LAND Rover Discovery Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used LAND Rover Discovery options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the LAND Rover Discovery has 313 owner complaints and 39 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2017 drew the most complaints; 2024 drew the fewest.
- Make
- LAND Rover
- Model
- Discovery
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 313
- Safety recall campaigns
- 39
- Crash-related complaints
- 5
- Fire-related complaints
- 3
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2017 (186 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2024 (7 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
LAND Rover Discovery: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe LAND ROVER DISCOVERY has 313 NHTSA complaints and 39 recalls on record. 5 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 313 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 39 federal recall campaigns
- 5 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
39 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:FILTER/SCREEN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 313 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
313 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
I purchased my 2024 Land Rover Discovery new in March of 2024. In October of 2025, I found a large amount of water leaking through my windshield. Land Rover had my vehicle from October 2025 until April 2026. When it was returned to me it had mold in that had to be remidate3d and now my screen is starting to short. I am concerned of the safety of this vehicle and the amount of water that went into the electrical system.
Windshield was leaking into electrical compartment. Caused $10,000 worth of damage and caused the vehicle to be inoperable and stop while driving.
3rd time the vehicle has experienced a electrical fault and renders the car undrivable and will shut down while driving regardless of where you are. Each time the vehicle has stopped while driving on an interstate.
JLRNA has identified my vehicle as unsafe to drive due to bonding delamination of the front windshield. As a result, the windshield had water egress. The service department has deemed my vehicle unsafe to drive as the windshield may not be properly bonded to the vehicle body, allowing it to loosen or detach during a crash. I am aware of multiple vehicles, including mine, currently waiting for replacement windshields at the dealership with no known ETA for replacement or repair of the windshield. This is a historical issue that JLRNA was ordered to resolve, as previous incidents were due to a manufacturing deviation in primer and bonding agent application.
I was driving on a popular street on [XXXX] which I do all the time. The street is very well maintained. There are very few potholes and no debris in the street. I do know how to dodge pot holes. I was headed south. I left my home early it was [XXX]. I heard a popping noise then the truck dropped. I saw the icon on the dash showing about low tire pressure. I was very scared. There wasn’t much traffic I was able to drive slowly to a business parking lot. When I got out of the truck I saw the big whole in the tire and the back bumper hanging off and sensors hanging down and the paneling around the tire off. I purchased this 2024 Discovery [XXX] it was brand new. I have about 6140 miles on the truck. The truck has never been in service for any problems, other than my key fob was not working correctly. I have never got any warning messages about any tire issues on the truck prior to this incident. I had the truck towed to the dealership where I purchased it from. The service person told me the truck needs to go to the Body shop because it is not drivable. He told me they could put a tire on it but since you can’t drive it. I said why did you tell me about it for when you can’t drive it. I spoke to the owner of the dealership and he said I hit something. I told him I didn’t. There was nothing in the street. No one has taken the tire off to inspect at it. The truck will be sitting at the body shop for 2 weeks until they are able to work on it. The tire size is P185/75R1482S. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
DRiving down the highway at night in the rain and car died completely... all electronics shut off, car shut off and had no power to steering or breaks or anything. WOuld not start once it was pulled over and had to be towed to dealer. At the dealership i was told the leaking windshield had eroded the wiring throughout. they could not start or power the car at all. they removed the complete interior and have had the car for 45 days with no estimate of when it is drivable again.
Read 14 more owner reports
My car caught on fire while driving only 5 days, and 210 miles, after being purchased brand new. I first smelled melted plastic, few seconds after that saw smoke rising up under the driver seat and then felt the seat getting hot and saw flames shooting under my seat. All along there were no warning messages or light displayed on the car. The car burned completely and was deemed totaled by my insurance. Insurance investigation, along with Land Rover representatives and local law enforcement detectives that were assigned to the case, determined it to be a manufacturing issue.
Our DC converter caused an electrical malfunction which is apparently such a big problem that our dealership can not get the necessary parts to fix the problem. We are being told we are number 21 in line.
DC/DC converter failed (January 2025) and is sitting at the dealership. My vehicle completely shut down while I was driving on the interstate. I had the same issue in April 2024 and was without my vehicle for nearly 2 months.
DC DC converter failed while driving. Car shut down and rolled to a stop. Could jump start the car but would only work for 10 seconds or so to move it out of traffic. 1-2 month part delay.
The DC-DC converter went out in December. The vehicle has 53,000 miles on it, so it is just out of warranty. I live 100 miles from the nearest dealership so I had it towed to a local shop. I was originally told the part was on back order until Mid-February. I was told yesterday, they think it may not be available until May 2026. If this is such a big issue that they can not keep up with the part, why is this not a recall item?
Perrelli Scorpion 255/55R20 tires experience experience excessive wear down to cords in under 15K miles. Tires are in adequate to support the weight of the vehicle.
Dear NHTSA, I am writing to report a safety issue with my 2023 Land Rover Discovery Metropolitan that occurred on April [XXX] 2024. VIN: [XXX] The issue involved the steering wheel locking unexpectedly. After parking the car overnight for 15 hours, I returned to find a message indicating lane departure assist wasn't working, and the steering wheel was completely locked and inoperable. I attempted various troubleshooting steps, including changing driving modes, restarting the car, and checking for software updates, but none resolved the problem. While the car functioned normally in terms of forward and backward movement, the locked steering wheel prevented any turning ability. There were also no warning lights or error messages displayed on the dashboard. The only solution I found was to perform a hard reset by disconnecting the negative battery cable for 3 minutes and then reconnecting it. It's concerning that a similar issue appears to be reported by other Land Rover owners online, particularly with Defender models. [XXX] My primary concern is the possibility of this malfunction occurring while driving, which could lead to a serious accident. There seems to be no guarantee that this isn't a potential risk. I will be in contact with the Land Rover dealership locally and urge NHTSA to investigate this potential safety concern with Land Rover vehicles. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I was in a parking lot adjusting settings via the touch screen when the vehicle suddenly deactivated the key fob rendering the vehicle useless. The only option was to get the spare key to start the vehicle. This presents a safety issue for all occupants if the vehicle is disabled because of a malfunction with the key, potentially leaving people stranded in a unsafe environment.
