Land Rover Discovery Sport Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Land Rover Discovery Sport model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2021 drew the fewest (4) and the 2016 the most (52).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3 | 3 | Electrical system | — | 20 |
| 2021 Among the fewest complaints |
4 | 2 | Engine | — | 20 |
| 2022 | 4 | 2 | Power train | — | 20 |
| 2025 Still collecting reports |
6 | 1 | Forward collision avoidance | — | 20 |
| 2020 Among the fewest complaints |
13 | 5 | Engine | — | 21 |
| 2015 Among the fewest complaints |
14 | 2 | Engine | — | 22 |
| 2019 | 21 | 0 | Engine | — | 22 |
| 2018 Among the most complaints |
22 | 1 | Power train | — | 22 |
| 2017 Among the most complaints |
39 | 2 | Engine | — | 22 |
| 2016 Among the most complaints |
52 | 2 | Engine | — | 22 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Land Rover Discovery Sport years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport: 52 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 14 (27%); Power train 13 (25%); Service brakes 7 (13%).
Reports mention 4 crashes. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 60,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport: 39 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 15 (38%); Service brakes 8 (21%); Electrical system 6 (15%).
Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 37,942 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2018 Land Rover Discovery Sport: 22 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 9 (41%); Engine 8 (36%); Fuel/propulsion system 6 (27%).
Reports mention 1 crash. 1 recall campaign listed.
The Land Rover Discovery Sport years with the fewest complaints
2021 Land Rover Discovery Sport: 4 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 2 (50%); Power train 2 (50%); Electrical system 1 (25%).
2 recall campaigns listed.
2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport: 13 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 6 (46%); Electrical system 4 (31%); Power train 3 (23%).
Reports mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 2 injuries. 5 recall campaigns listed.
2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport: 14 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 8 (57%); Fuel/propulsion system 3 (21%); Power train 2 (14%).
2 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Land Rover Discovery Sport owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2019 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37,942 |
| 2016 | 52 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60,000 |
| 2015 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Land Rover Discovery Sport recalls
- Loss of Drive Power from DC-DC Converter Failure (2020 model year; 170,169 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 2026; 26V248000)
- Seat Belt Automatic Locking Retractor Malfunction (2020–2021 model years; 32,687 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2021; 21V668000)
- Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 (2023 model year; 28,370 vehicles across all models; filed Jan 2025; 25V016000)
- Loss of Drive Power from DC-DC Converter Failure (2020–2024 model years; 23,677 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 2026; 26V599000)
- License Plate Lamp may Detach/FMVSS 108 (2015–2016 model years; 14,731 vehicles across all models; filed May 2016; 16V274000)
All 15 Land Rover Discovery Sport recall campaigns · Land Rover Discovery Sport problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Land Rover Discovery Sport years FAQ
Which Land Rover Discovery Sport year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2021 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (4). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Land Rover Discovery Sport years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2016, 2017 and 2018 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the engine. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Land Rover Discovery Sport problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the engine (62 of 178 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Land Rover Discovery Sport have?
NHTSA lists 15 recall campaigns covering the Land Rover Discovery Sport. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Land Rover Discovery Sport recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.