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2003 Land Rover Discovery Ii

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Land Rover Discovery Ii do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 35.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

55 reports with mileage · 8 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

5 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

63 reports
85,000 miles · Apr 14, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 RE…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10265287

53,715 miles · Feb 27, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2003 LAND ROVER THAT JUST PASSED 50 K AND STARTED TICKING FROM THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD A OIL PUMP FAILURE AND I NEED A NEW ENGINE. THAT WILL COST 8000$. WHY DO WE HAVE TO PAY THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY WHEN THE MANUFACTURER HAS HUNDREDS OF THESE FAILURES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10260217

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE PROBLEM IS WITH OUR 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE PROBLEM OCCURS ALMOST DAILY. THE TRACTION CONTROL, ABS, AND HILL DESCENT (REFERRED TO AS THE THREE AMIGOS). I FEEL THIS IS VERY MUCH A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO LACK OF BRAKING AND TRACTION WHEN THESE LIGHTS ALL ARE ON. WHEN THESE LIGHTS ARE ON THE TRACTION CONTROL DEVICE DOE…

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THE PROBLEM IS WITH OUR 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE PROBLEM OCCURS ALMOST DAILY. THE TRACTION CONTROL, ABS, AND HILL DESCENT (REFERRED TO AS THE THREE AMIGOS). I FEEL THIS IS VERY MUCH A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO LACK OF BRAKING AND TRACTION WHEN THESE LIGHTS ALL ARE ON. WHEN THESE LIGHTS ARE ON THE TRACTION CONTROL DEVICE DOES NOT FUNCTION. DUE TO LIVING IN ILLINOIS WEATHER THIS CREATES PROBLEMS DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE COVERED ROADS-IN WHICH IN OUR AREA WE SEEM TO BE HAVING A SHORTAGE ON SALT FOR THE ROADS. THE FULL REASONING AS TO WHY I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE WAS TO NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ROAD CONDITIONS (I DIDN'T THINK PROBLEMS WITH SYSTEM FAILURES WOULD OCCUR WITH THE COST OF THESE VEHICLES) I FEEL THIS IS A RECALL PROBLEM. PUTTING MANY PEOPLES LIVES IN JEOPARDY WHO ACTUALLY FEEL THEY ARE SAFE WHILE DRIVING UNTIL THEY EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE OF THIS SYSTEM IN THESE VEHICLES WHILE ON A WEEKEND TRIP OR FOUR WHEELING AS WHICH THEY WERE DESIGNED TO DO. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT I CREATED ON MY VEHICLE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THE COMPANY CREATED WHEN THEY PRODUCED THESE VEHICLES AND SOLD THEM. I DO NOT FEEL IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO CORRECT THEIR FLAW THAT THEY MADE IN THE PRODUCTION OF THESE VEHICLES WITH DEFECTIVE SYSTEM ALLOWING FAILURE DURING DRIVING CONDITIONS IF A SYSTEM FAILS THAT IS DEFECTIVE. AS TO ANY DEATHS RELATED IN THIS INCIDENT -THE ANSWER WOULD BE AS OF THIS TIME NO AND I PRAY THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN, AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THE POLICE WHERE CALLED BECAUSE I'M QUITE SURE THEY COULD CARE LESS IF THE TRACTION CONTROL OR MY ABS ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND THANK GOD THAT I DID NOT HAVE ANY PROPERTY DESTRUCTION OR CRASHES YET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10251011

94,000 miles · Nov 28, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

BOLT ON OIL PUMP LOST TORQUE THAT CAUSED OIL LOSS AND ENGINE OVERHEATING AND HEAD GASKET FAILURE. OCCURRED ONE TIME AND HAD OIL PUMP REPAIRED. EXPANSION RESERVOIR TANK REPLACED. PLENUM LINES REPLACED. HEAD GASKET REPLACED. ACCORDING TO DESIGN FLAW INDICATED BY LAND ROVER AMERICA, THIS ISSUE IS HIGHLY LIKELY TO OCCUR AGAIN. …

