2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II Complaints

IN THE FALL OF 2007, AT APPROX. 75,000 MILES I BEGAN TO NOTICE A PERIODIC RHYTHMIC TAPPING FROM THE ENGINE OF MY 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 2. MY MECHANIC SUGGESTED USING A THICKER GRADE OIL. THE NOISE QUIETED BRIEFLY THEN RETURNED MORE CONSISTENTLY, BEGINNING AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WOULD WARM UP. IN DECEMBER, AFTER CONSULTING WITH LOCAL LAND ROVER DEALER SERVICE, MY MECHANIC REMOVED THE CYLINDER HEADS, "DE-COKED" THE VALVES, REPLACED GASKETS, BOLTS, LIFTERS, SPARK PLUGS, PLUG WIRES AND DRIVE BELT AT A COST OF $2340. THE NOISE CONTINUED. IN MAY OF 2008, AFTER MORE RESEARCH AND CONSULTING, MY MECHANIC DISASSEMBLED THE ENGINE , REPLACED LIFTERS, CHECKED THE CAMSHAFT, END FLOAT AND PUSH RODS, SUBSTITUTED THE ROCKER ARM ASSEMBLIES -- UNABLE TO FIND A CLEAR LINK, THE ENGINE WAS REASSEMBLED. THIS TIME THE BILL WAS $903.26. MY MECHANIC, WHO KNOWN FOR 10 YEARS AND TRUST COMPLETELY WAS BAFFLED. SENSING A UNDERLYING OIL PRESSURE ISSUE, HE ONCE AGAIN CONSULTED A LOCAL LAND ROVER DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT -- THEY THEN MENTIONED A PROBLEM LAND ROVER HAD BEEN HAVING WITH A BADLY MACHINED OIL PUMP HOUSING. WE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND IN FACT FOUND (POSTED ON THE INTERNET BY ANOTHER 2003 DISCOVERY OWNER) AN INTERNAL TECHNICAL ALERT DETAILING A MANUFACTURING ERROR IN THE OIL PUMP HOUSING THAT MAY LEAD TO FAILURE. REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE ENGINE WAS THE ONLY RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION. THE COST OF WHICH IS APPROX. $10,000. WORRIED THAT MY VEHICLE WOULD SHUT DOWN AT ANY MINUTE, I RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED IT - THEY OFFERED ME $1,000 AS A TRADE IN FOR A NEW VEHICLE. AND THEN TOLD ME I SHOULDN'T BE DRIVING IT IN THAT CONDITION. MY VEHICLE IS NOW WORTHLESS DUE TO THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY A CRITICAL PART THAT WAS DISCOVERED TO BE FAULTY BY THE MANUFACTURER WHILE I WAS JUST 7 MONTHS INTO MY 5 YR./50,000 MILE WARRANTY. I BELIEVE THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR REPAIRING THE DAMAGE. 8TR

OIL PUMP FAILURE RESULTING IN COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT....NOTICED CAR OIL LEAK COMING FROM CAR AND ABOUT 2 DAYS LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK TO DEALERSHIP...DEALERSHIP DISCOVERED OIL PUMP FAILURE AND OF COURSE ONLY REMEDY IS A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT. ADVISED DEALERSHIP ABOUT TECHNICAL ALERT ISSUED ON 3/14/03 IN REFERENCE TO MANUFACTURER DEFECT WHICH CAUSES THE OIL PUMP FAILURE AND ALL I WAS TOLD WAS "SORRY, WE CANNOT COVER THIS...YOUR WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THE NEW ENGINE WILL COST $11,000.00....GAVE NO OFFER OF HELP, ADVISED THAT I COME GET CAR..I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO GET CAR FROM DEALERSHIP WITH A TOW TRUCK! *TR

LAND ROVER HAS ISSUED A "TECHNICAL ALERT" DATED MARCH 14, 2003 CODED TA03 1201 TO THE ATTENTION OF SERVICE MANAGERS, SERVICE ADVISORS, AND TECHNICIANS. THE ALERT STATES THAT "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." THEY GO ON TO SAY THIS COULD CAUSE COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE! THE RESOLUTION PROPOSED BY LAND ROVER IS "...THE ONLY EFFECTIVE REPAIR CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IS REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE ENGINE ASSEMBLY..." IN SHORT THE ENGINE COULD SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY FAIL. I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY RECALL ISSUED RELATED TO THIS MATTER. I DO NOT WANT TO BE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAVE A COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE. WHAT IS GOING TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS SITUATION? *TR

