Total Complaints
21 filings
LAND ROVER DISCOVERY · model year
21 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002LAND ROVERDISCOVERY carries 21 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 3 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 DISCOVERY is engine and engine cooling with 5 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (2) and power train (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2002 DISCOVERY. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
21 filings
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 5 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION:PINION SHAFT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
CATASTROPHIC INJURIES SUSTAINED!!!! LOSS OF LIFE ALMOST OCCURRED! I WAS DRIVING MY LAND ROVER ON A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE BRAKE DRUM FELL APART WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND PARTS FROM THE BRAKE DRUM PIERCED THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND CAME IN THROUGH THE DRIVER SEAT I WAS SITTING IN AND CAUSE ME MAJOR INTERNAL INJURIES THAT LED TO ME BEING HOSPITALIZED FOR 52 DAYS. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN OR THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE THE FAILURE CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND I WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE INCLUDED PICTURES THAT HELP PEOPLE BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. THE PICTURES OF THE CAR PARTS THAT WERE REMOVED FROM MY ABDOMINAL AREA AND PICTURES OF THE SEAT I WAS SITTING ON. I FILED A LAW SUIT AND IT SETTLED OUT OF COURT SO THIS IS THE BEST WAY I COULD THINK OF TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT THE DANGER T
Mileage: 132,000
CATASTROPHIC INJURIES SUSTAINED!!!! LOSS OF LIFE ALMOST OCCURRED! I WAS DRIVING MY LAND ROVER ON A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE BRAKE DRUM FELL APART WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND PARTS FROM THE BRAKE DRUM PIERCED THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND CAME IN THROUGH THE DRIVER SEAT I WAS SITTING IN AND CAUSE ME MAJOR INTERNAL INJURIES THAT LED TO ME BEING HOSPITALIZED FOR 52 DAYS. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN OR THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE THE FAILURE CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND I WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE INCLUDED PICTURES THAT HELP PEOPLE BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. THE PICTURES OF THE CAR PARTS THAT WERE REMOVED FROM MY ABDOMINAL AREA AND PICTURES OF THE SEAT I WAS SITTING ON. I FILED A LAW SUIT AND IT SETTLED OUT OF COURT SO THIS IS THE BEST WAY I COULD THINK OF TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT THE DANGER T
Mileage: 132,000
CATASTROPHIC INJURIES SUSTAINED!!!! LOSS OF LIFE ALMOST OCCURRED! I WAS DRIVING MY LAND ROVER ON A HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. THE BRAKE DRUM FELL APART WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND PARTS FROM THE BRAKE DRUM PIERCED THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND CAME IN THROUGH THE DRIVER SEAT I WAS SITTING IN AND CAUSE ME MAJOR INTERNAL INJURIES THAT LED TO ME BEING HOSPITALIZED FOR 52 DAYS. THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN OR THAT THERE WAS ANYTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE THE FAILURE CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR AND I WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE INCLUDED PICTURES THAT HELP PEOPLE BETTER UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED TO ME. THE PICTURES OF THE CAR PARTS THAT WERE REMOVED FROM MY ABDOMINAL AREA AND PICTURES OF THE SEAT I WAS SITTING ON. I FILED A LAW SUIT AND IT SETTLED OUT OF COURT SO THIS IS THE BEST WAY I COULD THINK OF TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT THE DANGER T
Mileage: 132,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND COASTED TO THE SHOULDER. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDERNEATH, AND NOTICED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS SHREDDED AND DISCONNECTED AND THE THROTTLE WAS IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE CONTACT CONNECTED THE CABLE BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ENGAGE IN GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
