LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II · model year

2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II

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.

41
Complaints
5
Crashes
6
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

41 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT3
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
STEERING2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM2
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT1
TIRES1
PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY1

Recalls (4)

02V02800023/01/2002

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.

12E01000015/03/2012

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

04V00600006/01/2004

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.

04V00500006/01/2004

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

Recent Complaints

20150129SERVICE BRAKES

VEHICLE LOST THE BRAKE FLUID. NO BRAKES. ALL LINES AND CHASSIS RUSTED. *TR

Mileage: 150,000

20120206POWER TRAIN

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

20111114ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

20101126ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

20101126ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

20101018ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

20100816ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

20100401ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

20090705POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

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

20090322POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

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

20090322ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

20081225ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY OVERHEATING AND LEAKING COOLANT.*TR

Mileage: 79,000

20081021ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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

20080609ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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

20080524SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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

20080420CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

MY ABS SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE AND MY BRAKES FAILED AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED CAR. *TR

20080108FireSTEERING

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

20080108FirePOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

20080108FireSTRUCTURE

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

20071211SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

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

Compare 2002LAND ROVERDISCOVERY II to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 3 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II have?
The 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II has 41 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 6 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II?
Yes, the 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II?
The most-complained component for the 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING with 8 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II 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.