Total Complaints
41 filings
LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II · model year
41 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002LAND ROVERDISCOVERY II carries 41 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 6 fires, 2 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 II is engine and engine cooling with 8 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (4) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (3). 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. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 12 investigation files overlapping the 2002 DISCOVERY II, 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.
Total Complaints
41 filings
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 8 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 2 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 1 |
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON SOME SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE COULD HAVE BECOME KINKED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY, RESULTING IN CHAFFING OF THE CABLE. CONTINUED CHAFFING CAN LEAD TO BREAKAGE OF THE INTERIOR CABLE STRANDS.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, INC. (LAND ROVER) IS RECALLING CERTAIN REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLINGS, LAND ROVER BRANDED PART NUMBER TVF100010, MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2011 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2011, SOLD FOR USE AS SERVICE PARTS FOR CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1995-1999 DISCOVERY, 1999-2004 DISCOVERY II, AND 1995
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACTIVE CORNERING ENHANCEMENT (ACE) PUMP BANJO BOLT LOOSES TORQUE AND ALLOWS FLUID TO LEAK PAST THE JOINT.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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 STRES
VEHICLE LOST THE BRAKE FLUID. NO BRAKES. ALL LINES AND CHASSIS RUSTED. *TR
Mileage: 150,000
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 55 MPH, THE DRIVESHAFT CAME APART WITHOUT WARNING AND I WAS ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT WHICH I WAS ABLE TO AVOID. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP IN ALEXANDRIA, VA ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS MOST COMMON IN LAND ROVER AND RANGE ROVER. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE IT WOULD CAUSE SEVERE ACCIDENTS IF THERE IS NO WARNING BEFOREHAND. *TR
Mileage: 99,168
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF ANTI FREEZE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN DUE TO A COOLANT LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Mileage: 80,000
LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II WELL MAINTAINED AT 112 MILES PRESENTED SLIGHT COOLANT AND OIL LEAKAGE. OVERHEATED TWICE. COOLANT LEAK WORSENED RESULTING IN VISUAL INSPECTION BY OWNER. SEVERE COOLANT LEAK EVIDENT FROM RIGHT SIDE REAR HEAD GASKET AND EITHER LEFT SIDE FRONT HEAD GASKET OR FRONT COVER. OIL LEAK ISOLATED TO LEFT SIDE VALVE COVER. ENGINE UNDERGOING TEARDOWN TO DETERMINE DAMAGE EXTENT AND REPAIRABILITY. ESTIMATE $2,500 ASSUMING STEEL CYLINDER LINERS HAVE NOT MOVED OUT OF POSITION. PROPOSED REPAIR ACTION: REPLACE LEFT AND RIGHT HEAD, FRONT COVER, OIL PAN, VALLEY, THROTTLE BODY, GASKETS, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, AND POSSIBLY RADIATOR. RESEARCH SUGGESTS ENGINE REPLACEMENT WITH "TOP HAT" CYLINDER LINERS. *TR
Mileage: 112,000
LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II WELL MAINTAINED AT 112 MILES PRESENTED SLIGHT COOLANT AND OIL LEAKAGE. OVERHEATED TWICE. COOLANT LEAK WORSENED RESULTING IN VISUAL INSPECTION BY OWNER. SEVERE COOLANT LEAK EVIDENT FROM RIGHT SIDE REAR HEAD GASKET AND EITHER LEFT SIDE FRONT HEAD GASKET OR FRONT COVER. OIL LEAK ISOLATED TO LEFT SIDE VALVE COVER. ENGINE UNDERGOING TEARDOWN TO DETERMINE DAMAGE EXTENT AND REPAIRABILITY. ESTIMATE $2,500 ASSUMING STEEL CYLINDER LINERS HAVE NOT MOVED OUT OF POSITION. PROPOSED REPAIR ACTION TO REPLACE LEFT AND RIGHT HEAD, FRONT COVER, OIL PAN, VALLEY, THROTTLE BODY, GASKETS, WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, AND POSSIBLY RADIATOR. RESEARCH SUGGESTS ENGINE REPLACEMENT WITH "TOP HAT" CYLINDER LINERS. *TR
Mileage: 112,000
WHILE DRIVING OUR LAND ROVER IT STARTED TO OVERHEAT. I PULLED OF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHILE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP SINCE IT WOULD NOT START AFTER ALLOWING IT TO COOL. THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED THAT THE ALUMINUM CAMS HAD MELTED AND THAT THEY ALONE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THEY STATED AN ENGINE REPLACEMENT WOULD BE NECESSARY. COST $5600 - $7300. MILES ON VEHICLE AT TIME OF INCIDENT 87,000. *TR
Mileage: 87,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO, THE CONTACT BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT AFTER DRIVING ONE MILE, THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT. HE WOULD THEN MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROADWAY AND ALLOW IT TO COOL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AFTER COOLING OFF UNTIL THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.