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BOLT ON OIL PUMP LOST TORQUE THAT CAUSED OIL LOSS AND ENGINE OVERHEATING AND HEAD GASKET FAILURE. OCCURRED ONE TIME AND HAD OIL PUMP REPAIRED. EXPANSION RESERVOIR TANK REPLACED. PLENUM LINES REPLACED. HEAD GASKET REPLACED. ACCORDING TO DESIGN FLAW INDICATED BY LAND ROVER AMERICA, THIS ISSUE IS HIGHLY LIKELY TO OCCUR AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10250069

62,000 miles · Nov 17, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II EXPERIENCED SUDDEN OIL PUMP FAILURE WHICH WILL REQUIRE AN ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THIS PROBLEM WAS RECOGNIZED AS A MANUFACTURING ERROR PER A LAND ROVER TECHNICAL ALERT TA03 1201 ISSUED IN 2003 BUT WAS NOT DIVULGED TO THE PUBLIC AND HAS NOT GENERATED A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO SIGNIFICAN…

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2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II EXPERIENCED SUDDEN OIL PUMP FAILURE WHICH WILL REQUIRE AN ENTIRE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. THIS PROBLEM WAS RECOGNIZED AS A MANUFACTURING ERROR PER A LAND ROVER TECHNICAL ALERT TA03 1201 ISSUED IN 2003 BUT WAS NOT DIVULGED TO THE PUBLIC AND HAS NOT GENERATED A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO SIGNIFICANTLY ASSIST WITH REPLACEMENT DESPITE THEIR PREVIOUS IDENTIFIED ERROR AND CLEAR CONSUMER EXPECTATION THAT OIL PUMP MALFUNCTIONS AND/OR ENGINE REPLACEMENTS ARE NOT EXPECTED AFTER 5 YEARS/60K MILES OF USE WITH A NORMALLY MAINTAINED ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10248964

88,000 miles · Oct 29, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

I WAS DRIVING MY '03 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II HOME FROM WORK AND IT SUDDENLY DIED. IT RESTARTED ABOUT AN HOUR LATER SO I DROVE IT TO THE AUTO SHOP. THEY, AFTER TALKING WITH LAND ROVER DIRECTLY, SAID THE ENGINE WASN'T GETTING ENOUGH OIL AND WE WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE!!! WE GET OUR LAND ROVER SERVICED VERY REGULARLY SO THERE SHO…

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I WAS DRIVING MY '03 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II HOME FROM WORK AND IT SUDDENLY DIED. IT RESTARTED ABOUT AN HOUR LATER SO I DROVE IT TO THE AUTO SHOP. THEY, AFTER TALKING WITH LAND ROVER DIRECTLY, SAID THE ENGINE WASN'T GETTING ENOUGH OIL AND WE WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE!!! WE GET OUR LAND ROVER SERVICED VERY REGULARLY SO THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY ISSUES LIKE THIS ESPECIALLY FOR AN '03 WITH 70,000 MILES. WITH THE WAY THE ECONOMY IS, THIS IS RIDICULOUS! NOW THEY'RE TELLING US WE HAVE TO PAY $5,000 FOR A USED ENGINE WITH 40,000 MILES. I NOTICED A TON OF OTHER PEOPLE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE OIL PUMP FROM THE '03 LAND ROVERS. HELP!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10247188

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

LAND ROVER NEEDS TO RECALL ALL AFFECTED DISCOVERY VEHICLES WITH OIL PUMP PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH MY MECHANIC SAYS IS CAUSED FORM LACK OF OIL. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED DUE TO A PRODUCTION ERROR. AND THE ONLY FIX IS REPLACING THE…

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LAND ROVER NEEDS TO RECALL ALL AFFECTED DISCOVERY VEHICLES WITH OIL PUMP PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHICH MY MECHANIC SAYS IS CAUSED FORM LACK OF OIL. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, I HAVE FOUND SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED DUE TO A PRODUCTION ERROR. AND THE ONLY FIX IS REPLACING THE ENTIRE ENGINE? I'M AMAZED THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT GOTTEN MORE ATTENTION! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245334

