Land Rover Discovery owners have reported 10 problems related to oil pump (under the engine and engine cooling category). The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Low oil pressure red light when lowering the speed to stop. In 2003, Land Rover issued an tech alert #ta03 1201 for the oil pump failures due to their manufacturing error with VIN# 3a771801 – 3a808362. Below is the original text from their alert. Why they haven't made the recall yet? it's so dangerous to drive the car with engine can die or burn anytime, and the only solution is to replace the whole engine according to their tech alert. See below: 2003 Discovery series ii oil pump failures vehicles affected Discovery series ii (lt) 3a771801 – 3a808362 situation oil pump failures on 2003 Discovery series ii vehicles may be the result of a manufacturing error. Locating dowel pins may be slightly misaligned permitting assembly of the oil pump to the engine block, but placing stress on the pump housing which can ultimately lead to leakage or failure. Resolution whenever an oil pump failure is encountered on vehicles within the above VIN range the only effective repair currently available is replacement of the complete engine assembly including the front cover/oil pump manufactured to the latest tolerances. Use the following components to affect a repair: • lbb112301 4. 6 engine assembly lev • lbb111461 4. 6 engine assembly non-lev.
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Technical service report from independent british Land Rover specialists, bethesda customer states engine makes a tapping noise, mostly at idle. Diagnosis - verified noise. Oil light on due to low oil pressure, vehicle in VIN range for oil pump failure due to misaligned front cover from the manufacturer. Oil pump damage has occurred, and needs to be changed. Correct repair is engine replacement, as damage to bearings can occur. Failure also caused by block alignment positioning. At this point, no noticeable engine damage has occurred, and to avoid engine replacement can replace oil pump assembly. Oil pump replacement would only be temporary �x, as problem will most likely arise years down the line. Will need to check front cover for damage during repair. Additionally, large oil leak from intake end seals detected. Recommend replace oil pump, align front cover, replace intake gasket while noting there may be chances of engine failure, bearing damage & damage to front cover detected during service. Notes: to avoid engine failure, replaced oil pump at a cost of $2,600 due to misaligned front cover from the Land Rover manufacturer. Will likely need to replace engine in the future at an expected cost of $10,000 due to block alignment positioning manufacturing errors from Land Rover. Customer will have to pay for these repairs in their entirety, despite the fact that they are caused by original manufacturing defects, as Land Rover has not issued a recall. Please assist - there are thousands of very similar complaints posted on multiple Land Rover forums online.
The first issue is about a seat fire. My husband was just pulling into our drive when the drivers seat heater burned a hole in the left side of the seat causing him to have a burn. The second problem is the oil pump. I heard a noise coming from the engine, and asked our mechanic what might have been the cause of the noise. He said the the oil pump was bad and we will have to replace the oil pump and if there was damage to the engine would have to replace that too. I understand that there was a technical alert dated March 14, 2003, just three months after I purchased my car. A class action suit was started in may 2003 but I was not informed of the suit. I called Land Rover of America and was told I was the only Land Rover owner to have a fire in the seat, which I found was untrue then I called them back when the oil pump went and said that my car was out of warrantyand was too old for Land Rover to do anything for me. The car has about 100,000 miles on it. We lived in juneau at the time and there are few roads. We were there until 2007 when we moved to montana. I am tired of excuses from the manufacturer. I paid almost $40,000dollars for the car that should last me a long time. It was to be my retirement car. Other people have had the same problems that I have experianced to no avail.
2003 Land Rover Discovery ii oil pump failure: we bought ours previously-owned from a Land Rover dealer. Nothing was mentioned about the defect in the manufacturing of this 4. 6 l engine or the attached March 14, 2003 technical alert. In spite of regular service, the engine failed because of this defect and we replaced the engine with a used engine. Now, it may also be failing due to internal oil starvation. There are many posts online about these engine failures. Land rover sent out their alert, but did not offer the only remedy to their defective product - replace the engine ($10-12k). Like many others, we have spent thousands of dollars and been without the car while ours was in the shop because of a known defect that the Land Rover dealer chose not to share with us when we purchased the car. Attempts by others to seek help from Land Rover of America or through legal actions seem to have been unsuccessful. Since the statute of limitations has most likely expired on this matter, there is probably no way to ever recover the financial losses. It seemed like a nice car, but Land Rover really dropped the ball on this one. Don't by a 2003-4 Discovery unless the VIN has been checked to be sure the vehicle is in the production series included in the Land Rover technical alert -ta03 1201.
I was driving on the highway when my engine started knocking. I immediately pulled over and then my oil and engine lights came on. I had it towed to the dealership and was informed my oil pump wasn't any good and I needed to replace my engine. After doing some investigating I discovered there was a technical alert sent out to dealerships regarding 2003 Land Rover Discovery ii oil pump failures. I was not notified of this when I purchased my vehicle years ago. Land rover is liable for this and I would like them to replace my engine. They should have recalled these vehicles upon discovering the issue. Not all customers have access to technical alerts and if I didn't research this matter I would have not had a clue this matter existed. Please help me. I have a 6 month old son and need reliable transportation. Thank you for your time.
Conducted an oil change Nov 2010 engine failed Nov 2010 engine still has full oil 2003 Land Rover Discovery engine failure. Due to oil pump failure. This a known manufacture defect that Land Rover will not repair.
Oil pump failure. Land rover issued a technical advisory to all of their dealers in March 2003 warning that due to a manufacturers defect in the engine block dowels being misdrilled where oil pump housing is mounted, that the misalignment causes the oil pump housing to be stressed eventually causing the oil pump to fail. The only effective repair is to replace the engine. I purchased this vehicle in 2006 which had come off lease. I had it serviced at Land Rover dealer in southampton NY and they never advised me that this was a manufacturers defect and that my vehicle fell within the VIN range referred to in the technical advisory. Other consumers have the same problem and there are over 30,000 vehicles currently on the road with this same problem. Why is there not a recall and why does lr not replace the defective engines?.
2003 Discovery w/ 36k miles. I was driving off the highway and heard a noise from the engine and than oil light came on. Put in neutral and pulled over. Had it towed to nearest garage. Oil pump had "exploded" and ripped a whole in engine "cover. " I saw the oil pump gear in pieces. There is a known technical service bulletin for disco 2003 oil pump failure resulting in new engine replacement as only permanent fix. Currently my car is at Land Rover hinsdale illinois. Will not cover b/c warranty is up 10mos ago. Have contacted customer care and they are in the process of deciding to either give me nothing or a "good will gesture" w/ unlear monetary help. Huge stress on a car that has few miles and a known problem that could have been fixed for 500 dollars or so and now could be up to 10,000. Something needs to be done. Thanks jk.
The contact owns a 2003 Land Rover Discovery. The contact stated that the oil warning indicator light illuminated and there was a clunking noise coming from the engine compartment. The mechanic stated that the oil pump needed to be replaced. The VIN and engine size were unknown. The current and failure mileages were 55,000. Updated 01/28/08. Updated 02-25-08 the consumer stated after researching online, she discovered oil pump failure seemed to be a common problem with this vehicle. Updated.
The contact owns a 2003 Land Rover Discovery. The contact detected a faint burning smell while driving 70 mph. The vehicle was pulled over and oil suddenly began erupting from the rear of the vehicle onto the rear window. The dealer diagnosed the failure as the oil pump. While replacing the oil pump the dealer discovered that the bearing and crank shaft were ruined, and the engine was destroyed. The vehicle has not been repaired. The current and failure mileage were 50,300.