2002 Land Rover DISCOVERY II: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
34 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
79,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 34 complaints (23.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 7 | 20.6% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.9% |
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 And Engine Cooling | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2; Power Train:Driveline: 2; Steering: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 3 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2003: 2; 2004: 3; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 6; 2008: 6; 2009: 3; 2010: 5; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10028473 · 2003-07-17 (July 17, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 2002 LAND ROBER DISCOVERY 11, I SWERVED TO MISS A ON COMING CAR, THE LAND ROVER LOCKED UP, WENT OUT OF CONTROL, THE SEAT BELT & AIR BAG DID NOT WORK, I FLEW INTO THE WINDSHIELD, BUSTED UP MY HEAD, SHOULDER & KNEE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10028473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030510 · 2003-07-31 (July 31, 2003)
TIRES (GOODYEAR) WEAR UNEVEN (SIGNIFICANT CUPPING AFTER 10K MILES) AND INCREASE RISK OF TIRE FAILURE. LAND ROVER DEALERS AND CUSTOMER CARE ARE AWARE OF THIS OEM COMPONENT FAILURE IN THEIR DISCORVERY II VEHICLES BUT ARE NEGLIGENT AND REFUSE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. LAND ROVER KNOWS THAT THIS FAILURE DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN THEIR VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN TIRES. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030510 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061967 · 2004-03-11 (March 11, 2004)
THE DRIVE LINE ON OUR 2002 LANDROVER DISCOVERY II IS GOING OUT ON OUR SUV. WE HAVE DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM IN DEPTH WITH THE DEALER BUT AS OF YET THE SITUATION IS UNRESOLVED. THEY FEEL THAT BECAUSE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY THAT WE SHOULD FIX IT OURSELVES. I FEEL THAT ON A CAR THIS NEW THAT THE DRIVE LINE SHOULD NOT BE DEFECTIVE AS WE DO NOT OFF ROAD IN THIS VEHICLE. THE CAR ALSO HAS A BAD HEATER CORE WHICH WILL COST ANOTHER 1200.00 TO FIX. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10061967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10087689 · 2004-08-11 (August 11, 2004)
WHILE TURNING THE TC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. CONSUMER HIT A CURB, CAUSING A MINOR VEHICLE COLLISION. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10089246 · 2004-08-03 (August 3, 2004)
PROBLEMS WITH 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY OVER HEATING. *MR THE CONSUMER VIEWED SMOKE COMING FORM THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER VIEWED AND SAW A YELLOW LIGHT THAT LOOKED LIKE 2 CIRCLES JOINED WITH A LINE 0-0. THE VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT FIRE. *SC THE CONSUMER REMEMBERED RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER WHICH SOUNDED FAMILIAR TO WHAT SHE EXPERIENCED WITH HER VEHICLE (RECALL #B148 AND B149). *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10089246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107276 · 2005-02-07 (February 7, 2005)
"NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 04V005000" ON THE ABS VALVE COVER BOLT. AFTER HAVING THE ABS MODULATOR ASSEMBLY VALVE COVERS STRENGTHENED AND THE RETAINING BOLTS REPLACED, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED TWICE WITHIN A 10 MONTH PERIOD. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKES WERE NOISY. *TC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10107276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10113727 · 2005-02-18 (February 18, 2005)
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO USE THE 2002 LANDROVER DISCOVERY II HILL DESCENT FEATURE THE GEAR SHIFT MECHANISM CAME OFF IN THE CONSUMER'S HAND. *NM THE VEHICLE HAD GONE OUT OF CONTROL WHILE GOING DOWN HILL. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10113727 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130794 · 2005-08-01 (August 1, 2005)
I HAVE OWNED MY 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SE FOR 2 YEARS. ABOUT 8-9 MONTHS AGO, I NOTICED THAT AT CERTAIN SPEEDS, MY STEERING WHEEL WILL SHAKE BACK AND FORTH, OR SHIMMY, SOMETIMES SOMEWHAT VIOLENTLY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO ARISTOCRAT MOTORS, THE ONLY SERVICE CENTER IN MY AREA FOR LAND ROVERS, AND HAVE DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM THREE TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THEY SAID THEY CHECKED THE TIRES AND THEY WERE FINE. THAT WAS IT. THE SECOND TIME, I CALLED AND ASKED WHY IT WAS DOING IT, AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THAT'S JUST WHAT LAND ROVERS DO …
Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130794 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V028000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 2002-01-23 (January 23, 2002)
ON SOME SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE COULD HAVE BECOME KINKED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY, RESULTING IN CHAFFING OF THE CABLE. CONTINUED CHAFFING CAN LEAD TO BREAKAGE OF THE INTERIOR CABLE STRANDS.
Consequence: BREAKAGE OF THE CABLE STRANDS CAN RESULT IN THE THROTTLE BEING STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE DAMAGED CABLES WHERE NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 6, 2002. 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 1-301-731-9040.
NHTSA campaign record ↗04V005000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Reported: 2004-01-06 (January 6, 2004)
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS," AND NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) MODULATOR VALVE COVER RETAINING BOLTS CAN CRACK DUE TO STRESSES TRANSMITTED BY THE FLEXING VALVE COVERS.
Consequence: THIS CAN PRODUCE AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR TOTAL LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKING FUNCTION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL STRENGTHEN THE ABS MODULATOR ASSEMBLY VALVE COVERS AND REPLACE THE RETAINING BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXEPCTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.
NHTSA campaign record ↗04V006000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Reported: 2004-01-06 (January 6, 2004)
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACTIVE CORNERING ENHANCEMENT (ACE) PUMP BANJO BOLT LOOSES TORQUE AND ALLOWS FLUID TO LEAK PAST THE JOINT.
Consequence: THE FLUID FROM THE PUMP JOINT CAN IGNITE, RESULTING IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR LEAKAGE. IF NO LEAKAGE IS EVIDENT, THE BANJO BOLT WILL BE RE-TIGHTENED. IF LEAKAGE IS EVIDENT, THE BANJO BOLT AND DOWTY WASHERS WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.
NHTSA campaign record ↗