DISCOVERY 2 ABS ISSUES, MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH ABS SYSTEM. UPON APPLICATION ADDS A BIT OF TIME TO YOUR ANTICIPATED STOPPING DISTANCE. VERY DANGEROUS CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS ACCIDENT DEALER SHOP CANNOT FIND HOW TO FIX IT AND LIGHTS AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON CONSTANTLY. ABS SYSTEM IS NOT ENGAGED WHEN NEEDED. *NM
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Discovery Ii years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
What owners actually said
63 reports2003 DISCOVERY II AND THE THREE MAIN LIGHTS ILLUMINATING, TWO TIMES THEY HAVE BEEN ON AND STAY ON, SOMETIMES NOW THEY TURN ON AND OFF. TRACTION CONTROL, ABS AND HILL DESCENT CONTROL. THIS WILL BE MY THIRD TRIP TO THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
I HAVE A 2003 DISCOVERY II AND THE ABS MODULATOR IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THREE MAIN LIGHTS ILLUMINATING CONSTANTLY AND THEY ARE TRACTION CONTROL, ABS AND HILL DESCENT CONTROL, WHEN THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE IN AMBER COLOR WHILE I'M DRIVING I HAVE NO USE OF TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS ALSO MY BRAKES DON'T WORK WELL. *NM
2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II -- ON 3 SEPARATE OCASIONS. PASSENGER AND DRIVER WINDOW MOTOR/REGULATOR FAILURE RESULTS IN FAILURE OF WINDOW TO OPEN OR CLOSE. FAILURE CAUSES LOUD CRASHING SOUND WITHIN DOOR ITSELF, AND CAUSES WINDOW TO SLIP DOWN INTO DOOR STRUCTURE. IRST INCIDENT WAS IN SEPT. 2003, UNDER WARRANTY, TO PASSENGER SIDE.…
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2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II -- ON 3 SEPARATE OCASIONS. PASSENGER AND DRIVER WINDOW MOTOR/REGULATOR FAILURE RESULTS IN FAILURE OF WINDOW TO OPEN OR CLOSE. FAILURE CAUSES LOUD CRASHING SOUND WITHIN DOOR ITSELF, AND CAUSES WINDOW TO SLIP DOWN INTO DOOR STRUCTURE. IRST INCIDENT WAS IN SEPT. 2003, UNDER WARRANTY, TO PASSENGER SIDE. SECOND INCIDENT WAS SEPT. 2004 TO SAME PASSENGER SIDE---$277. FOR REPLACEMENT. THIRD INCIDENT WAS OCT.22, 2004 TO DRIVER'S SIDE--$277 FOR REPLACEMENT. DEALER HAS ADMITTED TO DESIGN FLAW BUT HAS NOT COVERED COST OF REPLACEMENT, ONLY 10% DISCOUNT. *AK
AFTER DEALERSHIP PERFORMED ABS VALVE COVER BOLT RECALL 04V005000 REPAIRS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED.*AK
AFTER OWNING MY BRAND NEW 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY FOR ABOUT 5 WEEKS, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. WITHIN SECONDS THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING AND ODD NOISE. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND BY THE TIME I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS ON FIRE. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BURNT OFF. …
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AFTER OWNING MY BRAND NEW 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY FOR ABOUT 5 WEEKS, I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. WITHIN SECONDS THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING AND ODD NOISE. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND BY THE TIME I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS ON FIRE. THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BURNT OFF. LAND ROVER HAS REFUSED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE VEHICLE AND WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS SITUATION. IN ADDITION, EVERYONE THAT I HAVE DEALT WITH AT LAND ROVER HAS BEEN RUDE, INCONSIDERATE AND EVASIVE. THEY HAVE ALSO REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE PERSONAL ITEMS THAT WERE IN THE VEHICLE AND DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE FIRE. *JB
IN AUGUST 2003 I PURCHASED A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY AT BARRET JAGUAR-LAND ROVER IN MCALLEN, TX. SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 12K MILES AND HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE SHOP ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. JANUARY 16, 2003 I DISCUSSED MY DISSATISFACTION WI…
