Land Rover Discovery 2004-2016 Reliability & Common Problems

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Is the Land Rover Discovery 4 reliable?

The fourth-generation Discovery 4 has a rather sketchy reliablity record, and we'd urge you to buy an example with a full service history for peace of mind – or one that has been looked after by a reputable independent specialist at the very least.

As long as the car has been meticulously maintained and repaired using geniuine Land Rover parts, you shouldn't run into any major problems. But be prepared for hefty bills should parts being to fail.

Engine: Detecting crank failure is difficult, because the engine is pretty gruff at idle anyway. But if it sounds a little lumpier than normal, take this as an early warning: full engine replacement required. Ouch.

Inlet manifolds can crack on high-mileage diesels, so venture up to motorway speeds to see if it goes into limp-home mode.

Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valves can also crack. They can be blanked off with plates or replaced, but the latter can involve lifting the body from the car, so not a cheap job.

Suspension: Air suspension failure is a pretty common issue. Make sure the car is level and isn’t listing to one corner and check that the ride height raises and lowers evenly. Listen out for any strange noises from a dying compressor.

Front lower control arms wear over time but should be replaced every 50,000 miles anyway.

Gearbox: Make sure the gearbox has had an oil and filter change; if not, run a mile.

Check the entire drivetrain – including the differentials – for signs of black stuff where it shouldn’t be.

Body: Scratches to the side and scuffs to the cladding are indicators of off-road antics. Have a good look underneath the car for any signs of rust or damage, the latter to the front control arms in particular.

An owner’s view

Charlie Knifton, Kniftons Mobile Toilets: “I bought a 2015 facelifted Discovery 4 to tow my fleet of luxury mobile toilet trailers. At present, I still have my 2015 model, as well as two 2016 Discovery 4s and a Discovery 5. They’re brilliant tow cars and regularly tasked with towing trailers upwards of three tonnes. They have plenty of power and the gearbox is really smooth. Sure, we’ve had lots of warning lights on the dashboard – failed EGR valves and cracked inlet manifolds to name just a few. Last year, one of our Discos snapped its crankshaft at 125,000 miles. I didn’t enjoy paying the £10k bill to fix it.”

Also worth knowing

When it was launched, you could have the Discovery 4 in a choice of three trims: GS was the entry-level option, followed by XS and then premium HSE.

In 2012, Land Rover added HSE Luxury, which came with silver roof rails and black trim and celebrated 25 years since the launch of the original Discovery.

Graphite and Landmark trims were added towards the end of the model’s production life, the latter being the more luxurious: it featured TV screens in the headrests and lashings of extra leather.