2003 Land Rover Discovery Series II

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

63/100

Skip unless cheap

AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Land Rover Discovery Series II, and it carries no 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Engine and engine cooling	31	28%
Service brakes	12	11%
Engine	11	10%
Power train	9	8%
Vehicle speed control	7	6%
Structure	2	2%
Electrical system	2	2%
Service brakes	2	2%
Latches/locks/linkages	2	2%
Suspension	1	1%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER N/A. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE BOUGHT FOUR TIRES THAT TURNED OUT TO BE MANUFACTURER DEFECTS. THE TIRES WERE FEDERAL TIRES, TIRE SIZE 255/45/R20, AND NO DOT GIVEN. THE TIRES WERE PR
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE BOSCHE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE COOLANT TO BOIL IN THE MAIN CYLINDER HEAD AND
NHTSA complaint: Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING 45 MPH AROUND A CURVE, THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED, LEFT THE ROAD, AND CRASHED INTO A CULVERT AND A HIGHWAY SIGN. THE VEHICLE ROLLED OV
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

ON MY WAY HOME FROM PICKING UP MY GRANDCHILD THERE WAS SOME VIBRATING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE AUTOMOBILE. THAN A LOUD EXPLOSION FOLLOWED BY RUBBER BURNING SMELL AND LOST OF CONTROL OF CAR. MANAGED TO PULL OVER CAR W
NHTSA complaint: Power train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH AND MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, IT CRASHED INTO A CURB, DROVE OVER THE SIDEWALK, AND INTO THE STREET. T
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING AFTER I PURCHASED IT AND I HAD JUST GOT THE BEST RECOMMENDED OIL AN SPARK PLUGS / WIRES NO MONEY TO REPAIR
NHTSA complaint: Power train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS EXCESSIVE CORROSION ON THE SUBFRAME BY THE REAR AXLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE INSPECTED. T
NHTSA complaint: Structure

WE WERE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON I 5. IN RED BLUFF CALIFORNIA HEADED TO LODI CA.THE CAR JUST STARTED MAKING A NOISE AND THEN THE VEHICLE STARTED SWIIRVING LEFT TO RIGHT WITH CONTROL OR RESPONSE FROM THE STEERING WHEELL WE HI
NHTSA complaint: Steering

The seven scores

Reliability raw	85	excellent
Longevity est.	75	good
Maintenance	56	average
Depreciation	41	below average
Performance	74	good
Efficiency	21	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 74% of SUVs
Longevity: better than 54% of SUVs
Running costs: better than 14% of SUVs
Value retention: better than 11% of SUVs

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 85: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 75: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2003 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 56: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2003 Land Rover Discovery Series II?

Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 31 of them (28%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 2003 Land Rover Discovery Series II reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (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.

How long will a 2003 Land Rover Discovery Series II last?

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 2003 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2003 Land Rover Discovery Series II?

AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 63/100. 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.