Most common 1999 Land Rover Discovery problems
Share of the 17 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 →
1999 Land Rover Discovery recalls (2)
Power train › Automatic transmission
Vehicle 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.
Remedy: Dealers will check the park lock function; reposition the automatic transmission breather tube; and test the automatic transmission fluid and flush if necessary.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
Vehicle 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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ABS relay.
What 1999 Land Rover Discovery owners say
Brakes
Consumer was slowing to a stop, when vehicle got to about 5 MPH, the brake pedal forcefully pushed consumer's foot in an upward direction, consumer pushed back down on brake which now felt very hard and vehicle would not stop or even slow down, consumer states the pedal felt like grinding stone on stone, consumer rolled in to the car in front, thus stopping the vehicle.
The 1999 Discovery series ii. Took vehicle to dealer for brake problem. But dealer could not determine the cause of the problem. Two days later while driving braking system malfunctioned, causing a rear end collision. Please provide further information.
Steering
While driving on the I-10 expressway in new orleans, the steering mechanism stopped working, by the grace of god, I did not crash into other vehicles. I immediately got off the I-10 heading towards my brother's home to tell him about my situation. He wasn't home. I called him on the cell phone. He told me to park the vehicle and call triple a. As I was backing out of his driveway to park the Land Rover, the steering wheel spun like a top with no control of the vehicle. Triple a arrived and discovered a steering bolt separation. They tightened the bolt and towed the vehicle to my residence because it was the July 4th weekend, I had the vehicle towed to my home, not the dealership. (I mailed you a letter on June 12, 2006 with the rest of the details).
While driving on gravel there was a popping noise and something was dragging. Also, steering was impossible. Dealer said tie rod broke at the connector.
Engine & cooling
The vehicle started to smoke under the hood. The consumer heard pop sound followed by intensive smoke coming out of the engine area. The consumer was denied fire warranty by the dealer.
Consumer stated there was a knocking noise coming from the engine, dealer replaced the rocker arms. The passenger side seat didn't move back and forth, the ABS and traction control lights illuminated, there was a hissing noise coming from the radio. Updated
1999 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 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Land Rover Discovery a good car?
Based on 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Discovery rates average: 37% fewer complaints than 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 1999 Land Rover Discovery?
The brakes — 5 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Next are the steering (3) and engine & cooling (3).
How many recalls does the 1999 Land Rover Discovery have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1999 Land Rover Discovery, the most recent from November 16, 2000 (automatic transmission). 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 1999 Land Rover Discovery problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 175,000 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.