Model year guide

1996 Land Rover Discovery

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1996 Land Rover Discovery is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 20 on record.

1996 Land Rover Discovery — representative photo
Representative photo

1996 Land Rover Discovery at a glance

Safety recalls3
Combined14 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1996 Land Rover Discovery recalls 3

Power Train:driveline:driveshaft NHTSA Campaign #12E010000 · manufacturer #P024 · 15/03/2012

JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, INC. (LAND ROVER) IS RECALLING CERTAIN REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLINGS, LAND ROVER BRANDED PART NUMBER TVF100010, MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2011 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2011, SOLD FOR USE AS SERVICE PARTS FOR CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1995-1999 DISCOVERY, 1999-2004 DISCOVERY II, AND 1995 RANGE ROVER CLASSIC VEHICLES. SOME OF THE REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLINGS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO THE REQUIRED ENGI…

Fix: LAND ROVER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA AT 1-201-818-8500.

Vehicle Speed Control NHTSA Campaign #98V040000 · 24/02/1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AS A RESULT OF CHAFFING OF A CRUISE CONTROL WIRE, THE STEERING WHEEL ROTARY COUPLER CAN OVERHEAT AND INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSIBLE LINK WHICH WILL PROTECT THE ROTARY COUPLER FROM OVERHEATING.

Structure:body:door:hinge And Attachments NHTSA Campaign #96V247000 · 12/12/1996

THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR CAN FAIL TO LATCH FULLY WHEN CLOSING, CAUSING THE DOOR TO "BOUNCE" BACK OFF THE DOOR SEALS.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL CORRECTIVE HARDWARE ON THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR. DELAERS WILL ALSO CHECK THE DOOR LATCHES FOR THE OTHER DOORS AT THE SAME TIME.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 5 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1996 Land Rover Discovery MPG & running costs

Combined14 mpg
City13 mpg
Highway15 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$5,850
EPA size classSpecial Purpose Vehicles
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$17,250 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1996 Land Rover Discovery costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$29,250
Fuel only$29,250
Per mile$0.39

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
178.7 in
Width
70.5 in
Height
77.6 in
Wheelbase
100.0 in
Curb weight
4,464 lb
Front track
58.7 in
Rear track
58.7 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1996 Land Rover Discovery. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

DOOR OPEN WHILE DRIVING Closed

IT IS ALLEDGED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR OPENS WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA #PE96060 · Structure · opened Oct 1996 · closed Dec 1996

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 47

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 47.

The 'Service Required' warning text will not appear on the Instrument Cluster (IC) if a vehicle has reached its service point.

Bulletin SFCC_08MAR18_16 · Electrical System · Mar 2018

Presentation from Dealer Shop Foreman Conference Call

Bulletin SFCC-14SEP17 · Equipment · Sep 2017

"ISSUE: REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED OF ENGINE DAMAGE OCCURRING, WHICH IS CAUSED BY THE USE OF NON-APPROVED ENGINE INDUCTION / FUEL INJECTION CLEANING EQUIPMENT OR MATERIALS. THIS INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, ""VACU-FLUSH"" TYPE EQUIPMENT. CAUSE: THE USE OF…

Bulletin SSM56457 · Fuel System, Gasoline, Engine · Oct 2014

Technical Bulletin: Squeaks & Rattles Kit Availability

Bulletin LTB00389NAS3 · Equipment · Nov 2013

"ISSUE: THIS SSM HAS BEEN RELEASED TO ADDRESS THE HIGH NUMBER OF SPEAKER ASSEMBLIES RETURNED, MANY OF WHICH ARE DEEMED AS “NO FAULT FOUND”. CAUSE: INCORRECT DIAGNOSIS."

Bulletin SSM68378 · Equipment · Sep 2013

REMINDER MAILING FOR RECALL B156 FROM LAND ROVER. *NJ

Bulletin 0702 · Fuel System, Gasoline · Oct 2007

LAND ROVER: VEHICLES IN THE AFFECTED VIN RANGES REQUIRE A REPLACEMENT FUEL TANK. UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES THE FUEL TANK WELD JOINT FOR THE VENT RINGS COULD CRACK PERMITTING FUEL LEAKAGE. *PE

Bulletin SA-07RE-02 · Fuel System, Gasoline · Oct 2007

OIL SEEPAGE FROM MANUAL TRANSMISSION FRONT COVER. IMPROVED MANUAL TRANSMISSION SEALING. *TT

Bulletin 370103 · Power Train · Jun 2003

INFORMATION REGARDING TRAILING THROTTLE MISFIRE DIAGNOSIS. *YC

Bulletin 190398NAS · Vehicle Speed Control · Oct 1998

FRONT SWIVEL SEAL REPLACEMENT AND GREASE FILL. *YC

Bulletin 600197 · Structure · Aug 1998

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the DISCOVERY SERIES. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 3

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1996 Land Rover Discovery. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Powertrain

Certain vehicles may have received an incorrectly manufactured rear driveshaft coupling (part number TVF100010) as a replacement part during service. Drive coupling failure could allow the driveshaft to detach from the vehicle, resulting in a loss of propulsion which, in conjunction with traffic and road condition, and the driver's reactions, could increase the risk of a crash.…

Transport Canada #2012099 · Mar 2012

Airbag

DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF THE SRS AND CRUISE CONTROL CIRCUITS IN THE AREA OF THE STEERING WHEEL, AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE CRUISE CONTROL COULD CAUSE THE ROTARY COUPLER TO FAIL. THIS COULD INITIATE AN INVOLUNTARY DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG. CORRECTION: A FUSED LINK WILL BE ADDED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL CIRCUIT ON ALL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG.

Transport Canada #1998068 · Apr 1998

Structure

THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR MAY FAIL TO FULLY LATCH, CAUSING THE DOOR TO "BOUNCE" BACK OFF OF THE DOOR SEALS. THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO INADVERTENT OPENING OF THE DOOR WHICH WOULD PUT AN OCCUPANT SEATED NEXT TO THE DOOR AT RISK OF HARM. CORRECTION: AN EXTENDED LENGTH LATCH MOUNTING FASTENER WILL BE INSTALLED TO ASSURE PROPER ORIENTATION OF THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR LATCH RELATIVE TO THE…

Transport Canada #1997036 · Feb 1997

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

1996 Land Rover Discovery vehicles on record

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Other Land Rover Discovery model years

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1996 Land Rover Discovery — frequently asked questions

Does the 1996 Land Rover Discovery have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 1996 Land Rover Discovery. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What gas mileage does the 1996 Land Rover Discovery get?

The 1996 Land Rover Discovery has a U.S. EPA estimate of 14 mpg combined (13 city / 15 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.