43,000 miles · Oct 14, 2008
Service Brakes, Electric

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II ABS FAULT. I CANNOT DRIVE MORE THAN 5 MILES WITHOUT THE ABS, HILL DESCENT CONTROL, AND TRANSFER CASE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATING. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS FAULT IS A RESULT OF AN ABS SYSTEM FAILURE. AFTER FAULT HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE CARS COMPUTER, ABS IS NON-RESPONSIVE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY…

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LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II ABS FAULT. I CANNOT DRIVE MORE THAN 5 MILES WITHOUT THE ABS, HILL DESCENT CONTROL, AND TRANSFER CASE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATING. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS FAULT IS A RESULT OF AN ABS SYSTEM FAILURE. AFTER FAULT HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE CARS COMPUTER, ABS IS NON-RESPONSIVE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AFFECTING MANY OF THE LAND ROVER DISCOVERY VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR INTO MY MECHANIC WHO HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. APPARENTLY MORE THAN ONE ELEMENT TO THE ABS SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. THIS OCCURS EVERYDAY AND I'M STILL WORKING ON A RESOLUTION. I CANNOT SELL THE CAR IN GOOD CONSCIOUS WITH SUCH A HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245333

62,550 miles · Oct 12, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

LAND ROVER TECHNICAL ALERT TA03-1201 OIL PUMP FAILURES ON 2003 DISCOVERY II VEHICLES MAY BE THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING ERROR. VINS 3A771801 - 3A808362 ARE THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. THE ALERT STATES THE ONLY EFFECTIVE REPAIR IS ENGINE REPLACEMENT. I'VE BEEN TOLD LAND ROVER WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. WHY? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10245209

47,800 miles · Aug 17, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

WE HAVE A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY W/ 47K MILES ON IT. ON FRIDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 15TH 2008, WE STARTED TO DRIVE DOWN OUR STREET WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE A DIESEL TRUCK. IT WAS HORRIBLE. WE ALSO HAD A RED OIL LIGHT. THE CAR FELT SLUGGISH, SOUNDED HORRIBLE & HAD AN OIL LIGHT ON SO WE TURNED AROUND AND PARKED…

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WE HAVE A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY W/ 47K MILES ON IT. ON FRIDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 15TH 2008, WE STARTED TO DRIVE DOWN OUR STREET WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE A DIESEL TRUCK. IT WAS HORRIBLE. WE ALSO HAD A RED OIL LIGHT. THE CAR FELT SLUGGISH, SOUNDED HORRIBLE & HAD AN OIL LIGHT ON SO WE TURNED AROUND AND PARKED THE LAND ROVER BEFORE THE ENGINE SEIZED UP. WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT COULD BE & DETERMINED THAT OUR OIL PUMP HAS FAILED. I AM UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS A TECHNICAL DEFECT THAT WAS ISSUED ON MARCH 14, 2003, BUT NO RECALL. THIS IS QUITE DISTURBING SINCE THE MANUFACTURING IS ADMITTING TO FAULT, BUT IS NOT SETTING UP A RECALL FOR THIS ITEM. WITH THE PRICES OF GAS, FOOD, UTILITIES AND THE GENERAL STATE OF OUR ECONOMY, I DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO FIX THIS RIG AT THIS TIME. I AM HOPING THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL FIX THIS ISSUE SINCE IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S (SELF ADMITTED) DEFECT. WE TRIED CALLING THE DEALER ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 16TH 2008 BUT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT IS CLOSED. WE DON'T KNOW WHERE ELSE TO TURN FOR HELP BUT TO THE DEALER. AND, FROM READING OTHER FORUM POSTS FROM OTHER INDIVIDUALS SUCH AS MYSELF IT APPEARS THAT THE DEALERSHIPS ARE LESS THAN HELPFUL IN RESOLVING THIS DEFECT. GOOD BUSINESS IS GOOD BUSINESS -- AND... BAD BUSINESS IS BAD BUSINESS. PLEASE HELP!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238615

Official recalls

2

04V005000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip

Jan 6, 2004

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 & remedy

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.

04V006000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Jan 6, 2004

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACTIVE CORNERING ENHANCEMENT (ACE) PUMP BANJO BOLT LOOSES TORQUE AND ALLOWS FLUID TO LEAK PAST THE JOINT.

Consequence & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.