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Land Rover DiscoveryModel year report

1998 Land Rover Discovery Problems

Complaints
33filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
77,747miles, 10 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
14 mpgcombined, 4.0L 8-cyl 4WD/AWD · 12 city / 16 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 Land Rover Discovery (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 33 consumer complaints for the 1998 Land Rover Discovery. The part named most often is brakes, with 5 complaints (15% of the total), followed by electrical system (5) and steering (5). 10 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 77,747 miles. Of all complaints, 7 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 9 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 4 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Engine (1), Exterior lighting (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Seats (1), Body and structure (1), Suspension (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Brakes: “Our Land Rover Discovery lost steering and brake control while on highway 99 nb south of the toulumne rd exit. We were traveling at low highway speed (50-60mph) when we noticed the vehicle to begin swerving left and right causing the body to pitch dramatically with no response from steering, when the brakes were applied they were unresponsive. The directional occasional increased while we traveled approx another 500 yards before we hit the edge embankment and rolled over. Engine continued to run in the overturned position.”

NHTSA complaint #10325465, filed 2010-04, 98,000 miles

Electrical system: “The contact owned a 1998 Land Rover Discovery. While driving and depressing the brake pedal, flames appeared under the dashboard. A fire report was filed. A police report was not filed. The local fire department extinguished the fire. The contact sustained bruises to the left shoulder and left leg while jumping out of the vehicle. Medical attention was not received. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was considered a total loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. …”

NHTSA complaint #11193854, filed 2019-04, 124,000 miles

Steering: “I began to back out of a parking space. As my car cleared the parking space, I was turning my steering wheel as I backed out, I heard a click at the steering wheel and suddenly had no steering whatsoever. My steering wheel just spins free, easily, and the steering wheel no longer controls the front tires. It appears that a splined shaft coming out of the steering box is stripped. I had to have my car towed home as it is impossible to drive it without any steering control. …”

NHTSA complaint #10556128, filed 2013-12, 138,965 miles

Air bags: “Consumer was driving approximately 65 MPH when another vehicle clipped consumer's vehicle from the rear, forcing it into a guard rail, and the air bags failed to deploy.”

NHTSA complaint #10067221, filed 2004-04, 58,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 10 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 60,000 and 98,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–5040%50–7540%75–10020%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (10 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 77,747 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’985’005’025’045’06’12’19
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1998 Land Rover Discovery version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Discovery 4WD/AWD4.0L 8-cyl4-speed automatic121614$5,850
Discovery 4WD/AWD4.0L 8-cyl5-speed manual121513$6,300

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1998 Land Rover Discovery → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 4 on record; the latest 4 are shown.

Other model years of the Land Rover Discovery

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20248—5—21—Too new
20237—6—21—Too new
20221176,0006—21—Not enough data
202111108,0296—21—Not enough data
20201941,5086—18—Rising
20193953,0004—1848 · TypicalRising
20183714,1444—1859 · TypicalRising
20175525,0003—1850 · TypicalStable
2016530,7000———Not enough data
20042976,6880—12Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20034873,0001—12Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20021770,0000—13—Stable
20011383,0001—13—Not enough data
20003087,0001—13Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199917175,0002—14—Stable
19983377,7471—14Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19973565,0001—14Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199665110,0002—14Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19954979,5003—13Not compared (before 2008)Rising
199415110,0001—13—Stable

All Land Rover Discovery model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 Land Rover Discovery have?

NHTSA recorded 33 consumer complaints for the 1998 Land Rover Discovery as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1998 Land Rover Discovery is reported most often?

Brakes is named most often, in 5 complaints (15% of the total), followed by electrical system with 5.

Has the 1998 Land Rover Discovery been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1998 Land Rover Discovery get?

The EPA rates the 1998 Land Rover Discovery (Discovery, 4.0L 8-cyl) at 14 mpg combined, 12 city and 16 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,850 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1998 Land Rover Discovery reported?

Among the 10 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 77,747 miles and the middle half falls between 60,000 and 98,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.