Model year guide

1997 Land Rover Discovery

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1997 Land Rover Discovery is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 21 on record.

1997 Land Rover Discovery — representative photo
Representative photo

1997 Land Rover Discovery at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints36
Combined13–14 mpg

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

1997 Land Rover Discovery recalls 2

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.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 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.

1997 Land Rover Discovery common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 36 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

1997 Land Rover Discovery MPG & running costs

Combined13–14 mpg
City12 mpg
Highway16 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$6,075
EPA size classSpecial Purpose Vehicles
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$18,375 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1997 Land Rover Discovery costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$30,375
Fuel only$30,375
Per mile$0.41

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 1997 Land Rover Discovery. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 31

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 31.

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

A NUMBER OF RIGHT HAND EXHAUST MANIFOLDS ON 1997 AND 1998 MY VEHICLES THAT ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO CRACKING. SERVICE ACTION EXHAUST MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT. *TT

Bulletin 112 · Engine And Engine Cooling · Oct 2003

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

Bulletin 370103 · Power Train · Jun 2003

RECALL D217 - LAND ROVER HAS DETERMINED THAT CERTAIN VEHICLES HAVE FUEL FILLER NECKS WHICH MAY DROP BELOW THE TOP SURFACE OF THE MOUNTING GROMMET RESULTING IN A POOR SEAL WITH THE FUEL CAP. *TT

Bulletin SA00RE05 · Fuel System, Gasoline · Jul 2000

FRONT SWIVEL SEAL REPLACEMENT AND GREASE FILL. *YC

Bulletin 600197 · Structure · Aug 1998

VEHICLES EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGEMENT. *TT

Bulletin 86/18/97/NAS · Vehicle Speed Control · Jul 1997

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

Canadian recalls 2

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1997 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

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

1997 Land Rover Discovery vehicles on record

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Other Land Rover Discovery model years

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1997 Land Rover Discovery — frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Land Rover Discovery have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1997 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 are the most common problems with the 1997 Land Rover Discovery?

Across all 36 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are service brakes, hydraulic, air bags.

What gas mileage does the 1997 Land Rover Discovery get?

The 1997 Land Rover Discovery has U.S. EPA estimates of 13–14 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

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