29 of the
784 complaints filed about the Land Rover Discovery
are about the steering —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1998.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11738481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There is a safety recall for the 2019-2020 Land Rover Discovery models. 414-01 SAFETY RECALL: Startup Battery Ground Stud - Insufficient Ground Contact Land Rover Tech bulletin dated 09 DEC 2020 On July 25 my 2017 Land Rover discovery lost power, instrumentation went haywire, and steering limp as I was making a turn onto US-90. On August 5 it would not start. Eventually jump started it, as the battery did not seem to register to the vehicle. On August 6 it again lost power, drive train went limp, all warnings lit up, and steering died as I was getting onto I-95 On August 7 JLR of Jacksonville informed me they found arching burn marks on the battery ground stud. They knew this as a common issue from the previous Tech Bulletin. The 2017&2018 have the same design as the 2019&2020, why are the 2017&2018 not included in the recall?
NHTSA complaint #11679467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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)
NHTSA complaint #11584203 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Suddenly, one morning on my way to work the steering became extremely heavy and the handling became very dull. The steering wheel still turned the wheels, but it required a vast amount of effort where the previous day the steering wheel could have been turned with one finger. There were no noises coming from the steering column, or warning lights associated with the defect. No smells associated with friction from parts rubbing together, either. Totally silent. I consulted the manual and no mention was made re: what was happening. It had advised to call an authorized dealer to have it inspected. A trip to the dealership confirmed that the steering gear assembly (a $5,000 part) had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealership did not make mention of this issue being common, or even having happened recently with a similar model/year. There is almost no power assistance coming through the steering, and I am worried about what could happen as a result. Perhaps the steering itself will become impossible? The dealer was uncertain as to whether it posed a greater issue or was just "an annoyance".
NHTSA complaint #11471022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
After 2000 miles of driving, I received a warning that I had reduced traction and needed to drive with caution. When I took vehicle to dealer they determined the “initial configuration was not complete”.
NHTSA complaint #11436143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NOV 16 2019 I BOUGHT I WAS ON ROAD ON FLORIDA AND SUDDENLY ALL LIGHTS COME ON DASH BOARD I TOOK NEAR CAR DEALER HE CHECK WITH CODE READER AND EVERY THING OK I DROVE BACK TO DAYTON,OHIO SITTING AT DEALERAND I HAD SAME PROBLEM AND MY VEHICLE IS THEIR ALMOST 9 ( WEEKS ) AND I NOT FIXED YET I TRY TO CALL CORPORATE OFFICE TRY TO TALK TO THEM I AM NOT GETTING RESONSE FROM THEM LOOKS LIKE MY CAR IS NOT FIXEBLE LOOKS LIKE IT IS A LEMON SO PLEASE CAN YOU TRY OUT WHAT IS WRONG THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #11359966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LET ME START, BY SAYING THIS HAPPENED 2 MONTHS AGO, IN MONTERREY N.L MEXICO. I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY THE CAR FELT LIKE IT TURNED OFF AND IT PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND I CRASHED HITTING TWO CARS. SENT IT TO RANGE ROVER AND THEY STATED THE POWER STEERING BOX WAS DAMAGED AND I ASKED THEM ABOUT ANY RECALL THE SAID NO THIER HADN'T BEEN. I NEED MY CAR FIXED CAN YOU HELP PLEASE. MEXICO DOESN'T WANT TO DO THIS UNDER WARRANTY. CLAIM THAT WARRANTY IS ONLY FOR CANADA AND US. I COULD HAVE KILLED PEOPLE AND THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN ON YOUR COMPANY I NEED MY PROBLEM LOOK AT.
NHTSA complaint #11266656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN CAUSING COMPLETE LACK OF STEERING CONTROL BY OPERATOR WHILE IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 75MPH. VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING ON STRAIGHT AWAY OF A 4 LANE HIGHWAY 565 ALABAMA WITH GRASSY MEDIAN. UPON STEERING WHEEL DETACHMENT, VEHICLE VEERED LEFT AND INTO THE MEDIAN WHERE BRAKES WERE APPLIED UNTIL THE VEHICLE SLID TO A STOP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MEDIN EMBANKMENT. NO INJURIES OCCURRED DUE TO LOCATION OF THE INCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #11163142 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE SPEED WAS ABOVE 65 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FRONT SHAFT WAS REPLACED TWICE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #10881207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BEGAN TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. AS MY CAR CLEARED THE PARKING SPACE, I WAS TURNING MY STEERING WHEEL AS I BACKED OUT, I HEARD A CLICK AT THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUDDENLY HAD NO STEERING WHATSOEVER. MY STEERING WHEEL JUST SPINS FREE, EASILY, AND THE STEERING WHEEL NO LONGER CONTROLS THE FRONT TIRES. IT APPEARS THAT A SPLINED SHAFT COMING OUT OF THE STEERING BOX IS STRIPPED. I HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED HOME AS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE IT WITHOUT ANY STEERING CONTROL. HAVING JUST RECOVERED FROM STAGE 4 CANCER LAST YEAR AND WORKING ONLY 1/2 TIME (20 HOURS/WEEK), I HAVEN'T GOT THE MONEY TO PAY A MECHANIC TO FIX IT RIGHT NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10556128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2004 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY HSE. CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT REGARDING WARRANTY AND NEEDED REPAIRS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN. THE WARRANTY COMPANY REFUSED TO AUTHORIZED THE REPLACEMENT OF A DEFECTIVE PUMP WITH NEW LAND ROVER REPLACEMENT PARTS. INSTEAD, THEY AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR FOR USED PARTS. AS A RESULT, THE SHOP WAITED WEEKS UNTIL THE PARTS WERE LOCATED. THE FIRST USED STEERING PUMP THAT WAS INSTALLED MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STEERED. A SECOND USED PUMP HAD TO BE LOCATED AND INSTALLED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS WITHOUT HIS VEHICLE FOR TWO MONTHS. SHORTLY AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE SECOND USED REPLACEMENT WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10361989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2004 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY HSE. CONSUMER EXPRESSES DISCONTENT REGARDING WARRANTY AND NEEDED REPAIRS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN. THE WARRANTY COMPANY REFUSED TO AUTHORIZED THE REPLACEMENT OF A DEFECTIVE PUMP WITH NEW LAND ROVER REPLACEMENT PARTS. INSTEAD, THEY AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR FOR USED PARTS. AS A RESULT, THE SHOP WAITED WEEKS UNTIL THE PARTS WERE LOCATED. THE FIRST USED STEERING PUMP THAT WAS INSTALLED MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STEERED. A SECOND USED PUMP HAD TO BE LOCATED AND INSTALLED. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS WITHOUT HIS VEHICLE FOR TWO MONTHS. SHORTLY AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE, IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THE SECOND USED REPLACEMENT WAS ALSO DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10361989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
OUR LAND ROVER DISCOVERY LOST STEERING AND BRAKE CONTROL WHILE ON HIGHWAY 99 NB SOUTH OF THE TOULUMNE RD EXIT. WE WERE TRAVELING AT LOW HIGHWAY SPEED (50-60MPH) WHEN WE NOTICED THE VEHICLE TO BEGIN SWERVING LEFT AND RIGHT CAUSING THE BODY TO PITCH DRAMATICALLY WITH NO RESPONSE FROM STEERING, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY WERE UNRESPONSIVE. THE DIRECTIONAL OCCASIONAL INCREASED WHILE WE TRAVELED APPROX ANOTHER 500 YARDS BEFORE WE HIT THE EDGE EMBANKMENT AND ROLLED OVER. ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN IN THE OVERTURNED POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #10325465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING ON THE I-10 EXPRESSWAY IN NEW ORLEANS, THE STEERING MECHANISM STOPPED WORKING, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, I DID NOT CRASH INTO OTHER VEHICLES. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE I-10 HEADING TOWARDS MY BROTHER'S HOME TO TELL HIM ABOUT MY SITUATION. HE WASN'T HOME. I CALLED HIM ON THE CELL PHONE. HE TOLD ME TO PARK THE VEHICLE AND CALL TRIPLE A. AS I WAS BACKING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY TO PARK THE LAND ROVER, THE STEERING WHEEL SPUN LIKE A TOP WITH NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TRIPLE A ARRIVED AND DISCOVERED A STEERING BOLT SEPARATION. THEY TIGHTENED THE BOLT AND TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MY RESIDENCE BECAUSE IT WAS THE JULY 4TH WEEKEND, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY HOME, NOT THE DEALERSHIP. (I MAILED YOU A LETTER ON JUNE 12, 2006 WITH THE REST OF THE DETAILS).
NHTSA complaint #10160578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY STEERING ROD FELL OFF AND I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR! THIS IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL AND RARE AND I THINK IT WARRANTS AN INQUIRY AND RESPONSE. THIS CAR IS SOLD AND ADVERTISED AS THE ULTIMATE RUGGED OFF ROAD VEHICLE. I DO NOT DRIVE UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS BUT RATHER ORDINARY CONDITIONS. THIS WAS A POTENTIALLY FATAL PROBLEM IF I WERE DRIVING UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #749074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2000 DISCOVERY II PURCHASED OFF THE SHOW ROOM FLOOR FROM MAIN LINE LAND ROVER IN HAVERFORD PA IN APRIL 00. JUNE 25, 2000 I WAS TRAVELING 60 MPH ON THE NJ TURNPIKE WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT OUT OF CONTROL , SHOOTING OFF TO THE RIGHT SIDEWAYS WITHOUT STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE TURNED 180 DEGREES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAS STOPPED BY THE STEEL GUARD RAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS, AT THAT POINT, FACING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF THE TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS KEPT BY THE BODY SHOP AND THE DEALER (BOTH IN CHERRY HILL, NJ) FOR NEARLY 4 MONTHS. THE BODY SHOP COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE STRAIGHT. THE DEALER EVENTUALLY REPLACED THE STEERING BOX. AT THE NEXT SERVICING, MAIN LINE LAND ROVER REPLACED THE RECALLED PULLEY AND BELTS. I AHVE ALSO HAD CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO DRAG. I HAVE RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES FOR CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING AND THE TRANSMISSION. THEY CONTINUALLY CLAIM THE VEHICLE IS OK.
NHTSA complaint #749144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAILURE WITH THIS VEHICAL HAS BEEN WITH; BRAKES, STEERING, ENGINE, MIRROR, FUEL INJECTION, DOOR WINDOW NOT WORKING, DOOR LOCKS FAIL, LINKAGE CONTROL FOR SPEED
NHTSA complaint #748367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.