2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY Engine Problems

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 MIX WITH THE OIL IN THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT WAS QUOTED A COST OF $7,000 FOR THE ENGINE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (LAND ROVER NORTH ATLANTA 1505 MANSELL RD, ALPHARETTA, GA 30009, (770) 587-2000) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000. *JS

Mileage: 144,000

2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II OIL PUMP FAILURE: WE BOUGHT OURS PREVIOUSLY-OWNED FROM A LAND ROVER DEALER. NOTHING WAS MENTIONED ABOUT THE DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THIS 4.6 L ENGINE OR THE ATTACHED MARCH 14, 2003 TECHNICAL ALERT. IN SPITE OF REGULAR SERVICE, THE ENGINE FAILED BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT AND WE REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A USED ENGINE. NOW, IT MAY ALSO BE FAILING DUE TO INTERNAL OIL STARVATION. THERE ARE MANY POSTS ONLINE ABOUT THESE ENGINE FAILURES. LAND ROVER SENT OUT THEIR ALERT, BUT DID NOT OFFER THE ONLY REMEDY TO THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT - REPLACE THE ENGINE ($10-12K). LIKE MANY OTHERS, WE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND BEEN WITHOUT THE CAR WHILE OURS WAS IN THE SHOP BECAUSE OF A KNOWN DEFECT THAT THE LAND ROVER DEALER CHOSE NOT TO SHARE WITH US WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR. ATTEMPTS BY OTHERS TO SEEK HELP FROM LAND ROVER OF AMERICA OR THROUGH LEGAL ACTIONS SEEM TO HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL. SINCE THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS HAS MOST LIKELY EXPIRED ON THIS MATTER, THERE IS PROBABLY NO WAY TO EVER RECOVER THE FINANCIAL LOSSES. IT SEEMED LIKE A NICE CAR, BUT LAND ROVER REALLY DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ONE. DON'T BY A 2003-4 DISCOVERY UNLESS THE VIN HAS BEEN CHECKED TO BE SURE THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PRODUCTION SERIES INCLUDED IN THE LAND ROVER TECHNICAL ALERT -TA03 1201.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK WHEN COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V133000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

Mileage: 96,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, A NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,562. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 149,562

THE FIRST ISSUE IS ABOUT A SEAT FIRE. MY HUSBAND WAS JUST PULLING INTO OUR DRIVE WHEN THE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT CAUSING HIM TO HAVE A BURN. THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THE OIL PUMP. I HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, AND ASKED OUR MECHANIC WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE. HE SAID THE THE OIL PUMP WAS BAD AND WE WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE OIL PUMP AND IF THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THAT TOO. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL ALERT DATED MARCH 14, 2003, JUST THREE MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED MY CAR. A CLASS ACTION SUIT WAS STARTED IN MAY 2003 BUT I WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE SUIT. I CALLED LAND ROVER OF AMERICA AND WAS TOLD I WAS THE ONLY LAND ROVER OWNER TO HAVE A FIRE IN THE SEAT, WHICH I FOUND WAS UNTRUE THEN I CALLED THEM BACK WHEN THE OIL PUMP WENT AND SAID THAT MY CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTYAND WAS TOO OLD FOR LAND ROVER TO DO ANYTHING FOR ME. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 100,000 MILES ON IT. WE LIVED IN JUNEAU AT THE TIME AND THERE ARE FEW ROADS. WE WERE THERE UNTIL 2007 WHEN WE MOVED TO MONTANA. I AM TIRED OF EXCUSES FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I PAID ALMOST $40,000DOLLARS FOR THE CAR THAT SHOULD LAST ME A LONG TIME. IT WAS TO BE MY RETIREMENT CAR. OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE EXPERIANCED TO NO AVAIL. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

LOW OIL PRESSURE RED LIGHT WHEN LOWERING THE SPEED TO STOP. IN 2003, LAND ROVER ISSUED AN TECH ALERT #TA03 1201 FOR THE OIL PUMP FAILURES DUE TO THEIR MANUFACTURING ERROR WITH VIN# 3A[XXX] ? 3A[XXX]. BELOW IS THE ORIGINAL TEXT FROM THEIR ALERT. WHY THEY HAVEN'T MADE THE RECALL YET? IT'S SO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH ENGINE CAN DIE OR BURN ANYTIME, AND THE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENGINE ACCORDING TO THEIR TECH ALERT. SEE BELOW: 2003 DISCOVERY SERIES II OIL PUMP FAILURES VEHICLES AFFECTED DISCOVERY SERIES II (LT) 3A[XXX] ? 3A[XXX] SITUATION OIL PUMP FAILURES ON 2003 DISCOVERY SERIES II VEHICLES MAY BE THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING ERROR. LOCATING DOWEL PINS MAY BE SLIGHTLY MISALIGNED PERMITTING ASSEMBLY OF THE OIL PUMP TO THE ENGINE BLOCK, BUT PLACING STRESS ON THE PUMP HOUSING WHICH CAN ULTIMATELY LEAD TO LEAKAGE OR FAILURE. RESOLUTION WHENEVER AN OIL PUMP FAILURE IS ENCOUNTERED ON VEHICLES WITHIN THE ABOVE VIN RANGE THE ONLY EFFECTIVE REPAIR CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IS REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE ENGINE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE FRONT COVER/OIL PUMP MANUFACTURED TO THE LATEST TOLERANCES. USE THE FOLLOWING COMPONENTS TO AFFECT A REPAIR: ? LBB112301 4.6 ENGINE ASSEMBLY LEV ? LBB111461 4.6 ENGINE ASSEMBLY NON-LEV. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