UPON SEEING THE LOW OIL PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATE, I RESEARCHED ONLINE TO SEE WHAT MAY BE THE CAUSE. I THEN DISCOVERED THAT LAND ROVER HAD ISSUED A TECHNICAL ALERT (TA03-1201) ON MARCH 14, 2003 STATING THE FOLLOWING ISSUE AND RESOLUTION: 2003 DISCOVERY SERIES II OIL PUMP FAILURES VEHICLES AFFECTED DISCOVERY SERIES II (LT) 3A771801 ? 3A808362 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 I CHECKED MY VIN NUMBER AND FOUND IT TO BE WITHIN THE EFFECTED VEHICLES. I DELIVERED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP LAND ROVER OF THE GULFCOAST, MOBILE, AL)WHERE I WAS INFORMED BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT MY VEHICLE OIL PUMP FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE EXACT REASON AS STATED IN THE TECHNICAL ALERT AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT THE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS OF LAND ROVER TO SEEK A RESOLUTION TO THIS MATTER. THE TECHNICAL ALERT STATES THAT THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DESIGN FLAW AND ALSO GIVES THE REDESIGNED REQUIRED REPLACEMENT PARTS (WHICH IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE ENGINE ASSEMBLY). LAND ROVER REFUSED TO MAKE GOOD IN THIS MATTER. I THEN CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE MANAGER THEN CONTACTED THE HEADQUARTERS ON MY BEHALF TO GET THE SAME REFUSAL. AS I PREVIOUSLY STATED, THIS WAS DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AS PER THEIR ADMISSION IN THE TECHNICAL ALERT AND NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. *TR

ANTI LOCK BRAKE FAILURE; MULTIPLE LIGHTS ILLUMINTE WHE HEAVY BRAKING DOWN HILLS. ALL BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE NEW. LIGHTS ON DASH EXTINGUISH UPON RESTART. VERY POOR BRAKING ALMOST ALLOWING VEHICLE TO TRAVEL INTO CROSS TRAFFIC. FELT AS THOUGH ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM STOPPED FUNCTIONING WITH STANDARD BRAKING REMAINING. HAPPENDED SEVERAL TIMES WITH MYSELF AND WIFE DRIVING VEHICLE. BROUGHT TO DEALER AND LOOKED UP INFO ON INTERNET. DEALER INDICATED IS WAS THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MODULATOR. MANY COMPLAINTS ON ROVER WEBSITES ABOUT THIS GOING FAIRLY EARLY IN LIFE OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP TOLD MY WIFE THAT THERE WAS STILL NORMAL BRAKING IF LIGHTS ARE ON,BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE USED LIKE YOUR BRAKING WITH ANTILOCK SYSTEMS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT LANDROVER HAS NOT ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM AS CAUSED SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS WHEN BRAKING ON LIMITED HILLS. DEALERSHIP INDICATED PART WAS $1500 AND TOTAL JOB WAS $2100 TO REPLACE, BUT AGAIN SAID IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO DO AS BRAKING WOULD BE THERE IF LIGHTS WERE NOT ON. *TR

REAR LATCH MECHANISM FAILURE: REAR LATCH FAILURE DUE TO POOR MATERIAL SELECTION CAUSING CORROSION AND STICKING OF LATCH. REAR DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY CAUSING A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD WHEN OPENING DURING DRIVING. FINALLY BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP AFTER LUBRICATION DID NOT WORK, AND AS USUAL THEY INDICATED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. LATCH WAS GREASED AT DEALER AND FUNCTIONS AT THIS POINT IN TIME, HOWEVER I DID THE SAME THING AND IT LASTED ONLY A MONTH OR TWO. *TR

I HAD AN OIL PUMP FAILURE ON MY 03 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, SO IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, EVEN BEFORE THEY GOT BACK TO ME WITH A DIAGNOSIS, I HAD RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT WHAT THE ISSUE WAS, AS IT IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS YEAR, AND WITHIN A CERTAIN VIN RANGE. LAND ROVER EVEN ISSUED A TSB ABOUT THE ISSUE, AND BY THE TIME THEY CALLED ME BACK, I HAD THAT TSB IN HAND. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT MY CAR WOULD BE READY TO PICK UP THE NEXT DAY, THAT THE OIL PUMP HAD, "BASICALLY EXPLODED" THAT THEY HAD CLEANED ALL THE METAL OUT OF THE ENGINE, AND THAT IT WOULD BE FINE. I PROTESTED THIS BASED ON THE TSB, PUBLISHED BY LAND ROVER, THAT STATED THAT THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE! THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THIS TSB DID NOT APPLY ANYMORE. I ASKED FOR THE DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW THAT THE TSB HAD BEEN OVERRIDDEN. THEY SAID THAT THERE WAS NONE, BUT THAT THEY HAD FIXED IT IN THE, "NEW WAY". I CONTACTED THE LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA CORPORATE HQ AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO, THAT THE DEALERSHIP COULD DECIDE WHAT IT WANTED TO DO WITH THE ISSUE. SINCE THEN, I HAVE GOT SEVERAL FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THIS SAME ISSUE AND WHO HAD A NEW ENGINE PUT INTO THEIR CAR WITHIN A MONTH. I ALSO HAVE FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAD THE ISSUE, DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE TSB, AND NEVER GOT A NEW ENGINE. LAND ROVER'S OWN DOCUMENTATIONS SAY THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE IN MY CAR, INDEPENDENT MECHANICS SAY I NEED A NEW ENGINE, AND EVEN MECHANICS AT OTHER LAND ROVER DEALERS HAVE TOLD ME THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE. I HAVE ALL THESE ON RECORD, WILLING TO VOUCH FOR MY SIDE OF THIS ARGUMENT. *JB

