1996 Land Rover Discovery Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1996 Land Rover Discovery has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 75,377 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 111 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 98V040000 1998-02-24 54,488 affected
Defect

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.

Consequence

DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM WITHOUT WARNING CAN CAUSE A DRIVER TO LOSE VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSIBLE LINK WHICH WILL PROTECT THE ROTARY COUPLER FROM OVERHEATING.

STRUCTURE 96V247000 1996-12-12 20,889 affected
Defect

THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR CAN FAIL TO LATCH FULLY WHEN CLOSING, CAUSING THE DOOR TO "BOUNCE" BACK OFF THE DOOR SEALS.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE UNEXPECTED OPENING OF THE DOOR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT OR PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL CORRECTIVE HARDWARE ON THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR. DELAERS WILL ALSO CHECK THE DOOR LATCHES FOR THE OTHER DOORS AT THE SAME TIME.

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
12
2crashes2injuries
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
8
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
7
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
6
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
5
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
3
SERVICE BRAKES
3
STRUCTURE:BODY
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2
Total complaints111

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“I noticed the problem first when I was refueling at the gas station. When the pumps "gallon" gauge reached about 14 gallons I heard a shop playing sound and looked down to find that all the gas I was pumping in was spilling on the ground.I later realized after inspecting it, there's a stress crack…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2018-10-01

“Car won't start but turns over normally. Beginning about a month and a half ago so I've noticed a few times it feeling like its going to die like it's being held back a little bit when I'm driving on the freeway not having enough to get it going like something is clogged or something.... Fuel pump…”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2015-07-06

“Service brakes, hydraulic. Under normal braking abs is activated when applying brakes and causes brakes vibrate/pulse and make it extremely difficult to stop requiring pumping of brake pedal. Happens most frequently at low speeds when turning a corner, ie: out of a driveway when very likely to his…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2014-01-24

“Service brakes, hydraulic. Under normal braking abs is activated when applying brakes and causes brakes vibrate/pulse and make it extremely difficult to stop requiring pumping of brake pedal. Happens most frequently at low speeds when turning a corner, ie: out of a driveway when very likely to his…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2014-01-24

“Side step broke off, substantiated by similar nhtsa complaint # = 603676. *tr”

STRUCTURE · reported 2013-12-10

“Component(s): latches/locks/linkages on all doors: right front door latch requires slammed shut and won't open without key trapping passenger inside or fails to latch fully when closing causing the door to "bounce" back off the door seals.---rear door lock requires key----driver door key broke off…”

STRUCTURE:BODY · reported 2012-11-27

“Component(s): latches/locks/linkages on all doors: right front door latch requires slammed shut and won't open without key trapping passenger inside or fails to latch fully when closing causing the door to "bounce" back off the door seals.---rear door lock requires key----driver door key broke off…”

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES · reported 2012-11-27

“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....this has not happened yet to me, but despite my vehicle being a 1996 land rover discovery with only one previous owner, dealer claims my vin# is not…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2012-11-27

Defect investigations

Investigation PE96060 Opened 1996-10-21 · closed 1996-12-16

DOOR OPEN WHILE DRIVING

IT IS ALLEDGED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR OPENS WHILE DRIVING

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Land Rover Discovery as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.