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Land Rover DiscoveryModel year report

2017 Land Rover Discovery Problems

Compared with other Land Rover Discovery years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2019

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
55filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
25,000miles, 23 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl 4WD · 16 city / 21 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2017 Land Rover Discovery (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe water entering around the windshield, which some say later reached electrical parts and displays. Door and tailgate latch problems, electrical systems that go dark or reset, sudden power loss, and major engine failures also appear repeatedly in the complaints. Water leaks and electrical faults are often described as returning after repairs, while power loss and engine failures are usually described as sudden.

  1. Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

    Windshield seal leaks letting water into the cabin

    • 19 complaints (35%)
    • median 15,000 mi at 3.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2020–2026

    Owners describe water entering around the windshield and running into the cabin, sometimes onto the dashboard, floor or overhead wiring. Several say the windshield or its seal was replaced, but the leak came back. Some connect the water to electrical faults such as a blank display or a no-start condition. Some report that the leak was not covered, or that a repair was reportedly done incorrectly, according to the complaints. Where mileage is listed, reports range from very low mileage to about 47,000 miles, and several mention leaks during rain or snow.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask whether a bulletin on windshield water entry reaching electrical parts has been applied, and whether the seal was checked after the most recent repair. Check the footwells and carpets for dampness after rain or a car wash.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “2017 Land Rover Discovery hse, major water leak from the upper corner, passenger side of the car. The leak happens when it rains or snows (both standing still or in motion). The water so far has touched the a-pillar airbag, the safety cameras on the windshield and other electrical wiring. Additionally the water finds its way to the carpeting on the floor. In one occasion today (1/8/2020) water spilled into my head from right above the rear-view mirror while I was taking an exit ramp. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11298002, filed 2020-01, 5 miles

    “There is a leak from the windshield. A lot of Landrover Discovery’s owners having the same issue and the manufacturer is not fixing it if the vehicle is not on warranty. I called my dealer in Orlando and they told me that I should take it to my insurance but it was not caused by an accident. It is a problem with most Discoveries from 2020 and under. Please help! Thanks!”

    NHTSA complaint #11447175, filed 2022-01
  2. Latches, locks and linkages

    Rear door and tailgate latches opening or not latching

    • 9 complaints (16%)
    • median 41,500 mi at 5.2 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2020–2023

    Owners describe a rear or passenger door, or the tailgate, opening while the vehicle was moving, or failing to latch after being closed. Some report a door lock that failed in operation, or a hatch that would not close after a bracket broke. Complaints also describe a recall for rear passenger door latching where the repair part was reportedly not yet available, and some say the dealer reset the system instead of repairing it. Where mileage is listed, reports fall between about 20,000 and 55,000 miles, and several describe a door opening at low to moderate speeds.

    Recall 23V393000

    What to check: Ask whether recall 23V393000 for the rear passenger door latches has been completed, since some complaints describe long waits for the repair part. Check that every door and the tailgate latch fully and stay shut, and look for any open-door warning on the instrument cluster.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The back left passenger door opened while the vehicle was in motion and when I stopped the vehicle and tried to close the door it would not shut, it would spring open and not latch. This has happened twice now. The first time it occurred one month ago and I took the car to the dealer and they claimed there was no recall and they alleged to have done a reset which they understood would solve the safety issue. Yesterday, approximately one month later, it occurred again. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11301035, filed 2020-01, 20,000 miles

    “Back rear door latch gave out. Opened back door closed it and started driving. No bells and or warnings letting me know it wasn’t closed. Came to stop and door flew open without warning. At this point car told ne door was open. Me thinking I maybe didn’t close all the way re closed it and started driving. At 35mph around a corner and the door flew fully open again then alarms started going off. No repair invoice as vehicle is still being repaired.”

