Total Complaints
3 filings
LAND ROVER DISCOVERY I · model year
1997 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY I
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1997LAND ROVERDISCOVERY I carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 1997 DISCOVERY I is power train:driveline:universal joint with 1 filings, followed by power train:driveline:driveshaft (1) and fuel system, gasoline (1). 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 12 investigation files overlapping the 1997 DISCOVERY I, and 3 remain open. 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.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20071116FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY I. WHEN THE GAS TANK WAS FILLED, THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SMELLED OF GASOLINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT INSPECT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE VIN APPEARED TO BE INVALID. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,940 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,500.
Mileage: 90,500
20070423POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
DRIVING AT THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE, MY 1997 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE. THE EXPLOSION CAUSED THE CRASH SENSORS TO ACTIVATE (BLINKERS, FUEL CUT). THE DRIVE SHAFT WENT THROUGH THE PASSENGER FLOOR RIPPING OUT WIRES. THANKFULLY, NOBODY WAS INJURED HOWEVER THERE WAS A REAL POSSIBILITY THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS INJURY FROM THIS. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE. *JB
Mileage: 156,000
20070423POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
DRIVING AT THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE, MY 1997 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE. THE EXPLOSION CAUSED THE CRASH SENSORS TO ACTIVATE (BLINKERS, FUEL CUT). THE DRIVE SHAFT WENT THROUGH THE PASSENGER FLOOR RIPPING OUT WIRES. THANKFULLY, NOBODY WAS INJURED HOWEVER THERE WAS A REAL POSSIBILITY THAT THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS INJURY FROM THIS. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE. *JB
Mileage: 156,000
Compare 1997LAND ROVERDISCOVERY I to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 3 Open
PE25019Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Rear Seat Belt Stitching Failure and Detachment
PE25006Preliminary EvaluationOpen
2014-2017 Land Rover Range Rover Sport (L494) front steering knuckle fractures
AQ24004Audit QueryOpen
High Voltage Coolant Heaters may fail to defrost windshield
EA20001Engineering AnalysisClosed
Loss of Brake Power Assist
PE20007Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Spoiler Cover Detachment
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1997 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY I have?▼
The 1997 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY I has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY I?▼
The most-complained component for the 1997 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY I is POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
Is the 1997 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY I safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
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.