Mileage: 110,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN FEBRUARY 2010, THE VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING OIL PRESSURE WHEN IDLING AND THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE. THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED REGARDING THE IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE MAY NEED BEARINGS BUT RECOMMENDED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. THE OIL PUMP WAS REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 124,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.
Mileage: 124,000
I OWN A 2002 DISCOVERY SERIES 2 AT ABOUT 92000 MILES THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT FAILED, WITH NO WARNING. I HAVE REPLACED IT WITH A USED ONE FROM A 2002 ALSO AND NOT EVEN 1 MONTH LATER THE REPLACEMENT ALSO FAILED NOW I'M RELUCTANT TO REPLACE IT AGAIN AT ANOTHER 900 DOLLARS. ALSO I HAVE THE OLD ONE THAT FAILED, HOPING TO GET IT FIXED AS A REPLACEMENT AS I HAVE BEEN READING THEY SEEM TO FAIL ALOT. *TR
Mileage: 92,000
BEGAN HEARING A SMALL SQUEAKING NOISE FROM UNDER VEHICLE AT LOW TO MODERATE SPEEDS. DRIVESHAFT UJOINT WAS GOING OUT. IT WENT OUT AT 45K MILES, AND RECENTLY AT 87K. COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SUV. *TR
Mileage: 87,000
HEAD GASKET LEAK. COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS SUV. LOCAL LR REPAIR SAID $1650 - $2500. HEAD GASKETS ON THIS ENGINE CAN GO OUT EVERY 35K. COOLANT LEAKS FROM THE BACK OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. NOT DETRIMENTAL, BUT CAN CAUSE THE CONSTANT SMELL OF COOLANT. NO PUDDLES. MY COOLANT LEVEL DROPS ABOUT A QUART A MONTH. HARDLY WORTH $1650 TO REPAIR. *TR
Mileage: 87,000
2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY OVERHEATING AND LEAKING COOLANT.*TR
Mileage: 79,000
MY 2002 LANDROVER DISCOVERY BEGAN TO OVER HEAT. THE ENGINE HAS 68K ON IT, THEY STATED THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN AND FLUIDS LEAKED INTERNALLY. COST TO REPLACE ENGINE IS 10,500.00, REFURBISHED ENGINE RUNS 7,300.00. *TR
Mileage: 68,000
LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SERIES II 2002 SUFFERING FROM SEEMINGLY RANDOM APPEARANCE OF THREE WARNING LIGHTS (ALWAYS TOGETHER) ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, HILL DESCENT. KNOWN TO MANY DISCOVERY OWNERS AS THE THREE AMIGOS THESE LIGHTS ARE APPARENTLY THE RESULT OF A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS MODULATOR AND LAND ROVER INSISTS IT IS NOT A RECALL PROBLEM. AS PART AND LABOR RUN ABOUT $ 1,800 AND PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD THERE SEEMS TO BE A CONCERN AMONGST OWNERS THAT LAND ROVER IS NOT DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM IN AN UPFRONT FASHION. TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (NHSTA 10016118, # 700205) PROBABLY RELATES TO THIS ISSUE. *TR
Mileage: 85,000
THE ANTILOCK BRAKES, HILL DESCENT AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATE ON MY LAND ROVER DISCOVERY ON A REGULAR BASIS. AFTER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET THIS IS DUE TO THE ABS MODULATOR, AND IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED AS YET WITH THIS PART. *TR
Mileage: 89,000
MY ABS SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND MY BRAKES FAILED AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR. *TR
