2003 Land Rover Discovery II: problems, recalls and reliability
3 recalls and 63 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (43% of complaints); the 2001 and 2002 and 2004 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Mar 2012
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 63 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Engine started knocking after I purchased it and I had just got the best recommended oil an spark plugs / wires no money to repair”Owner report · Power Train · Sep 2016
“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.”Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2015
“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 was 150,000.”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2012
Show 7 more owner reports
“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 joke! There is a widespread problem with these trucks maintaining adequate oil pressure in order to keep them running properly. Once again the consumer gets the shaft. I am now stuck, along with a lot of other lr owners, faced with a huge repair bill. This matter should have been looked into as a possible recall. *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jun 2011
“I just bought a land rover discovery 2 series hse with 50,000 plus miles 2 weeks ago and just found out about the oil pump problem. My discovery is within the affected VIN# and already has the oil light on. So what's the update on this matter?? Any recall from land rover???? *tr”Owner report · Child Seat · Jul 2010
“2003 land rover discovery ii -ABS stops working, impaired braking, traction control stops working, bad ABS modulator connection. Happens spontaneously. Replaced ABS modulator. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes, Electric · Jun 2010
“2003 land rover discovery ii "slabs control unit" otherwise known by the owner & mechanics as the "3 amigos (ABS,hdc,tc)...... I am sure you have been advised of the problem because the internet has several unhappy owners complaining. This unit controlsthe 4-wheel anti-lock braking, hill descent and 4 wheel traction control along with self leveling suspension. To correct the problem the dealer wants to install a new unit at a cost of over $1500 to 2500 depending on labor cost. Please let me know if you are already conducting an investigation in the above, any help would be appreciated.. *tr”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Jun 2010
“My 2003 land rover discovery suffers from a well known problem which causes the ABS and traction control to fail. Hundreds of discoveries suffer from this well known problem with no fix or recall from land rover. The problem has been coined "three amigos" and can be easily found by searching online. I am dependent on my ABS and constantly and consistently am putting my family at risk with this constant and consistent failure. My discovery recently slid off of the road due to loss of ABS during a rain storm. I had 2 children in the vehicle with me. *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · May 2009
“I have a 2003 land rover discovery. I just paid to replace the oil pump only to find out that land rover published a technical alert that states the only way to fix the issue is to replace the entire engine. Dowel pins on the block are misaligned due to a manufacturer error per the alert. The vehicle only has 58k miles and has been meticulously maintained. Land rover is not offering to cover any of the repair costs even though it was a manufacturer error from the start. *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Apr 2009
“I have a 2003 landrover discovery 85,000 miles on the vehicle when the oil light came on. The repair shop states I need a new oil pump. There is a landrover service bulletin out that states they are aware that some discovery's between a set of serial numbers are defective but they will not help the owners of these vehicles to repair the problem it will cost me $1,300 dollars at the least to fix this problem. This should be covered by landrover. *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Mar 2009
When filing, owners marked a crash in 5 of these complaints and injuries in 8 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 3 campaigns
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, PRECLUDED BY DRIVE LINE VIBRATION.
Remedy: 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.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACTIVE CORNERING ENHANCEMENT (ACE) PUMP BANJO BOLT LOOSES TORQUE AND ALLOWS FLUID TO LEAK PAST THE JOINT.
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.
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.
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.
How other years compare
Check your exact Discovery II by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Land Rover Discovery II reliable?
NHTSA has 63 owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns on record for the 2003 Land Rover Discovery II. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (43% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2003 Land Rover Discovery II problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 58,000 miles or less.
Does the 2003 Land Rover Discovery II have open recalls?
3 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning power train:driveline:driveshaft. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.