My car has the same issue as Recall No: 26V458, but it does not show on my VIN in order for my dealership to remedy the issue. Please connect my VIN [XXX] to recall 26V458 as shown: Manufacturer Name: Submission Date: XXX Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC NHTSA Recall No.: 26V458 Manufacturer Recall No.: D145 Manufacturer Information Populatio INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Part 573 Safety Recall Report 26V458 Manufacturer Name: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC Submission Date:XXX NHTSA Recall No.: 26V458 Manufacturer Recall No.: D145 Rear back up camera intermittently malfunctions. Says “camera not available” on screen. Which also affects the warning signals that tell you if anyone is behind you. I called the dealership to repair it, they said I need you to tie the recall number to my VIN number in order to repair the recall. Please tie recall number 26V458 to my vehicle VIN [XXX] Thank you! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I was driving home from work late at night in December 2025. A Signal came on that said pull to safety or something like that and then I lost power steering and brake control and my entire dash in my vehicle went pitch black. I was in the middle lane on route 290 and I was very lucky not to hit any other vehicles, but it was incredibly scary because I had no control of my vehicle and there were many cars and trucks on the road around me. I coasted off slowly to the side and I had to sit in 15° temperatures for an hour while I waited for AAA to come and tow my vehicle. They towed it to my home and were not able to get it off the ramp so they had to tow it to the dealership because the battery had died. The vehicle for a couple weeks before was slow to start, which I did not realize at the time was a sign that the battery was being drained. It was brought to the dealer and discovered that the DC DC converter and the BECM was the issue. My vehicle is open for inspection if you need it. The converter and BECM have been replaced after fighting with the dealer and with Landrover. Landrover is aware of the situation because they had to work with the dealer on their systems.Unfortunately, I am out almost $1000 because they made me pay for the replacement of the battery ( and the towing ) . Honestly I am having PTSD every time I drive past the area where I almost crashed. Landrover did not even want to accept responsibility, but the dealer did as we have purchased two vehicles from them that we also maintain meticulously.
The failing component is the same as Land Rover Discovery 2017-2020 recall /N221 service action. Complaint is to extend this service action/ recall to later production models of Land Rover Discovery in the years 2021 and 2022. The same issues are occurring as reported with Land Rover discovery 2017-2020. Due to a faulty sealant mechanism, the windshield is leaking water on the inside of vehicle causing visual impairment whilst driving in rain, snow and wet conditions - an unsafe way to drive. The water is also known to leak into electrical components causing cameras to not work, causing steering issues and causing electrical safety warning systems not to function. Land Rover Discovery (specifically 2017–2020 models) has faced issues with water leaking from the windshield, causing potential electrical damage and cabin moisture, as detailed in a Service Action (N221) and a 2020 class-action lawsuit. While often handled as a technical service bulletin (TSB) rather than a safety recall, dealers are instructed to inspect and, if necessary, replace the windshield.Key Details Regarding the Windshield Issues:Affected Vehicles: Primarily 2017-2018 Discovery 5, though reports have continued for 2020 models.Problem: Improper sealing leads to water leaks, causing moisture in the cabin and potential damage to electrical components.Service Action/Recall: Service Action N221 outlines instructions for dealers to test for leaks and replace the windshield if necessary, under certain circumstances.Action Needed: Owners experiencing this issue should contact their local Land Rover dealership for a check, as it may be covered by the manufacturer's warranty or a goodwill repair. However, service dealers who I have called are requiring me to pay $250 for a diagnostic of their own issue. As well as keep the car for several days just to evaluate.
The DC/DC converter had failed after the recent software upgrade by JLR right in the middle of the road. Barely made to their shop. It has been a month since. No updates on the status of the fixing my car. Had call many times, no response. The car is in the JLR diller in Hunt Valley, Maryland.
The contact owns a 2022 Land Rover Discovery. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and turned off. The contact waited before restarting the vehicle; however, after driving for several miles the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, the vehicle jerked, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal before the vehicle stalled. The message "Emergency Braking Assistance Not Available" was displayed. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road. The contact called for assistance and another driver arrived the scene and followed behind the vehicle back to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the ground studs were not connected and had failed to function as intended. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The contact stated that before the electrical failure, the message "Check Coolant" was displayed. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V457000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.
Showing 20 of 313 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact LAND Rover Discovery
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used LAND Rover Discovery, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The LAND Rover Discovery has 313 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The LAND Rover Discovery has 39 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 5 of the LAND Rover Discovery's 313 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all LAND Rover Discovery vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two LAND Rover Discovery vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The LAND Rover Discovery has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
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Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used LAND Rover Discovery.
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LAND Rover Discovery reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the LAND Rover Discovery reliable?
Poor. The LAND Rover Discovery has 313 NHTSA owner complaints and 39 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which LAND Rover Discovery years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2017 (186 complaints), 2019 (38 complaints), 2018 (36 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common LAND Rover Discovery problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (100 complaints); ENGINE (77 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (62 complaints).
Does the LAND Rover Discovery have recalls?
Yes — 39 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the LAND Rover Discovery. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.