The Lemon IndexAll carsLand RoverDiscovery2006
2003
20073rd generation (LR3)
Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 16,931 in the U.S. in 2006 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 25 complaints in its first 3 years.
25 owner complaints, first 3 years — combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2006 Land Rover Range Rover Sport2006 Lincoln Navigator2006 Volvo XC90
When problems show up
Only 18 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 08V248000 (steering), 07E047000 (equipment) and 07V011000 (fuel system, gasoline) done? It has 6 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any clunks over bumps or uneven tire wear? Were struts, shocks or control arms replaced?
- Does it accelerate and hold speed smoothly, with no surging or stalling?
- Land Rover sent dealers 66 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “A customer may report suspension low on one side or dropping when left parked”?
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 25 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 1K to 18K miles (2K to 29K km) on the car (18 of all 25 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
I had my landrover lr3 vehicle serviced at the alexandria, va while at this dealership I requested to have service which I discovered was issued through a landrover manufacture's bulletin completed also.
2006 Land Rover Discovery owner · NHTSA complaint 10219304
More owner reports
Rear tires wore down completely within 15,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint 10162164
Tires showing uneven wear on inside treads...loud in cabin, completely premature and strange tire wear at 19,000 miles. Very difficult to locate due to the wear being on the inside treads of all 4 tires.
NHTSA complaint 10182870
Fixes owners look up most.
From 197 YouTube videos · 14.9M views · 2005–2009 Land Rover Discovery
Most-watched topics
- Steering & suspension1.4M views
Land Rover Discovery 3 & 4 Air Suspension fault & relay replacement LR3 / LR4powerfulukltd · 481K views · 11 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors458K views
Replace Height Sensor - Range Rover Sport or LR3 (2005-2009)Hazy · 215K views · 6 videos - Transmission & shifter168K views
Land Rover LR3 Complete Transmission Service 6HP26 - Ep. 3Waffle Square · 109K views · 5 videos - Oil changes & service166K views
How to Service the cooling system on the Land Rover Discovery 2004 to 2009Haynes Manuals · 134K views · 3 videos
Show 4 more
- Windows, doors & mirrors119K views
This Simple Trick Saved Me $$ HUNDREDS $$ - Land Rover LR3 Door Lock 5 Min Repair! (Not Clickbait!)Addicted Motors · 105K views · 2 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical108K views
DISCOVERY 3 / LR3: Radio volume not working, silent or broken? This Land Rover hack costs nothing!Weekend Warrior · 79K views · 3 videos - Fuel pump, filter & tank97K views
Long Cranking fixed - Fixed Fuel Pump - Land Rover LR3 / S5-E31LR TIME · 74K views · 3 videos - No-start: theft light, key & ignition84K views
2006 Land Rover lr3 transmission fault and all dash lights on fix problem also a no startEmanuel Estupinan · 84K views
Before you buy, watch
Should You Buy a LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 3? (LR3 TEST DRIVE & REVIEW)High Peak Autos · 861K views
Discovery LR3 - 3 Main ProblemsRSW Solutions · 466K views
Land Rover Discovery 3 / LR3 - Typical Problems And Why We Love It / S1-Ep2LR TIME · 175K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2006 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 66 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- A customer may report suspension low on one side or dropping when left parked
- Interpreting air suspension messages in the land rover lr3, an the la model
- When repairing or replacing the air suspension compressor the air suspension relay must be…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 6
- Steering · recall issued 2008
LAND ROVER IS RECALLING 37,142 MY 2005-2006 LR3 AND RANGE ROVER SPORT VEHICLES.
- Equipment · recall issued 2007
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET THULE HITCH STYLE BICYCLE RACKS WITH FOLD DOWN STYLE BIKE ARMS.
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2007
SOME SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY HAVE FUEL TANKS THAT CONTAIN AN INTERNAL BREATHER PIPE THAT WAS NOT MADE TO SPECIFICATION.
Show all 6 recalls
- Electrical · recall issued 2006
CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 114, 'THEFT PROTECTION.' WHEN THE IGNITION IS SWITCHED OFF, AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME, IT IS POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE IGNITION…
- Transmission & drivetrain · recall issued 2005
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH AN INCORRECTLY MANUFACTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL GUIDE PLATE.
- Seat belts · recall issued 2005
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A INCORRECTLY BUILT SEAT BELT BUCKLE MOUNTINGS.
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. 2006 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 2006 Land Rover Discovery reliable?
We can't score it: only 16,931 were sold in the U.S. in 2006 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 25 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2006 Land Rover Discovery problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are tires (28%), suspension (28%) and speed control (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2006 Land Rover Discovery have?
6 safety recalls (latest: steering). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Does the 2006 Land Rover Discovery have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 16% of its owner complaints.
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