2016 Land Rover DISCOVERY SPORT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
52 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
55,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 52 complaints (26.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 11 | 21.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 15.4% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 11.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 5.8% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.9% |
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 | 14 |
| Power Train | 13 |
| Service Brakes | 7 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 2 |
Engine: 14; Power Train: 13; Service Brakes: 7; Steering: 6; Structure:Body: 6; Unknown Or Other: 6; Electrical System: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 32 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 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 5 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 7 |
2016: 2; 2017: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 5; 2021: 8; 2022: 10; 2023: 5; 2024: 8; 2025: 3; 2026: 7
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 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 10914990 · 2016-10-09 (October 9, 2016)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, SUDDENLY THE 'CRITICAL WARNING MESSAGE' AND 'BRAKE' LIGHTS CAME ON. THE CAR LOST POWER QUICKLY, WITH THE MOMENTUM THE CAR RAN FEW HUNDRED FEET TO STOP. THEN, THE WORD 'GEARBOX FAULT' AND 'BATTERY CHARGE' APPEAR. THE ENGINE STILL RUN, BUT I WAS COMPLETELY STUCK, COULD NOT ROTATE THE GEAR. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN ON AND OFF THE ENGINE AND ROTATE THE GEAR SOME TIME THE 'CRITICAL WARNING MESSAGE' AND 'BRAKE' LIGHTS CAME ON AND SOMETIME THE WORD 'GEARBOX FAULT' AND 'BATTERY CHARGE' CAME ON, BUT STILL COULD NOT ROTATE THE GE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10914990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10955278 · 2017-02-17 (February 17, 2017)
PULLED INTO PARKING SPOT. PUT CAR IN REVERSE. PRESSED GAS. CAR JUMPED FORWARD AT A FAST SPEED. ROLLED OVER CURB AND THROUGH FENCE. HIT BRAKE. STOPPED AN INCH BEFORE GOING DOWN A 5 FOOT DROP.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,394 miles reported. Look up ODI 10955278 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11189726 · 2019-03-18 (March 18, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2016 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SPORT. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN TRAFFIC AND THE TRANSMISSION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITH A BEEPING NOISE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED, IT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO JAGUAR LAND ROVER WEST CHESTER (1568 WEST CHESTER PIKE, WEST CHESTER, PA, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEI…
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11189726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10899538 · 2016-08-30 (August 30, 2016)
TWICE NOW, I HAVE COME OUT OF THE AUTO START/STOP MODE AFTER BEING IDLE. THE ENGINE SEEMS TO LAG ON ENGAGING AND BOTH TIMES MY STEERING HAS BEEN LOST. BOTH TIMES, MY SPEED WAS NOT MORE THAN 5 MPH AND IT TOOK A FEW SECONDS FOR THE CAR'S STEERING TO RETURN. ONCE I WAS TURNING AT A LIGHT AFTER BEING STOPPED AND ONCE IT WAS AT A DRIVE THRU. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER ONCE AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM, BUT IT WILL BE ON IT'S WAY AGAIN.
Owner-reported narrative. 10,763 miles reported. Look up ODI 10899538 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11518418 · 2023-04-22 (April 22, 2023)
The shift gear is broken. It is stuck in drive, I cannot park, reverse, or put the vehicle in neutral. Because the gear shift is stuck in drive I had to crash the vehicle into a curb, as not to hurt myself or others. Once resting against the curb I had to quickly get out and disconnect the battery, otherwise my car would have continued driving. The gear shift remains broken and in drive. Research shows that this is a common and persistent issue with Land Rovers; one that isn’t disclosed during purchase. This was a considerable safety hazard …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11518418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11490298 · 2022-10-21 (October 21, 2022)
I experienced three incidents attributable to a malfunction of the turbocharger integrated exhaust manifold. The first two occasions the vehicle suddenly and inexplicably lost power slowing to approximately 5 mph. Acceleration only made the engine rev up but did not increase power. No prior indications from the function of engine nor any warning indicators activated at the time the first two incidents occurred. I had only owned the vehicle for two to three months when the first incident occurred. Being my first experience with a vehicle e…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11490298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11663222 · 2025-05-27 (May 27, 2025)
The contact owns a 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport. The contact stated that while his wife was driving approximately 40 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated his wife had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the high-pressure fuel pump was failing and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed by the mechanic that there was a recall related to the failure, NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V490000 (Fuel System, Gasoline), and referred the contact to a dealer. The co…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,432 miles reported. Look up ODI 11663222 at NHTSA ↗