1997 Land Rover Discovery
This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
- Complaints
- 35
- Recalls
- 2
- Investigations
- 0
- Top problem
- Service brakes
Campaigns on file for 1997
None on file
37% of complaints
Complaints per year
1997: 35 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 15 |
| 1995 | 49 |
| 1996 | 65 |
| 1997 | 35 |
| 1998 | 33 |
| 1999 | 17 |
| 2000 | 30 |
| 2001 | 13 |
| 2002 | 17 |
| 2003 | 48 |
| 2004 | 29 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 55 |
| 2018 | 37 |
| 2019 | 38 |
| 2020 | 19 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 8 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Known problem areas
Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.
Service brakes
37% · 13 reportsMost commonly citing hydraulic.
Show complaint excerpts
Right front ABS sensor malfunction. Unable to stop due to ABS engaging. Vibrated vehicle out into intersection. Lucky enough to avoid being t-boned by accelerating hard. Happened numerous times since.
NHTSA ODI report, 2012-05-27
Air bags
17% · 6 reportsMost commonly citing frontal and side/window.
Show complaint excerpts
While driving at approx 40 MPH coming to intersection ,150-200 yards away , light turned red, went to apply brakes vehicle did not stop. Stood on brakes, nothing happened, hit side of another vehicle with the front, air bag did not deploy.
NHTSA ODI report, 1997-11-03
Also filed under Seat belts
Engine and engine cooling
14% · 5 reportsMost commonly citing manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe and engine.
Show complaint excerpts
While driving a loud noise came from under the hood. The noise occurred because the manifold had a hair line crack. A manufacturer's improvement campaign was issued.
NHTSA ODI report, 2003-12-10
While driving vehicle made a loud noise. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The dealer determined that there was a hairline crack in the manifold which caused the loud noise.
NHTSA ODI report, 2003-12-10
Power train
11% · 4 reportsMost commonly citing automatic transmission and column shift.
Fuel system, gasoline
11% · 4 reportsMost commonly citing storage and delivery.
Safety timeline
2 recalls · 0 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
-
R
1998-03-24Air bags, vehicle speed control98V040000 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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fusible link which will protect the rotary coupler from overheating.
-
R
2012-05-04Power train12E010000 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…
Remedy: 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…
Buy-smart checklist
1997 Land Rover Discovery — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Service brakes: 13 reports on file for this year.
- Air bags: 6 reports on file for this year.
- Engine and engine cooling: 5 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 98V040000 · Air bags, vehicle speed control
- Recall 12E010000 · Power train
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 1997 Land Rover Discovery reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1997 Land Rover Discovery is rated "typical".
- What are the most common problems with the 1997 Land Rover Discovery?
- The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 37% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 1997 Land Rover Discovery have?
- 2 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.