1998 Land Rover DISCOVERY: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 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 10033775 · 2003-09-15 (September 15, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, TIE ROD COLLAPSED AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 57,615 miles reported. Look up ODI 10033775 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034329 · 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED FRONT RIGHT TIRE WOULD SHAKE AND WIGGLE WHEN DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034329 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 10064406 · 2004-04-02 (April 2, 2004)
NON DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIRBAG IN FRONTAL ACCIDENT SEVERE ENOUGH TO DISTORT VEHICLE'S FRAME (1998 LANDROVER DISCOVERY). *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 75,494 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064406 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067221 · 2004-04-15 (April 15, 2004)
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE CLIPPED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE FROM THE REAR, FORCING IT INTO A GUARD RAIL, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 58,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067221 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073922 · 2004-05-19 (May 19, 2004)
REAR VIEW MIRROR BECAME DISTORTED. THE MIRROR BEGAN TO ACCUMULATE BLACK SPLOTCHES AND OPAQUE WITH WAVY LINES. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE MIRROR WAS THE CONSUMER'S PROBLEM. ALSO, CONSUMER TOUCHED THE BACK OF THE MIRROR, AND CAME BACK WITH A STICKY BLACK SUBSTANCE IN HIS EYE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073922 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 ↗