A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE INCIDENT ON JULY 20TH, MY WIFE AND I HEARD A VERY SLIGHT NOISE. AT FIRST IT WAS ONLY OCCASIONAL AND SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS VIBRATING IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. AFTER A COUPLE MORE DAYS WENT BY, THE VIBRATING/RATTLING NOISE BECAME LOUDER AND BEGAN OCCURRING MORE OFTEN. WE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AT THE SHOP. THE CAR WAS DUE FOR IT'S 75,000 MILE CHECKUP ANYWAY. I CALLED THE LAND ROVER DEALERSHIP IN CARY, NORTH CAROLINA FOR AN APPOINTMENT ON MONDAY, JULY 16TH, 2007 AND HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THURSDAY UNTIL A SCHEDULER GOT BACK TO US TO MAKE AN ACTUAL APPOINTMENT. THE EARLIEST THEY COULD TAKE US WAS THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY. IN THE MEANTIME, MY WIFE BECAME INCREASINGLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS THE NOISE INTENSIFIED. ON THURSDAY, JULY 19TH SHE DROVE HOME FROM WORK AND BARELY MADE IT HOME THAT EVENING. SHE SUGGESTED CALLING ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP WITH A MASTER LEVEL LAND ROVER TECHNICIAN IN THE AREA TO SEE IF THEY COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE ANY EARLIER. AT THIS POINT, THE GRINDING NOISE WAS INCREASING AND IT INTENSIFIED WHEN YOU LET OFF THE GAS. IT SEEMED AS IF THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AT A HIGHER LEVEL THAN NECESSARY AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. SHE WAS FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE IT AT A HIGH SPEED AND CALLED ME TO ALERT ME AS SHE WAS DRIVING HOME SHOULD ANYTHING HAPPEN TO HER. THE NEXT MORNING ON FRIDAY, JULY 20TH I CALLED THE OTHER LAND ROVER REPAIR SHOP IN TOWN AND THEY SAID THEY COULD TAKE THE VEHICLE THAT DAY. ON FRIDAY MORNING, I WAS ONLY ABOUT A MILE AWAY FROM HOME AND DRIVING ABOUT 30-40 MILES AN HOUR ON THE WAY TO THE REPAIR SHOP WHEN I HEARD A LOUD GRINDING SOUND AND THE TRANSMISSION BECAME TOTALLY DISENGAGED. WITH THE CAR NOW COMPLETELY INOPERABLE, I WAS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD US IT IS THE FRONT END DIFFERENTIAL AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *JB

I ENCOUNTERED A FAIRLY WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERIES. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IN THE OIL PUMP THAT ULTIMATELY CAUSES THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO FAIL. LAND ROVER HAS ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEM YET IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT WHEN THE DISCOVERIES BREAKDOWN. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A FAULTY PART THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE FAILURE IN MY VEHICLE YET THEY ARE TRYING TO CHARGE ME TO PUT IN THE NEW ENGINE. *JB

MY HUSBAND BOUGHT ME THE 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY AS A 2006 CHRISTMAS GIFT. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 46,000 MILES ON IT. WE WERE DRIVING IT AND HEARD A POP & THE CAR JUST DIED. I HAD THE CAR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH. THERE WAS OIL & CHUNKS OF METAL UNDER THE CAR. WE HAD IT TOWED HOME AS THE DEALERSHIP WAS HOURS AWAY. MY HUSBAND LOOKED THROUGH THE PARTS BOOK & FOUND THAT IT WAS POSSIBLY THE FRONT ENGINE COVER/OIL PUMP. I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET & FOUND LAND ROVER ISSUED A TECHNICAL ALERT ENTITLED 2003 DISCOVERY SERIES II OIL PUMP FAILURES, #T03 1201, ON MARCH 14, 2003 TO ITS DEALERS. IT ADVISED THAT THE DOWEL PINS ON THE BLOCK DID NOT ALIGN CORRECTLY WITH THE OIL PUMP. THIS CAUSED OIL STARVATION , WHICH IN TURN, CAUSED ENGINE FAILURE. IT CLEARLY STATED THE DEFECT WAS THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING ERROR. MY HUSBAND PULLED OFF THE FRONT ENGINE COVER TO DISCOVER THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CRANKSHAFT DESTROYED. I CALLED LAND ROVER CUSTOMER RELATIONS & SHE ADVISED ME THERE WAS NO RECALL & TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY WOULD DO. I AM STILL PENDING TO HEAR BACK FROM THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT. LAND ROVER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE DEFECT ISSUE AS THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT . *AK