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1998 Land Rover Discovery: problems, recalls and fuel economy
NHTSA has 33 owner complaints on file for this Discovery[1]. Steering, electrical, brakes and air bags are the groups owners name most, so read the sections below before you buy.
Most reported problems
Here are the complaint groups in the stories we read, biggest first. - Steering. 5 complaints[4]. Owners describe a power steering fluid leak, a tie rod that gave way on the highway, and a steering wheel that turned with no effect on the front tires. - Electrical System. 5 complaints[5]. Owners describe smoke and flames coming from behind the dashboard, and dash lights and tail lights that quit because of a short the dealer could not fix. - Brakes. 5 complaints[6]. Owners describe a front wheel that seized and pushed the truck into a ditch, an ABS failure, early brake replacement, and one case where steering and braking both felt lost at highway speed. - Seat Belts. 4 complaints[7]. - Air Bags. 4 complaints[8]. Owners describe air bags that did not deploy in a hard frontal crash or after being hit from behind, and one case where a deployment sparked and burned the driver. - Engine. 3 complaints[9].
Recalls
Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 1998 Discovery is necessarily included.
- Vehicle Speed Control (98V040), February 1998. About 54,488 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: an air bag that may not work as intended.[10]
Fuel economy
EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.
How 1998 compares with other years
Show the numbers
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 53 | 4 |
| 1996 | 75 | 3 |
| 1997 | 37 | 2 |
| 1998 | 33 | 1 |
| 1999 | 53 | 8 |
| 2000 | 70 | 10 |
| 2001 | 44 | 6 |
| 2002 | 51 | 3 |
| 2003 | 111 | 3 |
| 2004 | 51 | 1 |
| 2015 | 14 | 2 |
| 2016 | 57 | 2 |
| 2017 | 94 | 5 |
| 2018 | 59 | 5 |
| 2019 | 60 | 4 |
| 2020 | 32 | 10 |
| 2021 | 15 | 6 |
| 2022 | 15 | 6 |
| 2023 | 11 | 7 |
| 2024 | 8 | 7 |
| 2025 | 6 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 | 1 |
NHTSA's counts for the Discovery show 33 complaints and 1 recalls for 1998[2]. Among the 22 model years listed, 8 have fewer complaints than 1998 and 13 have more[2]. The fewest complaints are for 2026 (1) and the most are for 2003 (111)[2]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.
Should you buy a used 1998 Discovery?
The record on this Discovery is mixed, and it leans toward caution. Owners filed 33 complaints[1], and the biggest groups touch steering, electrical wiring and brakes[4][5][6]. Air bag complaints also stand out because they involve crashes and injuries[8]. These are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for how many were sold. If you shop for one, get a careful inspection of the steering, the wiring behind the dash and the brakes.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the most common problems with the 1998 Land Rover Discovery?
- Owners name steering, electrical system and brakes most often, with air bags and seat belts close behind[4][5][6][7][8].
- Has the 1998 Land Rover Discovery been recalled?
- Yes. The by-year fact shows a recall on file[2]. The details are listed in the Recalls section of this page.
- How many complaints does the 1998 Land Rover Discovery have?
- NHTSA has 33 owner complaints on file[1].
- Is the 1998 Land Rover Discovery reliable?
- The complaints include steering, electrical and brake trouble[4][5][6]. These are unverified reports, so use them as a checklist for an inspection and not as a final score.
- What is the fuel economy of the 1998 Land Rover Discovery?
- See the fuel section on this page for the EPA figures.
Keep exploring
Other model years of the Land Rover Discovery
Compare all model years of the Land Rover Discovery
Similar cars from 1998: special purpose vehicles
Facts and sources
- NHTSA has 33 owner complaints on file for the 1998 Land Rover Discovery (7 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 9 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
- Owner complaints and recalls for every Land Rover Discovery model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Discovery, 4.0L 8-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 12 city / 16 highway / 14 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $5,850. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
- 5 complaints name the steering component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 5 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 5 complaints name the brakes component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 4 complaints name the seat belts component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 4 complaints name the air bags component group (4 crashes, 1 fires, 4 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- 3 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
- Recall 98V040, filed February 24, 1998: Vehicle Speed Control. NHTSA recall database
- EPA rating for Discovery, 4.0L 8-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Premium, 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive: 12 city / 15 highway / 13 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $6,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov