1998 Land Rover DISCOVERY problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
27 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
77,747 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 10 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 27 complaints (11.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 18.5% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 18.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 7.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 3; Air Bags: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Steering: 2; Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 17 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 | 5 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 2; 2001: 5; 2002: 3; 2003: 5; 2004: 5; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2010: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10125531 · 2005-06-16 (June 16, 2005)
ABS SYSTEM FAILURE, ALMOST CAUSED MY SELF OR CHILDREN TO BE KILLED. 72,000 VEHICLE HAS BEEN IMACULATLY KEPT. TO REPLACEMENT PART IS $2000
Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125531 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157102 · 2006-05-09 (May 9, 2006)
ABS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10157102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10015403 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)
THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *JB THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE DRIVER SIDE DASH. THE CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE, THEN VIEWED LIGHT GRAY SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD BELOW THE STEERING COLUMN. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015403 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10325465 · 2010-04-13 (April 13, 2010)
OUR LAND ROVER DISCOVERY LOST STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL WHILE ON HIGHWAY 99 NB SOUTH OF THE TOULUMNE RD EXIT. WE WERE TRAVELING AT LOW HIGHWAY SPEED (50-60MPH) WHEN WE NOTICED THE VEHICLE TO BEGIN SWERVING LEFT AND RIGHT CAUSING THE BODY TO PITCH DRAMATICALLY WITH NO RESPONSE FROM STEERING, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY WERE UNRESPONSIVE. THE DIRECTIONAL OCCASIONAL INCREASED WHILE WE TRAVELED APPROX ANOTHER 500 YARDS BEFORE WE HIT THE EDGE EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN IN THE OVERTURNED POSITION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10325465 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051700 · 2003-12-17 (December 17, 2003)
DASHLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051700 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033339 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)
PURCHASED A 1998 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY LSE WITH 79000 MILES IN JANUARY 2003 AND 7 MONTHS LATER THE FRONT U-JOINT FAILED, BENDING THE DRIVESHAFT AND DAMAGED CASE ON TRANSMISSION WHILE TRAVELING FROM IN ON VACATION TO TNENNESSE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 88,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033339 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090381 · 2004-09-03 (September 3, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10090381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 744565 · 2001-04-25 (April 25, 2001)
WAS ENTERING THE HIGHWAY FROM AN INTERIOUR RAMP (NO SHOULDER) WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING. WAITED IN LEFT LANE WITH FLASHERS ON AND SEAT BELT FASTENED UNTIL IDOT APPEARED (LAND ROVER ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE HAD NOT YET ARRIVED) SINCE DISCOVERY'S CAN NOT BE TOWED, THE IDOT TRUCK HAD TO PUSH MY VEHICLE ACROSS SIX LANES OF TRAFFIC AND NORTH TWO MILES TO AN ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION SITE. THE DEALER REPLACED MY FUEL PUMP. IN THE THREE MONTHS SINCE THEY REPLACED THE ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP, THE CAR HAS FAILED TWO MORE TIMES. EACH TIME THE FUEL PUMP IS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744565 at NHTSA ↗