2003 Land Rover Discovery Ii problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine And Engine Cooling:engine (13) · Engine And Engine Cooling (12) · Engine (4)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Land Rover Discovery Ii model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
55 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Power Train:driveline:driveshaft 2012-03-15 · campaign 12E010000 · 180 vehicles
Defect: JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, INC. (LAND ROVER) IS RECALLING CERTAIN REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLINGS, LAND ROVER BRANDED PART NUMBER TVF100010, MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2011 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2011, SOLD FOR USE AS SERVICE PARTS FOR CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1995-1999 DISCOVERY, 1999-2004 DISCOVERY II, AND 1995 RANGE ROVER CLASSIC VEHICLES. SOME OF THE REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLINGS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO THE REQUIRED ENGINEERING DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXHIBIT THE ONSET OF JOINT SEPARATION, PR
Risk: IF THIS INCREASED VIBRATION WARNING SIGN IS IGNORED, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE DRIVE COUPLING CAN OCCUR. THE DRIVESHAFT MAY DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION RESULTING IN LOSS OF DRIVE AND LOSS OF TRANSMISSION PARK FUNCTIONALITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH AND/OR INJURY.
Fix: LAND ROVER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA AT 1-201-818-8500.
Service bulletins (13)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2017-09-14 · SFCC-14SEP17 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
presentation from dealer shop foreman conference call
Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System 2014-10-28 · SSM56457 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"issue: reports have been received of engine damage occurring, which is caused by the use of non-approved engine induction / fuel injection cleaning equipment or materials. this includes, but is not limited to, ""vacu-flush"" type equipment. cause: the use of non-approved equipment can cause the e
Equipment:electrical:radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. 2013-09-23 · SSM68378 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"issue: this ssm has been released to address the high number of speaker assemblies returned, many of which are deemed as no fault found. cause: incorrect diagnosis."
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:abs Warning Light 2006-03-17 · 700205 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
shuttle valve switch related anti-lock braking system /traction control /hill descent control warning lamp illumination troubleshooting. all land rover discovery series ii. *tt
Electrical System 2006-03-17 · 700704 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
troubleshooting anti-lock braking system (abs)/hdc/tc warning lamp illumination. land rover discovery series ii. *tt
Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual 2005-03-16 · 570305 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
revised procedure and time for steering box installation. *sc
Showing the 6 most recent of 13 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2016-12-11 · Power Train · 158,510 mi“engine started knocking after i purchased it and i had just got the best recommended oil an spark plugs / wires no money to repair…”
2016-07-07 · Unknown Or Other“we were driving straight on i 5. in red bluff california headed to lodi ca.the car just started making a noise and then the vehicle started swiirving left to right with control or response from the steering wheell we hit going 65mph.and we were smashed into a guard rail head on. then spun out all over the freeway. car is totaled and no air bags de…”
2015-12-25 · Air Bags“the steering air bag blowout for nothing, the vehicle was stationary the motor was working i'm whasing the land rover and that happened, i'm confuse.…”
2014-04-03 · Engine · 85,000 mi“my engine started making a knocking sound and then a sound similar to metal scratching metal. i had a master mechanic look at the engine and had several part replaced 1500.00 worth to be exact and still the sound occurs. i contacted land rover and because my vehicle is used and over the warranty there was nothing they could do but suggest a new e…”
2014-02-04 · Engine · 55,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 land rover discovery. the contact stated while driving the vehicle would suddenly stall. the failure was diagnosed by the dealer who confirmed that the engine oil pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. the manufacturer was not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 55,000. …”
2013-01-07 · Engine · 150,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 land rover discovery ii. the contact stated that the oil pump failed, causing the engine to seize and fail. the contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told that because the oil pump failed, the engine would need replacing. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure and current mileage …”
2012-12-18 · Engine · 75,000 mi“i have experienced the same online issue with my land rover discovery ii, my vin is not the same however the same exact issues. "2003 discovery series ii oil pump failure" i have a load knocking noise coming from my engine, the vehicle is still running, and oil changes, treatments etc cannot stop the knock. not getting any warning lights of low p…”
2012-02-19 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 89,000 mi“while driving low mileage 2003 discovery ii se7, engine began to knock in upper engine area on driver side. pulled into local repair shop immediately and was told it was not a rod as the noise dissipates when idled above 1000 rpm. took it to a local land rover shop and was told it was either a bad oil pump or the sleeve in the cylinder at the bac…”
2011-07-04 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine · 57,000 mi“i own a 2003 land rover discovery se. this vehicle only has 57,000 miles and has been very well maintained. recently i noticed a tap coming from the engine. i immediately took it over to the local land rover dealer. after a couple of days, i was informed that it needed a new engine in order to fix this problem, at a cost of $14,000. what a jok…”
2010-11-23 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables · 93,235 mi“while driving our 2003 land rover discovery ii hse today, the throttle suddenly and unexpectedly stuck in the full position. my wife was able to avoid traffic, control the vehicle and get the transmission in neutral. the vehicle was towed to a land rover dealer, and they determined that the throttle butterfly valve had stuck. i researched this a…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.