1999 Land Rover Discovery: common problems and reliability
57 owner complaints on record.
Most complaints are about service brakes. 9 recalls.
Should I buy a 1999 Discovery?The 1999 Land Rover Discovery has 57 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 9 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are service brakes and hydraulic.
Safety record for the 1999 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 1999 Land Rover Discovery vehicles (US, public record).
Is 1999 a good year for the Discovery?
Across the 18 Discovery model years we track, complaint volume runs from 2 (2006) to 111 (2003). With 57 complaints, the 1999 Discovery sits above the model's median of 37.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 1999 Discovery
power train:driveline:driveshaft
Campaign 12E010000JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, INC. (LAND ROVER) IS RECALLING CERTAIN REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLINGS, LAND ROVER BRANDED PART NUMBER TVF100010, MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2011 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2011, SOLD FOR USE AS SERVICE PARTS FOR CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1995-1999 DISCOVERY, 1999-2004 DISCOVERY II, AND 1995 RANGE ROVER CLASSIC VEHICLES. SOME OF THE REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLINGS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO THE REQUIRED ENGINEERING DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXHIBIT THE ONSET OF JOINT SEPARATION, PRECLUDED BY DRIVE LINE VIBRATION.
service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Campaign 99V237000VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE CONTACTS OF THE RELAY, WHICH OPERATES THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) PUMP, CAN STICK AND REMAIN CLOSED WHEN COMMANDED TO OPEN BY THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT. THE WARNING LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE AND AN AUDIBLE ALARM WILL SOUND.
power train:automatic transmission
Campaign 00V377000VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION." WATER CONTAMINATION OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OIL CAN LEAD TO VARIOUS FAILURE MODES OF THE TRANSMISSION. ONE OF THESE FAILURE MODELS RESULTS IN INCORRECT OPERATION OF THE PARK LOCK FUNCTION THAT COULD ALLOW A VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY IF PARKED WITHOUT THE HANDBRAKE PROPERLY SET.
electronic stability control:automatic (asc)
Campaign 00V142001VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. THE LOADING CONDITIONS ON THE VEHICLE'S LEFT SIDE ENGINE IDLER PULLEY CAN EXCEED THE MAXIMUM CALCULATED FIGURE OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN SPECIFICATION. THE MATERIAL OF THE PULLEY CAN FRACTURE AND ULTIMATELY FAIL. FAILURE OF THE PULLEY MATERIAL CAN CAUSE THE PULLEY TO THROW OFF THE SERPENTINE BELT.
Show 5 more recalls
electronic stability control:automatic (asc)
Campaign 00V142000VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ACTIVE CORNERING ENHANCEMENT (ACE). THE LOADING CONDITIONS ON THE VEHICLE'S LEFT SIDE ENGINE IDLER PULLEY CAN EXCEED THE MAXIMUM CALCULATED FIGURE OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN SPECIFICATION. THE MATERIAL OF THE PULLEY CAN FRACTURE AND ULTIMATELY FAIL. FAILURE OF THE PULLEY MATERIAL CAN CAUSE THE PULLEY TO THROW OFF THE SERPENTINE BELT.
service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Campaign 04V005000CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS," AND NO. 135, "PASSENGER CAR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) MODULATOR VALVE COVER RETAINING BOLTS CAN CRACK DUE TO STRESSES TRANSMITTED BY THE FLEXING VALVE COVERS.
vehicle speed control
Campaign 02V028000ON SOME SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE ACCELERATOR CABLE COULD HAVE BECOME KINKED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY, RESULTING IN CHAFFING OF THE CABLE. CONTINUED CHAFFING CAN LEAD TO BREAKAGE OF THE INTERIOR CABLE STRANDS.
service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Campaign 02V022000ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, CONTAMINATION OF AN ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS) SENSOR CAN CAUSE THE ABS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO INCORRECTLY INTERPRET THE SENSOR SIGNAL, RESULTING IN INAPPROPRIATE ABS ACTIVATION.
engine and engine cooling:engine
Campaign 00V036000VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ACTIVE CORNERING ENHANCEMENT (ACE). THE HIGH-PRESSURE HYDRAULIC PIPE THAT RUNS FROM THE ACE PUMP TO THE ACE VALVE BLOCK COULD FRACTURE AT ITS UNION WITH THE PUMP.
What owners say across generations
Sentiment is sharply divided and heavily dependent on the specific generation and powertrain.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Discovery. See the full Discovery owner picture and every model year.
Other Discovery model years
Compare every Discovery year side by side to see how 1999 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Discovery against its rivals
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