1997 Land Rover DISCOVERY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
26 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 26 complaints (34.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 38.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 11.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 3.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 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 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 22 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 | 6 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2000: 6; 2001: 5; 2002: 5; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10050367 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE NOISE OCCURRED BECAUSE THE MANIFOLD HAD A HAIR LINE CRACK. A MANUFACTURER'S IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN WAS ISSUED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S VIN WAS 1 DIGIT OFF, THUS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050372 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSED THE LOUD NOISE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050372 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078636 · 2004-06-22 (June 22, 2004)
LEFT EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED, RIGHT EXHAUST MANIFOLD BROKEN IN 2! CAST IRON EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOTH DIAGNOSED AS CRACKED - I REPLACED WORSE OF 2 THEN BETTER ONE BROKE. ENGINE BLOCK ALUMINUM - CREEP/FATIGUE FAILURE DUE TO THERMAL EXPANSION RATES OF MANIFOLD VERSUS BLOCK SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. I BELIEVE WARRANTS A RECALL - ESPECIALLY IN CA WITH TIGHT SMOG LIMITS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10078636 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082255 · 2004-07-20 (July 20, 2004)
SURGING AT FULLY CLOSED THROTTLE ACCOMPANIED BY ABS FAILURE IS A REAL ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE MANUFACTURER. PRM CHIP REPLACEMENT TO FIX THE SURGE PROBLEM SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL. MY 1997 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY WOULD NOT STOP AT A STOP LIGHT WHEN LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR BECAUSE THE RPMS SURGED ON THE VEHICLE. UPON ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES THE ABS MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE DUE TO LACK OF BRAKES AND AN ELEVATED RPM LEVEL. THIS IS AN ELECTRONIC DEFECT T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10082255 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147532 · 2005-12-22 (December 22, 2005)
1997 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW WHILE CHANGING LANES. *TS THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A MEDIAN. THE BLOWOUT WAS A RESULT FROM THE IMPACT WITH THE MEDIAN. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS TOLD THE TIRE WAS GOING FLAT RIGHT BEFORE HE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10147532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10158553 · 2006-05-30 (May 30, 2006)
I HAVE A SAFETY RECALL ACTION B156 FROM LAND ROVER OF NORTH AMERICA FOR FUEL TANK CRACKING. I CONTACTED THEM AT THE 800 NUMBER PROVIDED AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO EITHER A DEALERSHIP IN PORTLAND OREGON OR RENO NEVADA TO HAVE THE TANK CHANGED. I TOLD THEM THAT EITHER ONE OF THEM ARE NEARLY THREE HUNDRED MILES FROM WHERE I LIVE AND THAT WE HAVE A FORD DEALERSHIP RIGHT HERE IN MY TOWN. (FORD OWNS LAND ROVER ) WHY CANT THEY BE AUTHORIZED TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR. THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW THAT OR PAY ME FOR THE COST OF TRAVEL,…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10158553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203029 · 2007-09-14 (September 14, 2007)
1997 OFF-LEASE VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM LOUISVILLE LAND ROVER IN MARCH OF 2000. WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED AND MGR STATED I SHOULD ACCEPT VEHICLE AND FILE CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE COMPANY FOR REPLACEMENT. REFUSED DELIVERY UNTIL DEALER REPLACED WINDSHIELD. FIRST RAIN AFTER TAKING DELIVERY, VEHICLE HEADLINER DRIPPING AND DASH, RADIO AND HVAC CONTROLS SATURATED WITH STANDING WATER IN CARPET ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. NOTIFIED DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WITH "NO PROBLEM FOUND" ON 5 OCCASIONS. DEALER FINALLY REPLACED WINDSHIELD AGAIN AND CLAIMED NO MORE WIND…
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10224469 · 2008-04-14 (April 14, 2008)
RECENTLY FOUND OUT THOUGH NHTSA THAT LAND ROVER HAD A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE FOR FUEL SYSTEM , GASOLINE : STORAGE (FUEL TANK) IT SEEMS A STRESS CRACK CAN DEVELOP IN THE PLASTIC FUEL TANKS WHICH MAY RESULT IN A FIRE . THE REMEDY ACCORDING TO THE REPORT IS FUEL TANK REPLACEMENT. I CONTACTED LAND ROVER THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL STATING IT DOSE NOT EFFECT MY VEHICLE WHEN THE REPORT CLEARLY SAYS THAT IT DOES. PLEASE HELP ME CHILDREN RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER IS 4V203000. THE VEHICLE IS A 1997 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10224469 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
98V040000 · Vehicle Speed Control | Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 1998-02-24 (February 24, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AS A RESULT OF CHAFFING OF A CRUISE CONTROL WIRE, THE STEERING WHEEL ROTARY COUPLER CAN OVERHEAT AND INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG.
Consequence: DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING CAN CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSIBLE LINK WHICH WILL PROTECT THE ROTARY COUPLER FROM OVERHEATING.
NHTSA campaign record ↗