Most common 2001 Land Rover Discovery problems
Share of the 13 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 →
2001 Land Rover Discovery recalls (1)
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.
What 2001 Land Rover Discovery owners say
Suspension
While driving at 45 MPH and when approaching a turn vehicle swayed from side to side. After losing control vehicle continued to sway from side to side. Then, vehicle tipped over and flipped several times into a ditch. Four persons were slightly injured in the incident. A Land Rover mechanic informed the consumer that stabilizer bar was the likely cause of the problem. Ak
While driving at 45 MPH and upon approaching a turn in the road vehicle started swaying from side to side. Consumer lost control of the vehicle, and vehicle continued to sway, causing it to tip over. Then, vehicle flipped several times before coming to a stop. Consumer and family suffered minor scrapes and bruises.
Engine & cooling
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Land Rover Discovery. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, there was smoke emitting from under the hood. The contact coasted over to the side of the road, which an odor of burning rubber was coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 00V423000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 87,000.
While driving on the highway a red light next to the temperature gauge came on and the temperature lever went to high. Coolant pressure connection was disconnected, and all the coolant leaked out. This caused damage to several components. The official cause had not yet been determined although dealership acknowledged that this problem existed with the 1999 models.
Brakes
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Land Rover Discovery. While driving approximately 50 MPH, when the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle failed to brake properly while the traction control, ABS, and down hill sensor warning lights illuminated. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who was unable to diagnose the failure and referred the contact to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.
Truck ABS, downhill descent, traction control came on when brake applied. All three lights are on. In event I was driving during snow or slippery conditions down hill vehicle would of been very difficult to control resulting in crash and physical injury. The car was diagnosed as a shutter valve failure which can be result of brake fluid corroding electrical switches or just outright failure where repair estimates range from $1200 to $3800. This issue is notorious among 1999-2004 Discovery's. Why wait until someone is killed eventually to issue a recall. The NHTSA should investigate now to prevent the death of its citizens in the near future.
2001 Land Rover Discovery engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 12 / 16 / 13 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Land Rover Discovery a good car?
Based on 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Discovery rates better than average: 60% 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 2001 Land Rover Discovery?
The suspension — 4 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front › control arm › upper ball joint. Next are the engine & cooling (3) and brakes (3).
How many recalls does the 2001 Land Rover Discovery have?
There is 1 recall for the 2001 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 2001 Land Rover Discovery problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 83,000 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.