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IN AUGUST 2003 I PURCHASED A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY AT BARRET JAGUAR-LAND ROVER IN MCALLEN, TX. SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE I BEGAN TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 12K MILES AND HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE SHOP ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. JANUARY 16, 2003 I DISCUSSED MY DISSATISFACTION WITH THE DEALERSHIP MANAGER JOEL GARCIA, AS A RESULT OF THE LACK OF CONCERN I SEEK HELP TO RESOLVE MY PROBLEMS. I FEEL I STRUGGLED TO GET A BRAND NEW VEHICLE OF MY DREAMS IN ORDER TO AVOID PROBLEMS, HOWEVER I FEEL SPENDING 40K FOR A PROBLEMATIC VEHICLE IS UNJUSTLY. I REQUEST ANY KIND OF HELP GETTING THIS RESOLVED SINCE THE DEALERSHIP MANAGER BASICALLY IMPLIED THAT A FAVOR WAS DONE IN ORDER FOR ME TO FINANCE THIS VEHICLE(THIS IS WHY I HAD TO SIGN BLANK CONTRACTS AND NEVER GIVEN COPIES OF THIS SALE) WHICH I HAVE REQUESTED WITH NO ANSWER. *CB
CONTINUAL WATER LEAK AT LEFT UPPER HINGE PILLAR. FIRST OCCURRED 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF VEHICLE HAS CONTINUED DESPITE 4 ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR. *LA
ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON 4/10/03 WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY ON A SLICK SLEET COVERED ROAD WHERE THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT OVER MY CHEST LOOSENED AND ALLOWED ME TO FLY FORWARD AND CRUNCH THE CENTER OF MY CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR COMPANY ( NOT THE DEALER) HAS BEEN RUDE, NON-RESPONSIVE, AND EVA…
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ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON 4/10/03 WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY ON A SLICK SLEET COVERED ROAD WHERE THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT OVER MY CHEST LOOSENED AND ALLOWED ME TO FLY FORWARD AND CRUNCH THE CENTER OF MY CHEST ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CAR COMPANY ( NOT THE DEALER) HAS BEEN RUDE, NON-RESPONSIVE, AND EVASIVE. THEY HAVE EVEN REFUSED TO CALL ME BACK, REFUSED TO TELL ME (TODAY IS ONE MONTH SINCE THE ACCIDENT) IF THEY TESTED MY AIR BAG, HAVE NEVER ASKED OR EVER ALLOWED ME TO SHARE DETAILS OF THE ACCIDENT, AND HAVE NEVER ALLOWED ME TO SHARE DETAILS OF MY INJURY. THEY HAVE BEEN RUDE ON THE PHONE REPEATEDLY AND SEEM TO SHOW NO INTEREST AT ALL IN SEEING THAT MY FAMILY RIDES IN A SAFE CAR. THEY HAVE BEEN SIX PREVIOUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR THAT THEY REFUSE TO TALK ABOUT EVEN THOUGH FOUR OF THESE INVOLVE A 'SILENT" RECALL THAT DEALER MECHANICS WERE AWARE OF, BUT I WAS NOT ALLOWED TO KNOW ABOUT. I DON'T WANT ANYONE ELSE TO EVER EXPERIENCE THIS FLIPPANT RUDE ATTITUDE FROM AN AUTO COMPANY. *NLM
SECOND OCCURRENCE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER ONLY THREE DAYS OF DRIVING. LAND ROVER WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS ON 3 APRIL 2003 AND RETURNED TO ME ON 7 APRIL 2003. ON 10 APRIL 2003, AND 100 MILES LATER, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS A BUSY, MAIN THOROUGHFARE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED LEAVING ME STOPPED ACROSS THE EN…
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SECOND OCCURRENCE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER ONLY THREE DAYS OF DRIVING. LAND ROVER WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS ON 3 APRIL 2003 AND RETURNED TO ME ON 7 APRIL 2003. ON 10 APRIL 2003, AND 100 MILES LATER, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN ACROSS A BUSY, MAIN THOROUGHFARE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED LEAVING ME STOPPED ACROSS THE ENTIRE MIDDLE OF THE LANE OF FAST APPROACHING ON-COMING TRAFFIC. MY LAND ROVER WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 10 APRIL 2003 AND REMAINS THERE TODAY 14 APRIL 2003 WHILE THE CAUSE IS RESEARCHED. VERY DANGEROUS "BROADSIDE" ACCIDENT POTENTIAL. *NLM
Official recalls
204V005000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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