Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Land Rover Discovery, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling6
- Power train4
- Visibility2
- Vehicle speed control2
- Service brakes1
- Structure1
- Unknown or other1
- Electrical system1
- Steering1
- Air bags1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 2 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 2002 Discovery vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 2 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Land Rover Discovery failed the safety check 2.78% of the time — 39% more often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 126,454 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2002 Land Rover Discovery cars on Dutch roads are the 2.5 diesel (102 kW, 137 hp) and 4.0 petrol (136 kW, 182 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 diesel | 102 kW 137 hp | 38 |
| 4.0 petrol | 136 kW 182 hp | 29 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
71 first registered in 2002 are on Dutch roads; 34% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen53
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde51
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm27
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld26
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht18
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af16
- Kentekenplaatverlichting werkt niet (goed) / ontbreekt13
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse12
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
3,149 cars built in 2002 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 3,066 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 5,142 of these cars first registered in 2002 took their annual MOT test. 63% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2002 the figure was 58%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2002 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 19.0% | 20.8% |
| Suspension | 16.7% | 15.8% |
| Brakes | 12.9% | 13.6% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 12.4% | 9.7% |
| Steering | 7.4% | 4.0% |
| Visibility | 5.2% | 7.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In New Zealand
150 2002 cars are on the New Zealand register; 23% arrived as used imports, 71% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 17.8 L/100 km (about 13 mpg US), CO₂ 409 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery Series II 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Premium gasoline | 19.9 | 15.3 | 17.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2002 Land Rover Discovery.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Land Rover told its dealers about the 2002 Land Rover Discovery: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 627026 | INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT DOOR WEATHER SEAL WIND NOISE. *YH |
| 627021 | INFORMATION REGARDING STEERING BOX REPLACEMENT. *YH |
| 10214018 | Technical Bulletin: Squeaks & Rattles Kit Availability |
| 10136669 | The 'Service Required' warning text will not appear on the Instrument Cluster (IC) if a vehicle has reached its service point. |
| 10125267 | Presentation from Dealer Shop Foreman Conference Call |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)