2003 Land Rover Discovery recalls and problems

The 2003 Land Rover Discovery has 1 recall and 48 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is engine.

2002 Land Rover Discovery
Pictured: a 2002 model; the 2003 may differ in details. Photo: 2002 Land Rover Discovery by Makizox, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
How the 2003 compares
Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 16 Discovery model years — 2nd most.

1recalls
48complaints
8crashes
2fires
2injuries
73,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
Check your VIN →

1 recall

Vehicle Speed Control

Apr 14, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V133000 · 3,291 vehicles

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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Original NHTSA wording

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.

Remedy & notes

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.

Land Rover recall no. D117/B150.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Engine19
Power Train10
Service Brakes9
Vehicle Speed Control8
Electrical System6
Suspension3
Air Bags2
Structure2
Tires2
Equipment1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

2002: 1 complaints20022003: 4 complaints2004: 2 complaints20042005: 1 complaints2006: 3 complaints20062007: 2 complaints2008: 5 complaints20082009: 2 complaints2010: 4 complaints20102011: 3 complaints2012: 6 complaints201262013: 1 complaints2014: 4 complaints20142015: 3 complaints2016: 2 complaints20162018: 3 complaints2020: 2 complaints20202

2003 vs. other Land Rover Discovery years

2000: 30 complaints20002001: 13 complaints2002: 17 complaints20022003: 48 complaints2004: 29 complaints20042006: 2 complaints2016: 5 complaints20162017: 56 complaints562018: 37 complaints20182019: 39 complaints2020: 20 complaints20202021: 12 complaints2022: 11 complaints20222023: 7 complaints2024: 8 complaints20242026: 1 complaints20261

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2003 Land Rover Discovery have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign covering the 2003 Land Rover Discovery, the latest from Apr 14, 2003 (vehicle speed control). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Land Rover Discovery?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention engine (19), power train (10), service brakes (9). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.