106 of the
784 complaints filed about the Land Rover Discovery
are about the engine —
14% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2003.
The contact owns a 2019 Land Rover Discovery. The contact stated that while driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power and an odd noise was heard. Although the vehicle was able to restart, it knocked and shook very hard, rendering it no longer drivable. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V040000 (ENGINE) however, the VIN was not included in the recall repair. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 53,000.
NHTSA complaint #11740149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Land Rover Discovery. The contact stated that when attempting to back out of a parking space, the shifter was moved to reverse; however, the shifter failed to release from reverse. The vehicle was shut off, then restarted to reset the transmission, and at which time the shifter was able to be moved. The next day, while driving at highway speeds of approximately 55 MPH, entering on an on-ramp, the vehicle began to lose power and suddenly decelerate, then the vehicle shifted to neutral. The contact coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced and there were failures with the gearbox and other computer systems. The vehicle was repaired. The next morning, the shifter failure and start failure occurred again. The next day, the instrument panel began to illuminate the messages, "Proceed With Caution" and "Gearbox Fault Detected." The Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) would black out, restart, and black out again. The failure would occur while idle, at which time they would have to place the vehicle in park, shut off, then restart it. The vehicle returned to their home and parked. The contact completed some research and found their experienced failure related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V248000 (Electrical System); however, their VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the issue. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to file a complaint. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
NHTSA complaint #11735749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am filing a safety complaint regarding a sudden and complete loss of power event while driving my 2021 Land Rover Discovery. The vehicle experienced a DC-DC converter failure with no warning, resulting in a sudden shutdown. The engine lost power, critical systems went offline, and I was unable to shift the vehicle into neutral. The vehicle became immobilized in active traffic, creating a dangerous situation. This incident occurred without warning and left me with no ability to safely move the vehicle out of traffic or rely on normal emergency functions. This presents a serious safety hazard to both the driver and others on the road. The vehicle has been at the dealership since mid-January 2026. The dealer has stated that the DC-DC failure caused additional component failures. However, no root cause has been identified beyond “internal failure,” and I have not been provided confirmation that the system has been properly tested or that the issue will not recur. I am concerned that this failure can cause cascading electrical issues, including loss of the 12V system, impacting multiple critical vehicle functions at once. The lack of a clear diagnosis and verified repair raises concerns about reliability and safety. Given the sudden loss of power, inability to move the vehicle, and absence of a confirmed root cause or validated repair, I am formally requesting that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration open a defect investigation into the MHEV/DC-DC system. This failure creates a significant safety risk, including vehicles becoming immobilized in active traffic without warning. The risk of recurrence without a defined cause is especially concerning and may indicate a broader issue.
NHTSA complaint #11732006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11708640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving on Ware Rd about 50 MPH on my way home. The vehicle turned off while I was driving and had to turn into a street before the vehicle stopped moving. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms prior to the failure. If I had been on a highway, there would not have been a way for me to get out of dangerous traffic. The dealer checked the vehicle and determined that it had suffered a catatrophic engine failure. They had no explanation on the cause of the problem. My vehicle had just run out of warranty with only 60,000 miles on it.
NHTSA complaint #11708665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The camshaft is broken allong with the nit which causes our car to shut off. This defect has ben corrected on other autos like mine but my vin has not been recalled yet
NHTSA complaint #11701322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Defect Summary: Repeated water intrusion (windshield, roof rails, rear door latch) leading to electrical damage. Electrical failures resulting in sudden loss of power, lighting, and infotainment. Critical safety system failures including: Sudden loss of steering assist and brake assist while in motion. Vehicle stalling with the engine running but no drivetrain response. Gear shifter malfunctions leaving the vehicle stuck in gear. Notable Incidents: July–August 2025 (61,000 mi): Multiple events of complete power loss while driving, including loss of steering and braking control on a public roadway. September 11, 2025 (post-repair): After dealer-replaced battery and gear-shift module, the vehicle failed catastrophically within 450 feet of leaving the service center, jolting violently, losing all electrical power, and leaving steering and brakes stiff. An Edison Police officer witnessed the event and assisted in traffic control. Safety Concern: These recurring failures present a clear and ongoing danger of crash, injury, or fatality. The pattern demonstrates a systemic design or manufacturing defect related to water ingress and electrical integrity.
NHTSA complaint #11690779 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Land Rover Discovery. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH and entering the highway, the vehicle shut off. While driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle shut off and restarted. The vehicle coasted after stalling. The vehicle was shifted into park and then into drive to continue driving. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V694000 (Electrical System) and 19V040000 (Engine). The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V393000 (Electrical System, Latches, Locks/Linkages). The local dealer was contacted, and confirmed there was a cyberattack on the computers, and they would be down until October 2025. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
NHTSA complaint #11688432 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am filing this complaint regarding a catastrophic engine failure on my 2017 Land Rover Discovery HSE Luxury with the 3.0L V6 supercharged engine. The failure was caused by a broken timing chain, which resulted in severe internal engine damage. This component failure has been confirmed by an independent Land Rover specialist, and the damaged parts — including the broken chain — are available for inspection upon request. The incident put our safety at risk, as the vehicle experienced sudden loss of engine power while in operation. A complete engine stall, especially in traffic or at highway speeds, could easily lead to loss of power steering and braking assistance, significantly increasing the chance of an accident. Prior to the failure, we noticed several warning signs, including an illuminated check engine light, rough idling, and multiple diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), such as P0018, P0019, P0300, P0304, P0305, and P0306. These symptoms began appearing a few weeks before the engine failed completely, but escalated quickly. To our knowledge, there is no recall or technical service bulletin (TSB) addressing this known issue on this model and engine configuration. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by Land Rover, the police, or any insurance agency, but the independent mechanic confirmed that the failure was internal and directly related to the timing chain system. We are submitting this report in the interest of public safety, as this type of failure on a vehicle with regular maintenance and 140,000 miles should not occur without warning. We believe this may indicate a broader reliability issue with the timing system in these engines and urge the NHTSA to investigate.