    NHTSA complaint #11459540, filed 2022-04
  3. Electrical system

    Electrical systems and displays going dark or resetting

    • 12 complaints (22%)
    • median 8,000 mi at 2.6 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2018–2025

    Owners describe the instrument cluster, infotainment screen, navigation or radio going blank or resetting, sometimes while driving. Some report ABS, stability, braking or electric steering functions shutting down, and others mention brake lights that did not light. Some complaints mention a battery ground stud that was arcing or had poor ground contact, which the dealer reportedly found after a tow. Where mileage is listed, the figure is about 3,000 miles, and many of these reports do not give mileage.

    1 related service bulletin

    What to check: Ask whether any battery ground stud or electrical software update has been done, and have the dealer check the battery ground connections and wiring. If the screen or controls reset while driving, ask whether the bulletin on body and comfort functions resetting while driving has been applied.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “There is a safety recall for the 2019-2020 Land Rover Discovery models. 414-01 SAFETY RECALL: Startup Battery Ground Stud - Insufficient Ground Contact Land Rover Tech bulletin dated 09 DEC 2020 On July 25 my 2017 Land Rover discovery lost power, instrumentation went haywire, and steering limp as I was making a turn onto US-90. On August 5 it would not start. Eventually jump started it, as the battery did not seem to register to the vehicle. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11679467, filed 2025-08

    “Vehicle electronics began going crazy. The instrument cluster and gages just started flashing and pulsating. The transmission and mode selection cluster lit up like a Christmas tree. The engine power and steering went limp. The transmission eventually stuck in drive. This occurred twice while driving on the roadway. The second time I had it towed to the dealership. The dealership found the M6 ground stud to be arching. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11679196, filed 2025-08
  4. Engine

    Sudden major engine failures, some tied to coolant loss

    • 6 complaints (11%)
    • typically at 7.4 yrs old
    • filed 2022–2025

    Owners describe engine failures that came on suddenly, with the engine stopping, seizing or shaking and fumes appearing while driving. Some complaints name a broken timing chain or a crankshaft problem, while others link the failure to low coolant, a cracked water pump or manifold part, or a plastic coolant outlet that melted. Some describe a repeat coolant loss after an earlier cooling-system repair, and some were quoted large repair bills while the vehicle was outside warranty. Mileage is not given in these reports, and some describe the engine failing on highways or busy roads.

    What to check: Ask for records of any coolant-system repairs and whether the plastic coolant outlet or water pump was replaced. Check for recurring low-coolant warnings or coolant loss before buying.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “was driving on Wa-18 highway going to Snowqualmie Falls with my family. Suddenly I heard a snap from the front and at the same moment the car start shaking from the front so I slowed down trying to go to the right lane so I could stop when i see a chance because I was in an area where there is no emergency curve. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11525128, filed 2023-06

    “I was driving on a very busy road in Portland when my engine suffered catastrophic failure and seized the engine. This was due to a defect in the crankshaft. My family and I are lucky this didn’t happen at speed on a highway. Land Rover has failed to acknowledge a problem despite thousands of people experiencing the same. This resulted in a 26k bill. I just found out I could report my experience so I am now. Research has uncovered this is a common problem and a safety concern for many others as well. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11537615, filed 2023-08
  5. Engine

    Sudden loss of power or engine shutdown while driving

    • 8 complaints (15%)
    • median 25,000 mi at 2.6 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2018–2025

    Owners describe the engine losing power, shuddering or shutting off without warning while driving, sometimes with a battery warning and a message on the screen. Some report steering or the transmission going limp or stuck in drive during electrical faults. A diesel owner says changing fuel brands did not help. Where mileage is listed, reports range from about 8,000 to 37,000 miles, and some happened at highway or road speeds.

