Land Rover Discovery Sport: common faults & what to check

Which Land Rover Discovery Sport are you looking at?

2 generation variants documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Petrol

1 variant documented

2015–nowL5502015–nowL5502.0 turbo petrolPetrolDocumented issues2 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

Diesel

1 variant documented

2015–nowL5502015–nowL5502.0 turbo-dieselDieselDocumented issues4 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Land Rover Discovery Sport

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Land Rover Discovery Sport before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Serious issue

  Ask the seller for proof the Takata airbag recall (N200 or N201) was done, such as a dealer invoice or service book stamp.

  See why

  Takata driver airbag recall (L550 Discovery Sport 2015-2017, campaigns N200 and N201)

  The 2015 to 2017 L550 Discovery Sport, with any engine, is covered by Takata driver airbag recalls: campaign N200 for 2015-2016 cars and N201 for 2017 model year cars. The inflator propellant can absorb moisture over time and the inflator can rupture in a crash, firing metal fragments into the cabin. The fix is a free replacement airbag at a Land Rover dealer. Recall lists cover cars sold new in Australia, so for an NZ-new or imported car ask a franchise dealer to check the VIN.

  What you would notice

  • No symptoms until the airbag deploys

  Typically $0–$1,500 to put right.

• Serious issue

  Do a genuinely cold first-start of the day and listen at the timing (right-hand) end for a rattle before the oil pressure builds.

  See why

  2.0 Ingenium diesel timing chain stretch (pre-2020)

  The 2.0 Ingenium diesel is the Discovery Sport's most notorious weak point. Fuel washes past the rings and dilutes the oil during DPF regenerations, and the timing chain and plastic guides wear early; the chain stretches and can jump or snap, wrecking the engine when pistons meet valves. Debris from the guides can also block the oil pickup. JLR fitted a thicker revised chain kit around 2019-2020, so pre-2020 cars are highest risk.

  What you would notice

  • Metallic rattle for a few seconds on cold start
  • Rattle that grows or a whirring from the timing end
  • Restricted Performance / engine warning light
  • Diesel smell in the oil or over-full oil level

  Typically $2,500–$12,000 to put right.

• Serious issue

  Check the oil level is not over-full and does not reek of diesel (a sign the DPF is diluting it).

  See why

  2.0 Ingenium diesel oil pump failure and oil dilution

  On the same Ingenium diesel, the oil pump is driven off the timing chain, so as the chain and guides wear the oil pump can lose drive or debris can starve it, dropping oil pressure. Combined with fuel dilution of the oil from short-trip DPF regens, this can spin bearings and destroy the engine. It is the same root cause as the chain issue and the two often go together.

  What you would notice

  • Oil pressure warning light
  • Oil level rising above full and smelling of diesel
  • Low rumble or knock from the bottom end
  • Frequent short trips in the car's history

  Typically $2,500–$12,000 to put right.

• Serious issue

  Ask for proof the engine harness recall was done, and call a Land Rover dealer with the VIN to check for outstanding recalls.

  See why

  Engine harness chafe recall (2.0 Ingenium diesel AJ200D, built July to October 2016)

  Discovery Sport models with the 2.0 Ingenium diesel built between 4 July and 10 October 2016 were recalled because the engine wiring harness could rub through its outer sheath. That can cause an electrical short, an under-bonnet fire or the engine shutting down while driving. The fix is free at a Land Rover dealer. Recall lists cover cars sold new in Australia, so for an NZ-new or imported car ask a franchise dealer to check the VIN.

  What you would notice

  • Warning lights or electrical faults
  • Engine cutting out
  • Burning smell from the engine bay

  Typically $0–$1,500 to put right.

• Costly issue

  On the test drive pay attention to low-speed changes, roundabouts and pulling away; a well one shifts smoothly.

  See why

  ZF 9-speed (9HP) harsh or jerky shifting

  The Discovery Sport uses a ZF nine-speed automatic that is prone to hesitation, harsh or jerky changes and 'hunting' between gears, particularly at low speed and when cold. Many cases are cured by a fluid service and software update, but neglected fluid or a worn valve body/mechatronic unit can need serious repair. A jerky auto that has never had its fluid changed is a warning sign.

  What you would notice

  • Jerk or thump changing between low gears
  • Hesitation pulling away then a lurch
  • Gearbox 'hunting' up and down on light throttle
  • Delayed engagement into Drive or Reverse

  Typically $400–$4,500 to put right.

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Land Rover Discovery Sport’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• Timing Chain Replacement Cost

Other Land Rover models