TRAVELING SOUTH OF COLUMBUS, OH ON INTERSTATE, GOING BETWEEN 55-65 MPH. CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE, SUDDEN LOUD NOISE (AS IF TIRE BLEW OR WE HIT AN OBJECT) AND WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS BLACK SMOKE BILLOWED UP AND INTO THE CAR. TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND EXITED. UPON INSPECTION THE TIRES WERE FINE. CALLED AAA AND HAD CAR TOWED TO NEAREST LAND ROVER DEALER IN DUBLIN, OH. NEXT DAY WE WERE TOLD THE DRIVE SHAFT "CAME APART" AND THEN DAMAGED THE TRANSMISION AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER PIPE, ALONG WITH DOING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FLOOR BOARD. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT WE WERE "LUCKY" THE CAR CAME TO A SAFE STOP. OUR CAR WAS "TOTALED" AS THE DAMAGES QUOTED WERE AS MUCH AS THE CAR WAS WORTH, ACCORDING TO LAND ROVER DUBLIN. THEY SHOWED US THE KBB PRICE OF $10,000 AND THE DAMAGE QUOTE WAS $8,900. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A RELATIVE'S HOME IN PA. (IT IS CLOSER THAN OUR HOME IN TN). *TR
TRAVELING SOUTH OF COLUMBUS, OH ON INTERSTATE, GOING BETWEEN 55-65 MPH. CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE, SUDDEN LOUD NOISE (AS IF TIRE BLEW OR WE HIT AN OBJECT) AND WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS BLACK SMOKE BILLOWED UP AND INTO THE CAR. TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND EXITED. UPON INSPECTION THE TIRES WERE FINE. CALLED AAA AND HAD CAR TOWED TO NEAREST LAND ROVER DEALER IN DUBLIN, OH. NEXT DAY WE WERE TOLD THE DRIVE SHAFT "CAME APART" AND THEN DAMAGED THE TRANSMISION AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER PIPE, ALONG WITH DOING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FLOOR BOARD. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT WE WERE "LUCKY" THE CAR CAME TO A SAFE STOP. OUR CAR WAS "TOTALED" AS THE DAMAGES QUOTED WERE AS MUCH AS THE CAR WAS WORTH, ACCORDING TO LAND ROVER DUBLIN. THEY SHOWED US THE KBB PRICE OF $10,000 AND THE DAMAGE QUOTE WAS $8,900. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A RELATIVE'S HOME IN PA. (IT IS CLOSER THAN OUR HOME IN TN). *TR
TRAVELING SOUTH OF COLUMBUS, OH ON INTERSTATE, GOING BETWEEN 55-65 MPH. CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE, SUDDEN LOUD NOISE (AS IF TIRE BLEW OR WE HIT AN OBJECT) AND WE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS BLACK SMOKE BILLOWED UP AND INTO THE CAR. TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND EXITED. UPON INSPECTION THE TIRES WERE FINE. CALLED AAA AND HAD CAR TOWED TO NEAREST LAND ROVER DEALER IN DUBLIN, OH. NEXT DAY WE WERE TOLD THE DRIVE SHAFT "CAME APART" AND THEN DAMAGED THE TRANSMISION AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER PIPE, ALONG WITH DOING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FLOOR BOARD. WE WERE ALSO TOLD THAT WE WERE "LUCKY" THE CAR CAME TO A SAFE STOP. OUR CAR WAS "TOTALED" AS THE DAMAGES QUOTED WERE AS MUCH AS THE CAR WAS WORTH, ACCORDING TO LAND ROVER DUBLIN. THEY SHOWED US THE KBB PRICE OF $10,000 AND THE DAMAGE QUOTE WAS $8,900. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A RELATIVE'S HOME IN PA. (IT IS CLOSER THAN OUR HOME IN TN). *TR
THE BRAKE PEDAL IS VERY SOFT. THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHTS FLASH ON AT-WILL. TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO LAND ROVER ANAHEIM HILLS WHO DETERMINED THE ABS MODULATOR IS GOING OUT AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH APPROXIMATELY 74K MILES. MILEAGE WHEN TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP WAS 78,490. FIVE DAYS AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, HAD THE REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED; YET, NO IMPROVEMENT ON BRAKING DISTANCE, FEEL OF BRAKE PEDAL. WHEN PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL RAPIDLY TWICE, THE BRAKES STOP RESPONSIVELY. OTHERWISE, THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSES A NUMBER OF INCHES BEFORE ACTUALLY HALTING THE VEHICLE. *TR
Mileage: 77,790
Rear Seat Belt Stitching Failure and Detachment
2014-2017 Land Rover Range Rover Sport (L494) front steering knuckle fractures
High Voltage Coolant Heaters may fail to defrost windshield
Loss of Brake Power Assist
Spoiler Cover Detachment
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.