Most common 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport problems
Share of the 52 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Land Rover Discovery Sport complaints by model year
Best Discovery Sport years: 2015, 2024, 2021. Years to avoid: 2016. Compare all years →
2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport recalls (2)
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport vehicles manufactured May 30, 2016, to August 24, 2016, and 2016-2017 Range Rover Evoque vehicles manufactured June 7, 2016, to August 26, 2016.
Remedy: Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hardware that connects the front lower control arm to the knuckle, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017.
Exterior lighting
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport vehicles manufactured September 17, 2014, to March 5, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the license plate illumination lamp may fall out.
Remedy: Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will replace both rear license plate lamp housings, free of charge. The recall began on June 21, 2016. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport owners say
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport. The contact stated that while starting and while driving, there was an abnormal exhaust odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. Additionally, the contact stated that while parking the vehicle, the vehicle made an abnormal clicking sound that lasted for 2-3 minutes after the vehicle was parked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the exhaust intake manifold was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was concerned for her safety due to the exhaust odor and carbon monoxide poisoning. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
Crankshaft pulley and Crankshaft had a manufactured defect that caused the pulley to brake into pieces while standing at a stop intersection, multiple pieces of metal were projected towards the radiator, water pump, passenger wheel, serpentine belt, battery and other components causing considerable damage and left the vehicle inoperable. The repairs were substantial and required multiple parts to be replaced due to a low quality part (crankshaft and pulley) during the vehicle's assembly, among some of them were a new Crankshaft pulley, radiator and retainers, and serpentine wheel. The total cost for the damage including parts, labor and secondary services (towing) were in excess of $3,700.00 (Three thousand seven hundred dollars). …
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes were inoperable. The contact was able to safely drive the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a fractured brake hose. The contact was informed that the brake fluid hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated while driving and attempting to make a turn, the gear shifter seized. The contact stated that the vehicle was immovable and had seized in the middle of the street. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the gear shifter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact also stated that the front driver's and passenger's door locks were in operable, and the latches failed to lock as needed. …
The contact owns a 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, and she heard a grinding noise coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the gear box fault, HDC Not Available System Fault, and Stability Control Not Available - Drive with Care messages were displayed. The contact pulled off of the road, stopped and shifted into park(P) but did not turn off the vehicle. The contact stated that the transmission failure and flashing warning lights were intermittent the following days. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission solenoid and valve harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The contact had the vehicle towed to the same dealer. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. …
Brakes
The braking system failed, specifically a brake line rupture/failure that resulted in a complete loss of braking function. The vehicle is currently located at AAA or IAA facility, because it was totaled after an accident. The loss of braking function created an immediate and severe safety hazard. My wife was unable to stop the vehicle, which resulted in a collision with another vehicle. This placed my wife, the occupants of the other vehicle, including a child seated on the side of impact, and others on the road at significant risk of serious injury or fatality. The issue has been diagnosed by the Kansas City Land Rover Dealership as a faulty brake line rupture without warning. However, there are photo of the ruptured brake line, located where the aluminum line joins with the rubber line. A full independent inspection was completed. …
The contact owns a 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes were inoperable. The contact was able to safely drive the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a fractured brake hose. The contact was informed that the brake fluid hose needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated while driving and attempting to make a turn, the gear shifter seized. The contact stated that the vehicle was immovable and had seized in the middle of the street. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the contact was informed that the gear shifter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact also stated that the front driver's and passenger's door locks were in operable, and the latches failed to lock as needed. …
2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 9-speed automatic | 4WD | 20 / 26 / 22 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport a good car?
Based on 52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2016 Discovery Sport rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Discovery Sport at the same age. It is one of the Discovery Sport years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport?
The engine & cooling — 15 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (13) and brakes (7).
How many recalls does the 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport, the most recent from December 9, 2016 (lower arm). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Land Rover Discovery Sport?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2015, 2024 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2016. See the full Land Rover Discovery Sport years comparison.
At what mileage do 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 45% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.