Land Rover DISCOVERY II problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
226 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
63,118 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 to 2004 model years. Data snapshot: . 179 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 226 complaints (13.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 82 | 36.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 19 | 8.4% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 5.8% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 1.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.4% |
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 | 30 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 25 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 22 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 13 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 9 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 30; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 25; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 22; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 13; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 12; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Engine: 10; Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft: 9
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 30 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 58 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 46 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 23 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 30; 50,000 to 74,999: 58; 75,000 to 99,999: 46; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 6
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (58). 47 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 12 |
| 2004 | 22 |
| 2005 | 25 |
| 2006 | 23 |
| 2007 | 28 |
| 2008 | 31 |
| 2009 | 13 |
| 2010 | 23 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 8; 2002: 7; 2003: 12; 2004: 22; 2005: 25; 2006: 23; 2007: 28; 2008: 31; 2009: 13; 2010: 23; 2011: 4; 2012: 9; 2013: 6; 2014: 3; 2015: 3; 2016: 6; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 82 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 19 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 13 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 10062228 · 2004-03-15 (March 15, 2004)
PERIODICALLY THE ABS, TRACTION CONTROL & HILL DESCENT LIGHTS COME ON. DEALERSHIP INDICATES DIAGNOSTIC CODES REVEAL THE SHUTTLE VALVE INSIDE THE ABS MODULATOR IS FAULTY AND SHOULD BE REPLACED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 41,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062457 · 2004-03-17 (March 17, 2004)
ON THE EVENING OF MARCH 16TH, MY VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN EPISODE OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THE EVENT OCCURRED LEAVING A SKI AREA (APPROX 9,000 FEET ELEVATION)ON A TWO LANE ROAD WITH AN AVERAGE 6% GRADE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE LATE AFTERNOON WITH TEMPERATURES APPROXIMATELY 50 DEGREES AND WAS PARKED UNTIL 7:30 THAT EVENING WHEN THE AIR TEMPERATURE HAD DROPPED TO ABOUT 34 DEGREES. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AS NORMAL AND PROCEEDED TO LEAVE THE RESORT PARKING LOT. AS I CRESTED THE HILL TO THE MAIN ROAD, THE ENGINE BEGAN ACCELERATING (RPM ABOVE …
Owner-reported narrative. 43,255 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062457 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10315317 · 2010-03-01 (March 1, 2010)
MY 1999 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY MADE A GRINDING NOISE, AND CAME TO A SCREECHING HALT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MPH. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT SHEARED IN HALF. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST IN MY TOWN. WHEN I SPOKE TO BOTH THAT MECHANIC AS WELL AS MY REGULAR MECHANIC TODAY ABOUT THE ISSUE, BOTH OF THEM HAD OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING TO LAND ROVER DISCOVERIES ALL AT AROUND 100,000 MILES. (MY VEHICLE IS AT 99,000) BOTH MECHANICS SAID THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT 100,000 MILES, AND IT CAN BE A SEV…
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10315317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 748300 · 2001-07-11 (July 11, 2001)
THIS VEHICLE HAS CAUSED US A LOT OF INCONVENIENCE. THE RECENT ACCIDENTS (WITHIN TWO WEEKS OF EACH OTHER) HAVE ALSO CAUSED US TO LOSE CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE, LET ALONG THE FINANCIAL LOSSES. WE ARE AFRAID OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM SIMPLY BECAUSE THERE WAS NO INJURY. TWICE THE REAR SUSPENSION FAILED TO WORK, CAUSING THE REAR SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO SINK DANGEROUSLY LOW. I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ONE SUNDAY MORNING BECAUSE TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 748300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 750680 · 2001-08-17 (August 17, 2001)
WHILE CHANGING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED AWAY FROM THE PAVEMENT, ONTO THE RIGHT UNIMPROVED SHOULDER, AND COLLIDED WITH A LARGE TREE. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES AND CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. MOST OF THE VEHICLE AND ALL PERSONAL BELONGINGS WERE LOST IN THE FIRE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 750680 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 ↗
Owner report 10916282 · 2016-10-15 (October 15, 2016)
MY 1999 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 2 DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK ON THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP CLOSE TO THE OUTLET WHERE THE FUEL FLOW MAKES A 90 DEGREE TURN BEFORE EXITING THE FUEL PUMP. I NOTICED THE SMELL OF FUEL (GASOLINE ) AROUND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. BUT I HAD RECENTLY FILLED UP THE TANK AND THOUGHT IT WAS JUST SOME SPILLAGE FROM THE FILL UP. I KEPT SMELLING THE FUMES FOR SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE I FINALLY WATCHED A YOUTUBE VIDEO SHOWING HOW TO REPAIR A FUEL PUMP ON MY VEHICLE , WHEN I CUT THE CARPET TO EXPOSE THE COVER PLATE AND REMOVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10916282 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 6 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
1999: 6; 2000: 9; 2001: 5; 2002: 3; 2003: 2; 2004: 1