Most common 1997 Land Rover Discovery problems
Share of the 35 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Land Rover Discovery complaints by model year
Best Discovery years: 2016, 2025, 2022. Years to avoid: 2017, 2019, 2018, 1996. Compare all years →
1997 Land Rover Discovery recalls (1)
Vehicle speed control
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. 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.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fusible link which will protect the rotary coupler from overheating.
What 1997 Land Rover Discovery owners say
Brakes
Right front ABS sensor malfunction. Unable to stop due to ABS engaging. Vibrated vehicle out into intersection. Lucky enough to avoid being t-boned by accelerating hard. Happened numerous times since. Upon researching problem found it to be common in 97 Discovery. Also found most people have wound ip removing ABS fuse due to problem recurring even after repair. Should have been a recall many years ago. Land Rover needs to take responsibility and fix the issue.
When the brake pedal is applied sometimes the pedal goes to the floor, and sometime it's hard. Brakes do not respond in some situations. Also, the anti-lock system makes a grinding noise when it activates, but it does not respond. Vehicle has been in three accidents because of this problem. The dealer has been notified.
Air bags
While driving at approx 40 MPH coming to intersection ,150-200 yards away , light turned red, went to apply brakes vehicle did not stop. Stood on brakes, nothing happened, hit side of another vehicle with the front, air bag did not deploy. Seat belt was worn. This defect resulted in an accident, and could have caused injuries. 820963 duplicate of 818194, posted on 03-nov-98.
While applying ABS brakes they failed to stop vehicle which was being driven at 40 MPH, resulting in an accident. Also brake pedal went completely to floor of vehicle. There was no deployment of driver's or passenger's side airbags.
Engine & cooling
Left exhaust manifold cracked, right exhaust manifold broken in 2! Cast iron exhaust manifold both diagnosed as cracked - I replaced worse of 2 then better one broke. Engine block aluminum - creep/fatigue failure due to thermal expansion rates of manifold versus block should be investigated. I believe warrants a recall - especially in ca with tight smog limits.
While driving a loud noise came from under the hood. The noise occurred because the manifold had a hair line crack. A manufacturer's improvement campaign was issued. The manufacturer indicated that the vehicle's VIN was 1 digit off, thus not covered by the warranty.
1997 Land Rover Discovery engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 14 |
| 4.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 16 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Land Rover Discovery a good car?
Based on 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Discovery rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Discovery at the same age. 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 1997 Land Rover Discovery?
The brakes — 13 complaints, 37% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the air bags (6) and engine & cooling (5).
How many recalls does the 1997 Land Rover Discovery have?
There is 1 recall for the 1997 Land Rover Discovery, the most recent from February 24, 1998 (vehicle speed control). 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?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2016, 2025 and 2022. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2017, 2019, 2018 and 1996. See the full Land Rover Discovery years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Land Rover Discovery problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 65,000 miles; 0% 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.