    Recall 18V337000

    What to check: Ask whether recall 18V337000 on the fuel gauge and engine cut-off software has been completed, and check open recalls for the VIN. Ask the dealer to read stored fault codes if the engine has lost power or the instrument cluster has shown warnings.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving on main road at the speed limit (45 MPH). I had slowed down as I observed a car pulling out ahead of me onto the road. As I gave my vehicle gas in order to get back up to speed, I felt a pause in the engine and then the car completely lost power- the engine stopped, the red battery icon appeared on the dash, and message appeared on the screen with the heading special program suspended or something to that effect-- I had no time to read that message as I had to steer my car as far to the right as I was able to. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11209915, filed 2019-05, 37,108 miles

    “Car seems to loose power. Shutters and almost stalls when giving gas. Happens at random. Was told to switch fuel brands didn't help. Vehicle does it mainly when doing a califonia stop. Happens mainly on city streets. No matter how much gas is given car still shutters no power and slows until car resolve issue. Vehicle is a diesel”

    NHTSA complaint #11149682, filed 2018-11, 8,000 miles

Buying note. For this model year, the most consistent complaints involve water leaks at the windshield, door and tailgate latches, and electrical faults. A buyer may want to look for signs of past water intrusion, confirm whether recalls 23V393000 and 18V337000 have been completed, and ask for records of any engine or cooling-system repairs.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 52 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 55 consumer complaints for the 2017 Land Rover Discovery. 23 of the complaints include a mileage, and 91% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 25,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 852 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 2 Land Rover Discovery model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

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: Suspension (3), Air bags (2), Seat belts (1), Steering (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “First three days before 5/14/2019 the seatbelts lights were on and off, and on may14/2019 I was on my way to work the car just stop in the middle of the road. .. The break were locked.”

NHTSA complaint #11208546, filed 2019-05, 40,000 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “I was completely stopped at a red light. I have just left work and was 2 miles down the street. My rear window completely exploded. Glass flew everywhere. The noise was so loud that it caused ear pain. I have requested a complete inspection from the dealership along with a review of the EDR system and SDR. This happened on Wednesday 3/15. I am concerned this was electrical given the car had only been turned on for 3 minutes and i was at a complete stop with ZERO impact. …”

NHTSA complaint #11512554, filed 2023-03

Engine: “There is a very serious issue in landrover Discovery 2017 that abruptly shuts down the engine for no apparent reason. On nov 20th, 2020 my wife was travelling to pittsburgh pa on route 76 pa turnpike. Near bradfordford, pa the engine suddenly shut itself down without any pre-warning. The car stalled with no ability or ample time for her to steer to the shoulder. Until highway patrol arrived, she was completely left in a helpless and life threatening situation. Any big truck could've easily rear ended her and killed her. …”

NHTSA complaint #11375786, filed 2020-11, 25,000 miles

Other or unknown: “The 2017 Discovery has been designed with only 4 air vents in the front dash and 2 very weak air vents in the 2nd row. This is a 3 row passenger vehicle with no vents in the 3rd row. The car is missing at least 4 vents and is creating a safety hazard in hot and cold environments. I cannot have passengers or animals in the rear of the car due to the lack of ventilation in the vehicle. In addition, due to attempting to cool the car down, running the car with max AC is giving me only 9-10 mpg. Car is advertised as 16 mpg city. …”

NHTSA complaint #11002620, filed 2017-07, 270 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

91% of the 23 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 8,000 and 40,000 miles.

30%0–1017%10–2543%25–509%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (23 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 25,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

2018202020221320242026
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 2017 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 4WD3.0L 6-cyl8-speed automatic162118$4,550
Discovery 4WD3.0L 6-cyl · diesel8-speed automatic212623$4,150

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 2017 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. 852 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 852 bulletins →

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

What are the most common problems with the 2017 Land Rover Discovery?

Owners of this model year most often describe water entering around the windshield, which some say later reached electrical parts and displays. The issues reported most often: Windshield seal leaks letting water into the cabin; Rear door and tailgate latches opening or not latching; Electrical systems and displays going dark or resetting.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2017 Land Rover Discovery have?

NHTSA recorded 55 consumer complaints for the 2017 Land Rover Discovery as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2017 Land Rover Discovery is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 18 complaints (33% of the total), followed by visibility with 14.

Has the 2017 Land Rover Discovery been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2017 Land Rover Discovery get?

The EPA rates the 2017 Land Rover Discovery (Discovery, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 21 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2017 Land Rover Discovery reported?

Among the 23 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 25,000 miles and the middle half falls between 8,000 and 40,000 miles; 91% 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.