Land Rover

Discovery

Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · model years 1994 to 2026

See all 24 Discovery trims All Land Rover cars

The verdict

Best year: 2026. complaints: 1, below this model's typical 16; recalls: 1, below this model's typical 4.

Worst year: 2020. complaints: 31, below this model's typical 32; recalls: 10, about 2.5x this model's typical 4.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Land Rover Discovery
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
1994	2Gas	12.5	no data	$6,175	1	15	0	no data	POWER TRAIN 13%, SEATS 13%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 13%
complaints: 15, below this model's typical 32 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 80 of 100, where higher is better.
1995	2Gas	12.5	no data	$6,175	3	49	0	no data	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 14%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 13%, AIR BAGS 11%
complaints: 49, about 1.5x this model's typical 32 recalls: 3, below this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 12 of 100, where higher is better.
1996	1Gas	14	no data	$5,500	2	65	0	no data	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 15%, STRUCTURE 10%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%
complaints: 65, about 4.1x this model's typical 16 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 Score: 30 of 100, where higher is better.
1997	2Gas	13.5	no data	$5,725	1	35	0	no data	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 29%, AIR BAGS 15%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 12%
complaints: 35, above this model's typical 32 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 4 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 70 of 100, where higher is better.
1998	2Gas	13.5	no data	$5,725	1	33	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, STEERING 13%, AIR BAGS 10%
complaints: 33, above this model's typical 32 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 9 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 63 of 100, where higher is better.
1999	1Gas	14	no data	$5,500	2	17	0	no data	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 23%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 14%, STEERING 14%
complaints: 17, above this model's typical 16 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 67 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	2Diesel, Gas	20.5	299	$3,850	5	94	1 (1 open)	735	ENGINE 18%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 11%
complaints: 94, about 2.9x this model's typical 32 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 complaints reporting a fire: 1 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 12 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	2Diesel, Gas	20.5	299	$3,850	5	59	0	722	POWER TRAIN 18%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%, ENGINE 15%
complaints: 59, about 1.8x this model's typical 32 recalls: 5, above this model's typical 4 Score: 40 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	2Diesel, Gas	20.5	299	$3,850	4	59	0	562	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22%, ENGINE 16%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 59, about 1.8x this model's typical 32 recalls: 4, in line with this model's typical 4 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 43 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	2Diesel, Gas	20.5	299	$3,850	10	31	0	587	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21%, ENGINE 18%, POWER TRAIN 11%
complaints: 31, below this model's typical 32 recalls: 10, about 2.5x this model's typical 4 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 complaints reporting a fire: 1 NHTSA advised parking the 2020 model year outdoors over fire risk Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	1Gas	21	300	$3,650	6	15	0	519	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 37%, POWER TRAIN 22%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19%
complaints: 15, below this model's typical 16 recalls: 6, about 1.5x this model's typical 4 Score: 61 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	1Gas	21	300	$3,650	6	15	0	410	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 30%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 17%, BACK OVER PREVENTION 13%
complaints: 15, below this model's typical 16 recalls: 6, about 1.5x this model's typical 4 Score: 61 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	1Gas	21	300	$3,650	7	10	0	333	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 50%, LANE DEPARTURE 8%, POWER TRAIN 8%
complaints: 10, below this model's typical 16 recalls: 7, about 1.8x this model's typical 4 Score: 61 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	1Gas	21	300	$3,650	7	7	0	212	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 27%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 27%, ENGINE 18%
complaints: 7, below this model's typical 16 recalls: 7, about 1.8x this model's typical 4 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 58 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	1Gas	21	300	$3,900	2	6	0	129	FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 29%, LANE DEPARTURE 29%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%
complaints: 6, below this model's typical 16 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 4 Score: 84 of 100, where higher is better.
2026	1Gas	21	no data	$3,900	1	1	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 33%, SERVICE BRAKES 33%, SUSPENSION 33%
complaints: 1, below this model's typical 16 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 4 Score: 92 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1994: 12.5 to 2026: 21

Owner complaints1994: 15 to 2026: 1

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Land Rover Discovery to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.