2003 Land Rover Discovery Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Discovery years
- Far more complaints than other years 4th of 22 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 48 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Land Rover Discovery. That ranks 4th out of 22 Discovery model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (11 complaints, 23%), typically at around 109,000 miles. Complaints mention 8 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 48owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 8complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Land Rover Discovery problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 11 | 23% | 109,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 10 | 21% | 70,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 8 | 17% | 68,505 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 17% | 65,280 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | 15% | 35,311 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 6 | 13% | 83,000 | — | — |
| Suspension | 3 | 6% | 109,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 4% | 72,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 4% | 165,000 | — | — |
| Structure | 2 | 4% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 4% | 109,000 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 2% | 102,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 2% | 97,165 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 2% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 2% | 97,165 | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 2% | 55,000 | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 2% | 109,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Land Rover Discovery recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Vehicle speed control:cables
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 land rover n/a. The contact stated that he bought four tires that turned out to be manufacturer defects. The tires were federal tires, tire size 255/45/r20, and no dot given. The tires were providing such a rough and bouncy ride that two shock absorbers were busted in…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE BOSCHE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE COOLANT TO BOIL IN THE MAIN CYLINDER HEAD AND MIX WITH THE OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS QUOTED A COST OF $7,000 FOR THE…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 land rover discovery. While the contact's spouse was driving 45 mph around a curve, the vehicle hydroplaned, left the road, and crashed into a culvert and a highway sign. The vehicle rolled over multiple times. The contact stated that the anti-lock braking system warning…
On my way home from picking up my grandchild there was some vibrating on the passenger side of the automobile. Than a loud explosion followed by rubber burning smell and lost of control of car. Managed to pull over car would not rolling had to engage parking brake. Had car towed home. Drive shaft…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 land rover discovery. While driving 2 mph and making a right turn, the vehicle accelerated without warning. As a result, it crashed into a curb, drove over the sidewalk, and into the street. The brake pedal was applied and the vehicle stopped. The vehicle was towed to an…
Other Land Rover Discovery years
← 2002 Discovery · 2004 Discovery →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Discovery | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 Discovery | 0 | 2 |
| 2024 Discovery | 8 | 5 |
| 2023 Discovery | 7 | 6 |
| 2022 Discovery | 11 | 6 |
| 2021 Discovery | 11 | 6 |
| 2020 Discovery | 19 | 6 |
| 2019 Discovery | 38 | 4 |
| 2018 Discovery | 37 | 4 |
| 2017 Discovery | 55 | 3 |
| 2016 Discovery | 5 | 0 |
| 2006 Discovery | 2 | 0 |
| 2004 Discovery | 29 | 0 |
| 2003 | 48 | 1 |
| 2002 Discovery | 17 | 0 |
| 2001 Discovery | 13 | 1 |
| 2000 Discovery | 30 | 1 |
| 1999 Discovery | 17 | 2 |
| 1998 Discovery | 33 | 1 |
| 1997 Discovery | 35 | 1 |
| 1996 Discovery | 65 | 2 |
| 1995 Discovery | 49 | 3 |
See all Land Rover Discovery problems by year, every Land Rover model, or the Land Rover VIN decoder.
Similar Land Rover models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Land Rover Discovery?
Owners most often report engine, power train, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 11 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Land Rover Discovery?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Land Rover Discovery a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Discovery model years, the 2003 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.