The Lemon Index

All carsLand RoverDiscovery2020

2019 Land Rover Discovery, 5th generation, illustration2019
2020 Land Rover Discovery, 5th generation, illustration
2021 Land Rover Discovery, 5th generation, illustration2021

2020 Land Rover Discovery problems.

5th generation

Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 5,811 in the U.S. in 2020 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 6 complaints in its first 3 years.

Fewest 2000

All 22 yearsCompare

6 owner complaints, first 3 years — combined, EPA

Similar cars, same year

2020 Lincoln Aviator 1842020 Tesla Model X2020 Audi Q3 192

Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.

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

  1. Were recalls 23V393000 (electrical), 21V668000 (seat belts) and 21V457000 (electrical) done? It has 6 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
  2. Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
  3. Do all the lights, screens and power features work? Has the battery, alternator or any wiring been replaced?
  4. Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
  5. Land Rover sent dealers 499 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Check Engine Light illuminated, Restricted Performance Message on IPC”?

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 6 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:

0crashesaverage car: 0
0injuriesaverage car: 0
0firesaverage car: 0
1towsaverage car: 0

“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.

engine50%
electrical33%
transmission & drivetrain33%
seat belts17%
lane assist17%

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 →

Fixes owners look up most.

From 200 YouTube videos · 18.5M views · 2017–2025 Land Rover Discovery

  1. Brakes & ABS113K views
    2017 Land Rover Discovery Electronic parking brake maintenance mode.2017 Land Rover Discovery Electronic parking brake maintenance mode.The Offroading Mechanic · 82K views · 2 videos
  2. Infotainment, battery & electrical29K views
    How To Replace Land Rover Discovery Key Fob Battery 2015 - 2018 Change Discovery Remote BatteriesHow To Replace Land Rover Discovery Key Fob Battery 2015 - 2018 Change Discovery Remote BatteriesPYR Automotive · 29K views
  3. Cooling system18K views
    2017–2021 Land Rover Discovery Low Coolant Light Fix — Quick, No-Tools Check!2017–2021 Land Rover Discovery Low Coolant Light Fix — Quick, No-Tools Check!Green Castle Garage · 18K views

Before you buy, watch

Views show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2020 is the same generation.

Problems Land Rover told dealers about

Land Rover sent dealers 499 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:

  • Check Engine Light illuminated, Restricted Performance Message on IPC
  • Customer complains about a creak, rattle or squeak noise from under the vehicle - Transmission…

Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.

Recalls 6

  • Electrical · recall issued 2023

    The UniLatch Keyless Vehicle (KV) entry function may fail to properly latch the rear passenger doors, which can result in the doors opening while driving.

  • Seat belts · recall issued 2021

    The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly.

  • Electrical · recall issued 2021

    A loose contact between the battery ground stud and the chassis may result in various electrical faults, possibly causing a loss of electrical power or the vehicle to shut down while driving.

Show all 6 recalls
  • Lights · recall issued 2021

    The Auto High Beam (AHB) system does not indicate through the instrument cluster when the high beams are illuminated automatically.

  • Electrical · recall issued 2020

    A loose contact between the battery ground stud and the chassis may result in various electrical faults, possibly causing a loss of electrical power or the vehicle to shut down while driving.

  • Seats · recall issued 2020

    The second row seat frame assembly may be missing fasteners, resulting in a seat frame with insufficient strength.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.

Check a VIN for open recalls

Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada

Every Land Rover Discovery recall, all years · All Land Rover recalls

Safety

Stability controlStandard
Collision warningNot offered
Lane departure warningNot offered
Crash test details
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Land Rover Discovery SUV 4wdnot ratednot ratednot ratednot rated
Land Rover Discovery Sport SUV 4wdnot ratednot ratednot ratednot rated

Every Land Rover Discovery year. 2020 is highlighted. Lower is better.

Show 4 older years (1999–2009, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
2009·#11
2005·#9
2004·#1
1999·#5

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 2020 Land Rover Discovery reliable?

We can't score it: only 5,811 were sold in the U.S. in 2020 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 6 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.

What are the most common 2020 Land Rover Discovery problems?

In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (50%), electrical (33%) and transmission & drivetrain (33%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.

How many recalls does the 2020 Land Rover Discovery have?

6 safety recalls (latest: electrical). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Does the 2020 Land Rover Discovery have transmission problems?

Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 33% 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

Know someone shopping for a used car?

Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data

Spot a mistake or have an idea? Tell us

How can we make Lemon Index better?