Mileage: 96,700

PURCHASED LAND ROVER DISCOVERY LESS THEN A MONTH AGO, SINCE THEN THE DASH BOARD LOOKS LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE WITH THE NUMBER OF WARNING LIGHTS THAT ARE ON. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE ABS MODULATOR WAS OUT AND IT WOULD $3500.00 JUST FOR THE PART, EVEN THOUGH I RESEARCHED IT AND FOUND A REPAIR KIT FOR UNDER A $100. HOWEVER, THE MOST RECENT WARNING LIGHT IS THE OIL LIGHT AND THE CAR OVER HEATS IN A VERY SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, AND KNOCKS AND BINGS. AFTER READING THE SEVERAL POST ON THIS WEB SIGHT, I TOO AM NOW PART OF A LONG LIST OF CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE MAJOR ISSUES WITH LAND ROVER. WHAT A MISTAKE IT WAS. *TR

Mileage: 66,450

TECHNICAL SERVICE REPORT FROM INDEPENDENT BRITISH LAND ROVER SPECIALISTS, BETHESDA MD: CUSTOMER STATES ENGINE MAKES A TAPPING NOISE, MOSTLY AT IDLE. DIAGNOSIS - VERIFIED NOISE. OIL LIGHT ON DUE TO LOW OIL PRESSURE, VEHICLE IN VIN RANGE FOR OIL PUMP FAILURE DUE TO MISALIGNED FRONT COVER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. OIL PUMP DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED, AND NEEDS TO BE CHANGED. CORRECT REPAIR IS ENGINE REPLACEMENT, AS DAMAGE TO BEARINGS CAN OCCUR. FAILURE ALSO CAUSED BY BLOCK ALIGNMENT POSITIONING. AT THIS POINT, NO NOTICEABLE ENGINE DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED, AND TO AVOID ENGINE REPLACEMENT CAN REPLACE OIL PUMP ASSEMBLY. OIL PUMP REPLACEMENT WOULD ONLY BE TEMPORARY X, AS PROBLEM WILL MOST LIKELY ARISE YEARS DOWN THE LINE. WILL NEED TO CHECK FRONT COVER FOR DAMAGE DURING REPAIR. ADDITIONALLY, LARGE OIL LEAK FROM INTAKE END SEALS DETECTED. RECOMMEND REPLACE OIL PUMP, ALIGN FRONT COVER, REPLACE INTAKE GASKET WHILE NOTING THERE MAY BE CHANCES OF ENGINE FAILURE, BEARING DAMAGE & DAMAGE TO FRONT COVER DETECTED DURING SERVICE. NOTES: TO AVOID ENGINE FAILURE, REPLACED OIL PUMP AT A COST OF $2,600 DUE TO MISALIGNED FRONT COVER FROM THE LAND ROVER MANUFACTURER. WILL LIKELY NEED TO REPLACE ENGINE IN THE FUTURE AT AN EXPECTED COST OF $10,000 DUE TO BLOCK ALIGNMENT POSITIONING MANUFACTURING ERRORS FROM LAND ROVER. CUSTOMER WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS IN THEIR ENTIRETY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE CAUSED BY ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING DEFECTS, AS LAND ROVER HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. PLEASE ASSIST - THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF VERY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS POSTED ON MULTIPLE LAND ROVER FORUMS ONLINE.

Mileage: 97,165

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE AND OIL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THERE WERE SLIGHT OIL LEAKS FOUND. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ADVISED TO CONTINUE TO CHECK THE OIL LEVELS AND TO ADD OIL IN THE VEHICLE UNTIL REACHING HIS DESTINATION. THE CONTACT WAS LATER DRIVING 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EMITTED A LOUD BANGING NOISE. THE CONTACT MOVED TO THE SHOULDER WHERE HE OBSERVED A FOREIGN OBJECT DISCHARGE FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE AND CAUSE THE GRASS TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE CONTACTED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED DUE TO EXTREMELY LOW OIL PRESSURE AND A BLOWN PISTON. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 134,000.

Mileage: 134,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS LOW AND THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE RESERVOIR WAS LEAKING AND THE COOLANT HOSE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS THEN INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

Mileage: 118,000

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND THEN MY OIL AND ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED MY OIL PUMP WASN'T ANY GOOD AND I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. AFTER DOING SOME INVESTIGATING I DISCOVERED THERE WAS A TECHNICAL ALERT SENT OUT TO DEALERSHIPS REGARDING 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II OIL PUMP FAILURES. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THIS WHEN I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE YEARS AGO. LAND ROVER IS LIABLE FOR THIS AND I WOULD LIKE THEM TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. THEY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THESE VEHICLES UPON DISCOVERING THE ISSUE. NOT ALL CUSTOMERS HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNICAL ALERTS AND IF I DIDN'T RESEARCH THIS MATTER I WOULD HAVE NOT HAD A CLUE THIS MATTER EXISTED. PLEASE HELP ME. I HAVE A 6 MONTH OLD SON AND NEED RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TT

Mileage: 124,000