Mileage: 180,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE AND COASTED TO THE SHOULDER. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDERNEATH, AND NOTICED THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WAS SHREDDED AND DISCONNECTED AND THE THROTTLE WAS IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE CONTACT CONNECTED THE CABLE BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ENGAGE IN GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DAMAGED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE SHOP BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
Mileage: 180,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE SPEED WAS ABOVE 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT SHAFT WAS REPLACED TWICE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
Mileage: 70,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHEN THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRAME AND THE SUSPENSION OF THE VEHICLE WERE RUSTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A SAFETY HAZARD AND WOULD NOT LET THE VEHICLE LEAVE THE LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,600. UPDATED 2/25/13 *CN UPDATED 03/07/2013 *JS
Mileage: 25,600
OIL LEAK ON ENGINE, OIL PAN LEAK, WATER PUMP LEAK, NO POWER ON ENGINE IT LOST THE POWER FROM OVER HEATING, MECHANIC WANTS TO REPLACE ENGINE I WAS QUOTED 3700 DOLLARS. HOW CAN I KNOW IF THIS ENGINE WAS A DEFECT. *TR
Mileage: 160,700
OIL LEAK ON ENGINE, OIL PAN LEAK, WATER PUMP LEAK, NO POWER ON ENGINE IT LOST THE POWER FROM OVER HEATING, MECHANIC WANTS TO REPLACE ENGINE I WAS QUOTED 3700 DOLLARS. HOW CAN I KNOW IF THIS ENGINE WAS A DEFECT. *TR
Mileage: 160,700
OF ALL THE PERSONAL VEHICLES I'VE EVER OWNED, I'VE NEVER HAD ONE THAT CAUSES ME TO DRIVE LIKE I WAS ON "PINS & NEEDLES". I WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHEN OUT OF THE BLUE THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS LET GO, WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. AFTER INVESTIGATING WITH DEALER INQUIRIES AND INDEPENDENT SHOPS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH LAND ROVER V8 ALUMINUM ENGINES.THE DEALERSHIP(S) I SPOKE WITH ACTUALLY AGREED WITH MY CONCERNS BUT SAID "TALKING TO LAND ROVER IS LIKE TALKING TO A DOG, THEY HEAR YOU BUT WON'T DO A THING ABOUT IT". I COULD UNDERSTAND IF THIS VEHICLE WAS HIGH MILEAGE OR WAS REALLY ABUSED. SOMEONE NEEDS TO ADDRESS THESE PEOPLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR
Mileage: 85,101
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY OVERHEATED WITHOUT WARNING AND SHE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL THE WARRANTY COMPANY. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 147,081. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Mileage: 147,081
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THREE TIMES NOW OUR LANDROVER DISCOVERY (2002) HAS ACCELERATED WITHOUT INTENT. ONCE PULLING INTO OUR DRIVEWAY NEARLY CRASHING INTO A PERSON, ANOTHER TIME FROM A DEAD STOP AND I HAD TO SWERVE NOT TO HIT A HOUSE, AND NOW A THIRD TIME WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING SLOWLY DOWN A STREET -- ALL OF A SUDDEN OUR CAR ACCELERATED AND NEARLY HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. *TR
CATALYTIC CONVERTER. *TR
Mileage: 106,000
I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN MY 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY MADE A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AND STOPPED MY CAR. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED AND AFTER INSPECTION WAS TOLD THE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE 55K MILES AND THE REPAIRS ARE OVER $1,000.00. ALSO I JUST HAD A MECHANICAL INSPECTION A FEW MONTHS AGO AND WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS FINE. *TR
Mileage: 55,000
DRIVESHAFT FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 60,000 MILES. FORTUNATELY, I WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT PROCEED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM THAT LANDROVER CONTINUES TO DENY. *NM
Mileage: 62,000
DEFECTIVE SUNROOF SUNROOF LEAKS INTO OCCUPANT COMPARTMENT AT WINDSHIELD POSTS BOTH SIDES WHICH IN TURN RUNS DOWN INTO ELECTRICAL FUSES CAUSING TICKING NOISES AND SHORTS. *NM
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE ROLLED OVER FROM THREE TO SEVEN TIMES . UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PASSENGER SUSTAINED THREE SPINE AND PELVIC FRACTURES, AND NEEDED MASSIVE SURGERY TO THE RIGHT KNEE. *AK
Mileage: 42,600
FIRE ORIGINATED RIGHT REAR SECION ENGINE AROUND HEATER HOSES-ONE HEARTER HOSE LEAKED OR RUPTURED ALLOWING ENGINE COOLANT TO DRIP DOWN ONTO HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD IGNITING THE COOLANT CAUSE FIRE
Mileage: 58,345
WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME WHERE IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *PH
Mileage: 15,218
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.