NHTSA complaint #11663784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Had engine cooling system repaired at dealer in 2023. In late 2024/early 2025 - engine coolant loss returned. We maintained engine coolant at recommended levels until we could get vehicle into dealership for diagnosis and repair. During routine local trip, low coolant light suddenly came on and immediately following that, engine stopped in the middle of traffic. Wife was barely able to navigate vehicle to safe place alongside the road. Vehicle was towed to dealer. They diagnosed engine failure due to oil cooling system failure. We contacted JLR and they offered no solutions. This is a $40,000 repair on a vehicle worth at most $20 to $25,000 retail. We had to dispose of it to a salvage buyer at an extreme loss.
NHTSA complaint #11650887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11642287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Land Rover Discovery. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the battery warning illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled several seconds after the battery warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to coast into a parking lot and the vehicle was taken to a Parts Store where a new battery was purchased. The contact installed the battery however, the vehicle stalled again. The contact left the vehicle on the side of the road. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by a dealer or independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 106,331.
NHTSA complaint #11634263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This particular vehicle comes with a plastic coolant water outlet. When the plastic melts, it causes the coolant system to fail, and the engine will overheat. The plastic can only withstand heat up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Most engines run at 195-220. There was no reason for the manufacturer to use this type of plastic. Over 1,000 aftermarket coolant water outlets have been sold as a replacement for the manufacturer's part. There is a class action lawsuit for the faulty coolant water outlet. [XXX] v. Tata Motors Group, Jaguar Land Rover Limited, and Jaguar Land Rover North America LLC. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11621953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On May 18, 2024 at approximately 4pm, my husband turned on my 2019 Land Rover Discovery from a cold start after sitting parked for about 20 minutes. We heard a slight rattle upon start-up, so he turned the car ignition off. He restarted the car after about a minute and we did not hear the rattle. We began driving the car and after about 2-3 miles, the car started shuddering and began slowing down but did not completely stall. My husband turned off the car again and we waited for a couple of minutes and he restarted the car. It drove fine for about a mile and began shuddering/hesitating again as we were driving. Then the car made a loud warning sound, a warning light flickered on the dash and the engine completely turned off as we were driving. We were in the middle of traffic and had we been on the freeway, there would have been catastrophic consequences as the engine completely stopped. We thankfully were able to coast to a side-street on our immediate right and stopped. The engine would not turn over and my husband was unable to restart the car. I immediately made an appointment with my local Land Rover dealership for 3 days later (next available) and had the truck towed there. After inspection, they told me they believed the main bearing in the engine failed due to an oil pump failure and that the engine would need to be replaced. My truck is 5 years old and has less than 100,000 miles (only about 80K). No previous warning lights! A car this expensive and with so few miles with regular maintenance service being performed by either Land Rover or AAA, shouldn’t need a new engine. This is after I’d had the camshaft adjuster/timing chain replaced in this truck by the same dealership only 3 months prior! After speaking to the service person, he informed me that 2 other Land Rovers were sitting in the dealership waiting for the SAME engine and waiting for 4-5 months to be delivered from the manufacturer with NO ETA! Known, dangerous problem! Please help resolve!
NHTSA complaint #11594607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have purchased this vehicle from CarMax which was sent in by way of the Texas store to Georgia October 31, 2022. It has only been a year and since I have had the vehicle the engine light kept coming on I took it back, they reset it it came back on I have Extended Warranty on the vehicle and they are trying to charge me to fix the issue because they do not have the tools to fix it and it has to go to an authorized Land Rover dealer service department. Oil is leaking from the vehicle which it should not be and they want to charge over $6000 to fix it
NHTSA complaint #11549608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Land Rover Discovery. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the navigation system screen went blank. The vehicle randomly failed to start. The Land Rover logo was on the screen. While driving, the battery warning light was flashing. All the warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who performed an update. The dealer was unable to determine the failure. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. While driving, after a few days the vehicle failed to start. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 38,181.
NHTSA complaint #11549604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Land Rover Discovery. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who informed the contact that both the front driver side seat belt pretensioner and door latch were defective, which caused the warning light to illuminate. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
NHTSA complaint #11549393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving on a very busy road in Portland when my engine suffered catastrophic failure and seized the engine. This was due to a defect in the crankshaft. My family and I are lucky this didn’t happen at speed on a highway. Land Rover has failed to acknowledge a problem despite thousands of people experiencing the same. This resulted in a 26k bill. I just found out I could report my experience so I am now. Research has uncovered this is a common problem and a safety concern for many others as well. https://www.thepetitionsite.com/535/903/886/land-rover-sdv6-amp-tdv6-crank-failure/ https://www.lrukforums.com/threads/crank-shaft-snapping.263315/ There are countless other websites detailing people’s experiences.
NHTSA complaint #11537615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Driving down the highway, the vehicle all the sudden started smoking, forcing me to pull over. Upon pulling over, I found it was a fire under the left front hood based on the smoke pouring out. I called 911 immediately. I attempted to save some belongings, including my $200K boat, but failed to save anything as the fire rapidly grew forcing me to step far away. I then watched my car, boat and belongings all perish to nearly nothing before the fire department arrived and put out the fire. While I am lucky to be safe and have adequate insurance, others may not fair so well when their Land Rover Discovery 5 petrol catches fire.
NHTSA complaint #11537799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.