROADSIDE" …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,981 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014348 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018413 · 2003-05-08 (May 8, 2003)
ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON 4/10/03 WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY ON A SLICK SLEET COVERED ROAD WHERE THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT OVER MY CHEST LOOSENED AND ALLOWED ME TO FLY FORWARD AND CRUNCH THE CENTER OF MY CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR COMPANY ( NOT THE DEALER) HAS BEEN RUDE, NON-RESPONSIVE, AND EVASIVE. THEY HAVE EVEN REFUSED TO CALL ME BACK, REFUSED TO TELL ME (TODAY IS ONE MONTH SINCE THE ACCIDENT) IF THEY TESTED MY AIR BAG, HAVE NEVER ASKED OR EVER ALLOWED ME TO SHARE DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT, AND HAVE NEVER ALL…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018413 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156131 · 2006-04-26 (April 26, 2006)
LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE BRAKING HARD DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE POWER SEAT CONTROLS. DRIVERS HIP PUSHES THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE IN TO THE DRIVERS SEAT CONTROL SWITCH. WHEN BRAKING HARD, THE SWITCH IS PUSHED FORWARD, BY THE HIP. THIS CAUSES THE SEAT TO PUSH THE DRIVER INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE EVENT HAPPENED LATE AT NIGHT WITH NO TRAFFIC, SO THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. TRUCK WAS NOT STOPPED IN THE DESIRED LOCATION. WE HAVE REMOVED THE FUSE TO THE SEAT MOTORS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. TRUCK SHOULD HAVE AN INTERLOCK THAT PREVENTS THE SEAT FROM …
Owner-reported narrative. 50,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10156131 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10181740 · 2007-02-06 (February 6, 2007)
AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE LOUD CLANGING NOISE. AS I BEGAN TO PULL OVER, THE CAR STALLED. I CALLED LAND ROVER CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS INFORMED THAT ALTHOUGH I WAS STILL UNDER THE MILEAGE,THAT MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED 5 DAYS EARLIER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO LOCAL LAND ROVER DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT LAND ROVER WOULD NOT COVER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER CONCLUDED THAT VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW MOTOR. AN INDEPENDENT LAND ROVER REPAIR FACILITY HAS CONCLUDED THAT ENGINE FAILURE WAS THE RESULT OF O…
Owner-reported narrative. 46,005 miles reported. Look up ODI 10181740 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10182057 · 2007-02-09 (February 9, 2007)
I ACCELERATED TO PASS AND HEARD A MUFFLED POP BUT INITIALLY HAD NO OTHER INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. AFTER DRIVING CAUTIOUSLY FOR ABOUT 1.5 MILES THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AT THIS POINT I PULLED OVER TO CHECK ON THE CAR. NO ANOMALIES WERE FOUND, SEEMED NORMAL. SO I DROVE ON FOR ANOTHER .5 MILES WHEN I BEGAN HEARING RANDOM, BUT DISTINCT CLANKING AND RATTLES. AT THIS POINT I DETOURED TO A KNOWN SAFE SPOT AT NO MORE THAN 10-15 MPH FOR APPROX. 1 MILE BEFORE THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACTING AS IF IT WOULD STALL. I SHUT DOWN AND HAD IT TOWED. D…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,665 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182057 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169979 · 2006-10-05 (October 5, 2006)
HILL DESCENT CONTROL TRACTION CONTROL AND THE ABS LIGHT CONSTANTLY LIGHT UP, I JUST BOUGHT MY CAR,(LESS THAN 2 MONTHS AGO) WHEN APPLIED BRAKES SOMETIMES DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. I WENT TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, I TOOK THE CAR TO A SERVICE DEALER AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY 2500 DOLLARS! I HAD OTHER PROBLEMS AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH MY PURCHASE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT ALL DISCOVERIES HAVE THIS PROBLEM I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169979 at NHTSA ↗