The Lemon IndexAll carsLand RoverDiscovery2012
201120134th generation (LR4)
Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 7,316 in the U.S. in 2012 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 5 complaints in its first 3 years.
5 owner complaints, first 3 years — combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2012 Infiniti FX352012 Land Rover Range Rover Sport2012 Lincoln Navigator
When problems show up
Only 5 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 21V635000 (fuel system, gasoline) and 15V386000 (visibility) done? Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
- Any rust or damage underneath, or doors and hatches that don't close right?
- Does it accelerate and hold speed smoothly, with no surging or stalling?
- Land Rover sent dealers 296 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “The compressor exhaust valve may be cause of the air suspension warning lamp to be illuminated”?
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 5 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 4K to 19K miles (6K to 32K km) on the car (5 of all 5 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.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 198 YouTube videos · 15.8M views · 2010–2016 Land Rover Discovery
Most-watched topics
- Timing chain & engine382K views
Buying a used Land Rover Discovery 3, 4 - LR3, LR4 (L319) 2004-2016 Buying guide with common issuesdifferent car review · 212K views · 6 videos - Oil changes & service258K views
How to (and not to) check oil level on Land Rover Discovery 4 LR4powerfulukltd · 258K views - Infotainment, battery & electrical100K views
2015 Landrover LR4 Battery ProblemOzzy's Auto Repair · 42K views · 3 videos - Cooling system71K views
Land Rover LR4 Coolant Leak RepairDell-de-Lall · 60K views · 2 videos
Show 3 more
- Steering & suspension44K views
Air Suspension Problem? Try This CHEAP Fix! Land Rover Discovery 4 / LR4notthatkindofachannel · 39K views · 2 videos - Driveshaft, axles & 4x416K views
How Changing Transfer Case Fluid Can Save Your LR4notthatkindofachannel · 16K views - Transmission & shifter8K views
Range rover, LR3 and LR4 brake, ABS, transmission, warning lights suspension drops. Free solution.Land Rover · 8K views
Before you buy, watch
How to diagnose central locking problems on a Land Rover Discovery 3/4 LR3 LR4powerfulukltd · 190K views
Is It REALLY That Bad? Land Rover LR4 Ultimate Buyers Guide!The Fast Lane Car · 69K views
LR4 Timing Chain Problems - The Land Rover Achilles HeelLost Cause Ranch · 67K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2012 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 296 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- The compressor exhaust valve may be cause of the air suspension warning lamp to be illuminated
- An incorrect pin assignment, pin 1 location wired in error where pin 44 location should be wired
- Due to corroded chassis wiring harness on left rear side of chassis-to-body connector, multiple
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 2
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2021
The fuel outlet flange mounted on the fuel tank may crack, possibly resulting in a fuel leak.
- Visibility · recall issued 2015
Due to the use of an incorrect primer, the panoramic roof adhesive may not adequately secure the roof assembly.
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
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land Rover LR4 (5 Seat) SUV 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
| Land Rover LR4 (7 Seat) SUV 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Every Land Rover Discovery year. 2012 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 2012 Land Rover Discovery reliable?
We can't score it: only 7,316 were sold in the U.S. in 2012 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 5 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2012 Land Rover Discovery problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (40%), body structure (20%) and speed control (20%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2012 Land Rover Discovery have?
2 safety recalls (latest: fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Does the 2012 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