THE CONSUMER HAS COST HIM $22,620.00 IN REPAIRS FOR HEAD GASKET, TRANSMISSION BOX, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND STALLING PROBLEMS. *LA THE CLOCK AND BRAKE LIGHT HAD GONE OUT, THE VEHICLE BACKFIRED, AND MISSES. *SC
1996 Land Rover Discovery
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Discovery 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
Limited mileage data: 11 of 65 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
5 reportsCONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DRIVING 65-70 MPH. VEHICLE BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASION AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ENGINE WILL STALL, LEAVING CONSUMER WITHOUT A WARNING OF THE SITUATION. *AK
VEHICLE SEVERELY STUMBLED WHILE CRUISING AT 70MPH AND ALMOST FAILED TO RUN. CONTINUED ON FOR MANY MORE MILES. REPEATED STUMBLING. AFTER SEVERAL INCIDENTS THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON.DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED "FOUND MISFIRE FAULT CODES STORED IN ECM MEMORY. PINPOINT TESTS INDICATE TROUBLE WITH STICKING EXHAUST VALVES, CAUSING MISF…
Read full complaint
VEHICLE SEVERELY STUMBLED WHILE CRUISING AT 70MPH AND ALMOST FAILED TO RUN. CONTINUED ON FOR MANY MORE MILES. REPEATED STUMBLING. AFTER SEVERAL INCIDENTS THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON.DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED "FOUND MISFIRE FAULT CODES STORED IN ECM MEMORY. PINPOINT TESTS INDICATE TROUBLE WITH STICKING EXHAUST VALVES, CAUSING MISFIRE." I DOUBT THE VEHICLE IS MEETING EMISSION STANDARDS. PERSONEL AT DEALER STATED IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH DISCOVERYS.
ENGINE VALVE FAILURES.
Official recalls
298V040000 · Air Bags:frontal; Vehicle Speed Control
Feb 24, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AS A RESULT OF CHAFFING OF A CRUISE CONTROL WIRE, THE STEERING WHEEL ROTARY COUPLER CAN OVERHEAT AND INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING CAN CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSIBLE LINK WHICH WILL PROTECT THE ROTARY COUPLER FROM OVERHEATING.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Vehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AS A RESULT OF CHAFFING OF A CRUISE CONTROL WIRE, THE STEERING WHEEL ROTARY COUPLER CAN OVERHEAT AND INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG.
Consequence: DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING CAN CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSIBLE LINK WHICH WILL PROTECT THE ROTARY COUPLER FROM OVERHEATING.
Air Bags:frontal
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AS A RESULT OF CHAFFING OF A CRUISE CONTROL WIRE, THE STEERING WHEEL ROTARY COUPLER CAN OVERHEAT AND INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG.
Consequence: DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING CAN CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSIBLE LINK WHICH WILL PROTECT THE ROTARY COUPLER FROM OVERHEATING.
96V247000 · Structure:body:door:hinge And Attachments
Dec 12, 1996
THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR CAN FAIL TO LATCH FULLY WHEN CLOSING, CAUSING THE DOOR TO "BOUNCE" BACK OFF THE DOOR SEALS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE DOOR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT OR PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL CORRECTIVE HARDWARE ON THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR. DELAERS WILL ALSO CHECK THE DOOR LATCHES FOR THE OTHER DOORS AT THE SAME TIME.
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
1PE96060 · Door Open While Driving
Opened Oct 21, 1996 · Closed Dec 16, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
IT IS ALLEDGED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR OPENS WHILE DRIVING
Illustration