2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport: common problems and reliability

The 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport has 186 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are engine and electrical system. Owners most often flag ingenium diesel engine failures (pre-2019) — timing chain stretch/breakage due to weak guides, turbo failure, and catastrophic engine failure linked to oil dilution from interrupted dpf regenerations. frequency: very frequent.

Safety record for the 2017 model year

186
Owner complaints
0
Recalls
0
Crash reports
2
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport vehicles (US, public record).

Where owners report problems

engine
56
electrical system
48
power train
22
visibility/wiper
20
structure
20

What owners say across generations

The overall sentiment is sharply divided, creating a high-risk, high-reward ownership profile. A significant portion of long-term owner reports express deep satisfaction with the vehicle's core attributes: its surprising off-road capability for a compact SUV,

  • Ingenium Diesel Engine Failures (Pre-2019) — Timing chain stretch/breakage due to weak guides, turbo failure, and catastrophic engine failure linked to oil dilution from interrupted DPF regenerations. Frequency: very frequent.
  • Cooling System Failures — Coolant leaks from hoses rubbing on housings, cracked radiators, and brittle plastic coolant components failing, sometimes requiring full system replacement. Frequency: recurrent.
  • Oil Dilution in Diesel Engines — Diesel fuel contaminating engine oil sump during interrupted DPF regeneration cycles, leading to degraded oil and subsequent engine damage. Frequency: very frequent.
  • High Maintenance and Repair Costs — Extremely expensive dealer labor rates (noted as £198 per hour / ~$250 USD), costly genuine parts, and complex repairs requiring specialized diagnostics. Frequency: very frequent.
  • Electrical Gremlins — Various intermittent electrical faults, error messages that self-clear, failing sensors, and issues with central locking/ door handles. Frequency: recurrent.

Owner insights cover all generations of the Discovery Sport.

Typical used price

Used Discovery Sport listings typically run $18,197–$39,994 across 2016 to 2025 model years.

Other Discovery Sport model years