The Lemon IndexAll carsLand RoverDiscovery2002
200120032nd generation
Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 17,417 in the U.S. in 2002 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 14 complaints in its first 3 years.
14 owner complaints, first 3 years — combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2002 Lincoln Navigator2002 Cadillac Escalade 632002 BMW X5 64
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 8 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 12E010000 (transmission & drivetrain), 04V006000 (engine) and 04V005000 (brakes) done? It has 4 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Do the wipers, washers, defrost and mirrors all work?
- Land Rover sent dealers 13 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Reports have been received of engine damage occurring, which is caused by the use of non-approved”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Land Rover's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 14 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 29K to 58K miles (47K to 94K km) on the car (8 of all 14 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Fire originated right rear secion engine around heater hoses-one hearter hose leaked or ruptured allowing engine coolant to drip down onto hot exhaust manifold igniting the coolant cause fire
2002 Land Rover Discovery owner · NHTSA complaint 10073101
More owner reports
Only 68,000 miles and vehicle overheats, intermittently. Problem still exist. Dealer can't find problem wants to replace engine. Jb
NHTSA complaint 10140553
Problems with 2002 Land Rover Discovery over heating.
NHTSA complaint 10089246
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 4.8M views · 1999–2004 Land Rover Discovery
Most-watched topics
- Oil changes & service159K views
How to Service the cooling system on the Land Rover Discovery 2004 to 2009Haynes Manuals · 134K views · 2 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors51K views
2004 Land Rover Discovery II how to free unstick rear door latchRandy's Laboratory · 27K views · 3 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical30K views
2000 Land Rover Discovery II - Replacing Alternator, Flashing OdometerThis Week With Cars · 24K views · 2 videos - Cooling system25K views
2004 Land Rover Discovery - Coolant LeakBob Maucher · 20K views · 3 videos
Show 2 more
- Transmission & shifter1K views
How to Add Transmission Fluid on Land Rover Discovery 2 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 ZF 4HP22/24Auto Repair Guys · 1K views - Oil leaks & gaskets561 views
Fixing the Oil Leak on the 2003 Land Rover Discovery 2… Definitely ConcerningRio Penn-Grice · 561 views
Before you buy, watch
How can such a simple repair cause huge problems on this '99 Land Rover Discovery? CAR WIZARD knowsCar Wizard · 350K views
2000 Land Rover Discovery Series II V8 SE7 Review & Test DriveAuto Ad Builder · 183K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2002 is the same generation.
Costs are the middle (median) of the dollar amounts people say out loud in these videos, so one wild number can't swing it. They aren't verified bills or sales; real prices depend on year, miles, condition and where you live. Tap Hear it to jump to the moment.
Problems Land Rover told dealers about
Land Rover sent dealers 13 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Reports have been received of engine damage occurring, which is caused by the use of non-approved
- Handbrake vibration noise
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 4
- Transmission & drivetrain · recall issued 2012
JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, INC.
- Engine · recall issued 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACTIVE CORNERING ENHANCEMENT (ACE) PUMP BANJO BOLT LOOSES TORQUE AND ALLOWS FLUID TO LEAK PAST THE JOINT.
- Brakes · recall issued 2004
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS," AND NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE ANTI-LOCK BRA…
Show all 4 recalls
- Speed control · recall issued 2002
ON SOME SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE COULD HAVE BECOME KINKED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY, RESULTING IN CHAFFING OF THE CABLE.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Every Land Rover Discovery recall, all years · All Land Rover recalls
Every Land Rover Discovery year. 2002 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 4 older years (1999–2009, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 11 Land Rover Discovery years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Quick answers
Is the 2002 Land Rover Discovery reliable?
We can't score it: only 17,417 were sold in the U.S. in 2002 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 14 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2002 Land Rover Discovery problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (43%), airbags (14%) and visibility (7%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2002 Land Rover Discovery have?
4 safety recalls (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Does the 2002 Land Rover Discovery have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works