The Lemon IndexAll carsLand RoverDiscovery2008
2007
20103rd generation (LR3)
Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 3,072 in the U.S. in 2008 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 2 complaints in its first 3 years.
2 owner complaints, first 3 years — combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2008 Infiniti FX352008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport2008 Lincoln Navigator
When problems show up
No complaints for this year listed a mileage, so we can't say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recall 07E047000 (equipment) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Any fuel smell, stalling or hard starts? On a hybrid or EV, any reduced-power warning or battery work?
- Land Rover sent dealers 114 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Excessive brake pedal pressure required to get the auto transmission out of park, warning lights”?
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 2 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 →
In owners' words
Transmission failure in Land Rover lr3, no customer service and unwillingness to compensate for 18 days of time without the vehicle.
2008 Land Rover Discovery owner · NHTSA complaint 10263999
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 2008 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 114 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Excessive brake pedal pressure required to get the auto transmission out of park, warning lights
- Issue: Oil leaking between the automatic transmission and transfer case which is currently…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 1
- Equipment · recall issued 2007
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET THULE HITCH STYLE BICYCLE RACKS WITH FOLD DOWN STYLE BIKE ARMS.
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. 2008 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 2008 Land Rover Discovery reliable?
We can't score it: only 3,072 were sold in the U.S. in 2008 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 2 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2008 Land Rover Discovery problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are equipment & accessories (50%), transmission & drivetrain (50%) and fuel system, gasoline (50%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2008 Land Rover Discovery have?
1 safety recall (latest: equipment). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Does the 2008 Land Rover Discovery have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 50% 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