2003 Land Rover Discovery
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 51 of 111 complaints (46%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (10) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 51 in 2002 to 111 in 2003.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | vs. 2003 Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 5,950 | 5,950 | 6,450 | 6,450 | |
| Combined MPG | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 12 / 16 | 12 / 16 | 11 / 14 | 11 / 14 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 684 | 684 | 741 | 741 | |
| Complaints filed | 44 | 51 | 111 | 51 | |
| Recalls issued | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 14 | 6 | 13 | 6 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 2 | 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 18 | 3 | 10 | 1 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2003 Land Rover Discovery have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2003 Land Rover Discovery?
Engine: 51 of 111 NHTSA complaints (46%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2003 Land Rover Discovery get?
EPA rates it 12 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2003 Land Rover Discovery?
EPA estimates $6,450 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (1)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 8 | 4.6L | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | Premium | Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD | 11 mpg | 14 mpg | 12 mpg | $6,450 | 741 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 51 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 24 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 8 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 10 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 6 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT · Campaign 12E010000 · Mar 15, 2012
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, PRECLUDED BY DRIVE LINE VIBRATION.
Consequence: 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.
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING · Campaign 04V006000 · Jan 14, 2004
Defect: ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACTIVE CORNERING ENHANCEMENT (ACE) PUMP BANJO BOLT LOOSES TORQUE AND ALLOWS FLUID TO LEAK PAST THE JOINT.
Consequence: THE FLUID FROM THE PUMP JOINT CAN IGNITE, RESULTING IN AN UNDER HOOD FIRE.
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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP · Campaign 04V005000 · Jan 14, 2004
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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.
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.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES · Campaign 03V133000 · Apr 22, 2003
Defect: 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.