Model year record

2003 Land Rover Discovery Ii recalls & problems

The 2003 Land Rover Discovery Ii has 3 safety recalls and 63 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (27 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints63filed by owners

Crashes · fires5 · 2reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths8 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Power trainMar 15, 2012

Driveline › Driveshaft

Recall 12E010000180 vehicles

Problem: 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.
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.

Engine and engine coolingJan 6, 2004

Engine and engine cooling

Recall 04V0060005,264 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACTIVE CORNERING ENHANCEMENT (ACE) PUMP BANJO BOLT LOOSES TORQUE AND ALLOWS FLUID TO LEAK PAST THE JOINT.
Risk: THE FLUID FROM THE PUMP JOINT CAN IGNITE, RESULTING IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.
Fix: 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.

Service brakes, hydraulicJan 6, 2004

Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

Recall 04V005000100,174 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: THIS CAN PRODUCE AN UNEXPECTED INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR TOTAL LOSS OF SERVICE BRAKING FUNCTION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: 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.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingEngine	27	0	1	0	61,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Pedals and linkages	11	3	0	0	54,500 mi
Power trainAutomatic transmission; Driveline › Differential unit	5	0	0	0	75,131 mi
Engine	5	0	0	0	85,000 mi
Air bagsFrontal	4	2	1	8	—
Unknown or other	3	0	0	2	—
Latches/locks/linkagesTailgate › Latch	3	0	0	0	79,810 mi
Vehicle speed controlCables	3	0	0	0	93,235 mi
Traction control system	3	1	0	0	60,000 mi
Service brakes, electric	2	0	0	0	—
Seat belts	1	1	0	3	—
StructureBody › Roof and pillars	1	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine
ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AFTER I PURCHASED IT AND I HAD JUST GOT THE BEST RECOMMENDED OIL AN SPARK PLUGS / WIRES NO MONEY TO REPAIR
Sep 17, 2016 · 158,510 miles
Air bags2 injuries
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 DEPLOYED.HAPPENED AT 1435 IN THE AFTERNOON. DRY SUNNY CONDITIONS , AND WE HAD A 11 MONTH OLD IN THE CAR BEHIND ME ON PASSENGER SIDE. AND A 4 YR OLD BEHIND MY WIFE WHOM WAS DRIVING. SCARY , MY GOAL IS TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHER FAMILY'S LIKE MINE. MY WIFE AND I WERE LUCKY TO ONLY WALK AWAY INJURED. AND KIDS TRAMITIZED BUT ALIVE.. THANK…
Jun 12, 2016
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.
Dec 23, 2015
Engine
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 ENGINE. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND IT APPEARS THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGE BY LAND ROVER THAT THE LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 2003 THE OIL PUMP WAS FAULTY, HOWEVER HAVE DENIED ANY KIND OF SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM TO MULTIPLE CUSTOMERS OTHER THAN SUGGESTING A NEW ENGINE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND AS A CONSUMER WE CAN BE EXPECTED TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE…
Apr 1, 2013 · 85,000 miles
Engine
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.
Sep 10, 2008 · 55,000 miles
Engine
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.
Dec 24, 2012 · 150,000 miles
Engine
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 PRESSURE HOWEVER IT IS AT THE LAND ROVER DEALERSHIP OF FORT WORTH NOW AND THEY CONFIRMED THE SAME. THIS A $12,000 FIX FOR AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL OR NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC. I HAVE OVER 300 POSTINGS ON LINE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES BUT ALL IN 60 MINS OF LOOKING AND SURE THERE ARE THOUSANDS MORE. I'M NOT SURE HOW TO SEARCH FOR RECALLS OVER…
Nov 2, 2010 · 75,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling
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 BACK OF THE ENGINE HAS COME LOOSE AND IS KNOCKING UP AGAINST THE HEAD GASKET. TECHNICIAN PRIVATELY INDICATED BOTH ARE KNOWN ISSUES AND THAT A NEW ENGINE IS REQUIRED IN EITHER CASE AND THAT LR NORTH AMERICA KNOWS OF THE ISSUES AND HAS REFUSED TO ASSIST OWNERS OR ISSUE A RECALL. COST OF NEW ENGINE IS BETWEEN $8,000 AND 12,000 DEPENDING ON WHO YOU TALK…
Feb 8, 2011 · 89,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.