1997 Land Rover Discovery: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 1997 Land Rover Discovery: 1 recall, 35 owner complaints and up to 14 mpg combined.
Recalls
1 vehicle recall from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Speed control / throttle, Airbags Vehicle recall #98V040000 · 1998 · 54,488 vehicles
What's wrong: As a result of chaffing of a cruise control wire, the steering wheel rotary coupler can overheat and inadvertently deploy the driver's air bag.
Why it matters: Deployment of the air bag restraint system without warning can cause a driver to lose vehicle control.
The fix: Dealers will install a fusible link which will protect the rotary coupler from overheating.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Transmission & drivetrain Equipment recall #12E010000 · 2012 · 180 vehicles
What's wrong: Jaguar 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…
Why it matters: If this increased vibration warning sign is ignored, catastrophic failure of the drive coupling can occur. The driveshaft May detach from the vehicle while in motion resulting in loss of drive and loss of transmission park functionality, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash and/or injury.
The fix: Land rover will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected rear driveshaft couplers free of charge. The safety recall began on May 4, 2012.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (hydraulic) (12): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (6).
- Airbags (6): the most common themes are fails to deploy (3).
- Engine & cooling (5): the most common themes are noise or vibration (2).
- Transmission & drivetrain (4): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 1997 Land Rover Discovery has 35 owner complaints, ranking #7 of 23 Discovery model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 24). Complaints peaked in 2000 (6 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 65,000 miles. Neighboring years: 1996 (65 complaints, 2 recalls), 1998 (33 complaints, 1 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 12 | 16 | 14 | Premium |
| 4.0 L 8-cyl | Manual 5-spd | 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive | 11 | 16 | 13 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 1997 Land Rover Discovery.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
From $19.99/mo · $59.99/yrStep-by-step photos written from a real teardown. Great for first-timers.
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FAQ
Does the 1997 Land Rover Discovery have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall for the 1997 Land Rover Discovery, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 1997 Land Rover Discovery problems?
Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (hydraulic) (12), airbags (6), engine & cooling (5).
What gas mileage does the 1997 Land Rover Discovery get?
EPA ratings run up to 14 mpg combined (4.0 L, Automatic 4-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 1997 Land Rover Discovery repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.