Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Land Rover Discovery, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Seat belts | 5 | 15% |
| Air bags | 4 | 12% |
| Steering | 3 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 6% |
| Visibility | 2 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 3% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1998 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE DRIVING AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, FLAMES APPEARED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTI
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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 WHE
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSIVE SPARK WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER'S CLOTHING TO IGN
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
1998 LANDROVER. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR DEFECTIVE VEHICLE*TGW SEE ODI # 10328525 CONSUMER HAS ANOTHER COMPLAINT REFERENCING A PROBLEM WITH HIS 2007 CHEVROLET IMPALA. UPDATED 06/04/10.*JB THE CONSUMER WOUL
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
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 RIGH
NHTSA complaint: Steering
ABS SYSTEM FAILURE, ALMOST CAUSED MY SELF OR CHILDREN TO BE KILLED. 72,000 VEHICLE HAS BEEN IMACULATLY KEPT. TO REPLACEMENT PART IS $2000
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC IND
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
REAR VIEW MIRROR BECAME DISTORTED. THE MIRROR BEGAN TO ACCUMULATE BLACK SPLOTCHES AND OPAQUE WITH WAVY LINES. DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE MIRROR WAS THE CONSUMER'S PROBLEM. ALSO, CONSUMER TOUCHED THE BACK OF THE MIRROR,
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1998 Land Rover Discovery. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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
Risk: IF THIS INCREASED VIBRATION WARNING SIGN IS IGNORED, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE DRIVE COUPLING CAN OCCUR. THE DRIVESHAFT MAY DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION RESULTING IN LOSS OF DRIVE AND LO
Fix: LAND ROVER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERI
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AS A RESULT OF CHAFFING OF A CRUISE CONTROL WIRE, THE STEERING WHEEL ROTARY COUPLER CAN OVERHEAT AND INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG.
Risk: DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING CAN CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE VEHICLE CONTROL.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSIBLE LINK WHICH WILL PROTECT THE ROTARY COUPLER FROM OVERHEATING.
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 58 | average |
| Depreciation | 41 | below average |
| Performance | 71 | good |
| Efficiency | 25 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and seat belts is the most reported area with 5 of them (15%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1998 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 64/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.