2003 Land Rover DISCOVERY: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
48 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
73,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 48 complaints (22.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 18 | 37.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 6.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 4.2% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.1% |
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 | 11 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
Engine: 11; Power Train: 5; Electrical System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 4; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Suspension: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 9 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
2002: 1; 2003: 4; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 3; 2007: 2; 2008: 5; 2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2012: 6; 2013: 1; 2014: 4; 2015: 3; 2016: 2; 2018: 3; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 18 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10014301 · 2003-04-12 (April 12, 2003)
THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER AND ALMOST AT THE SAME LEVEL THAT YOU CAN STEP BOTH PEDALS AT THE SAME TIME. THIS CAUSES THE CAR TO SURGE FORWARD. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014301 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038370 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY THE ACCELERATOR STUCK. THE DRIVER HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. *AK *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 14,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040804 · 2003-09-26 (September 26, 2003)
VEHICLE HAS A SUPER LOCK DOWN SECURITY MODE SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER WAS LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE. A WINDOW HAD TO BE BROKEN TO GET CONSUMER OUT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040804 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045545 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
I PARKED MY LANDROVER DISCOVERY IN THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, PULLED THE KEY OUT AND WALKED TOWARD THE STORE. AFTER A CRASHING NOISE I TURNED AROUND TO SEE MY CAR HAD ROLLED BACK INTO A VAN. MY TRANSMISSION WAS STILL IN "DRIVE" AND I HAD BEEN ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNIGTION. I CALLED MY LANDROVER DEALER. AFTER EXPLAINING WHAT HAPPENED I ASKED WHY THE KEY COULD BE REMOVED IN THE "DRIVE" POSITION, HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW AND WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT. HE THEN DIRECTED ME TO THE COLLISION CENTER FOR REPAIRS. THE NEXT DAY I…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045545 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10098537 · 2004-11-09 (November 9, 2004)
WE WERE APPROACHING THE TOLL BOOTHS FROM THE MASS PIKE AND MY HUSBAND LOOKED AT ME AND ASKED ME WHY WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY BRAKES. I FREAKED OUT AND DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. WE WERE SURROUNDED BY CARS AND APPROACHING THE TOLL BOOTH VERY QUICKLY. WE WERE ABLE TO SLOW DOWN BEFORE WE CRASHED, BUT WE WERE AND NOW ARE VERY NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING THIS VEHICLE NOT KNOWING IF THIS WILL OCCUR AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP FIXED IT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AND SAID THAT A SECONDARY AIR INJECTION VALVE STUCK OPEN CAUSING HOT EXHAUST GASES TO FLOW THRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,311 miles reported. Look up ODI 10098537 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10099912 · 2004-12-08 (December 8, 2004)
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT BOTH PEDALS WERE CLOSE TOGETHER. THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL OR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BY MISTAKE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY BY THE MANUFACTURER. *AK *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10099912 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10141629 · 2005-11-03 (November 3, 2005)
SINCE BUYING OUR LAND ROVER DISCOVERY IN FEBRUARY 2004 WE'VE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS RECALLS AND PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR. FORTUNATELY, IT IS STILL UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM OF CONCERN AT THIS POINT IN TIME IS AS FOLLOWS: WHEN BRAKING, THE LAND ROVER WOULD OCCASIONALLY LURCH FORWARD A LITTLE BIT...ALMOST JUMPING. ON OCT. 28, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 2:45 PM I PULLED OUT OF MY SUBDIVISION ONTO 180TH ST. IN ELKHORN, NE. I WAS HEADING SOUTH TOWARDS A STOP LIGHT AT THE JUNCTION OF 180TH ST. AND PACIFIC. THERE WHERE NUMEROUS CARS S…
Owner-reported narrative. 34,417 miles reported. Look up ODI 10141629 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10151664 · 2006-03-02 (March 2, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH THE BRAKES FELT AS IF THEY WERE GRIPPING WHILE BEING APPLIED. THIS IN TURN CAUSED THE CONTACT TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD MINIMAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND THE HEAD LIGHTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10151664 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.
03V133000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Cables
Reported: 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE THROTTLE CAN STICK INTERMITTENTLY DURING ITS OPERATION. THE EXACT POINT OF STICKING IS NOT PREDICTABLE AND CAN RESULT IN A HIGHER ENGINE SPEED THAN EXPECTED.
Consequence: IN THE CASE WHERE A THROTTLE FAILS TO RETURN TO IDLE, PARTICULARLY AFTER A HIGH DEGREE OF ENGINE THROTTLE APPLICATION, THE DRIVER WILL EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTY IN BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO REST, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY. 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 1-201-818-8500.
NHTSA campaign record ↗