2016 Land rover Discovery sport problems

The Land Rover Discovery Sport (internal code L550) is a compact luxury crossover SUV produced by British automotive company Jaguar Land Rover since 2014, under their Land Rover marque, and since 2017 their best-selling model.
Introduced in late 2014, it replaces the Freelander in a revised Land Rover range of vehicles, with Discovery joining Range Rover as a sub-brand. Contrary to its predecessor, the slightly larger car is also available in a seven seat layout.
The pre-facelift Discovery Sport is based on the JLR D8/LR-MS platform, customised for off-road applications, and is powered by a range of four cylinder petrol and diesel engines. It is the first Discovery introduced with a unibody structure.
Land Rover described the facelifted Discovery Sport as being based on the JLR PTA platform, a rebrand of the D8. It is also used by the Jaguar E-Pace and L551 version of Range Rover Evoque.
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Common 2016 Land rover Discovery sport problems
Based on the complaints from owners of the Land Rover Discovery Sport 2016, common problems with this car include:
- Interior Quality Problems:
There have been numerous complaints about squeaks, rattles, and other interior quality issues with the Discovery Sport. These issues, although seemingly minor, can be challenging to resolve and may impact the comfort and driving experience of the vehicle.
- Electrical Foibles:
Discovery Sport owners have reported various electrical problems. It is crucial to check that all electrics work properly and pay attention to any warning lights on the dashboard or unusual behavior from the infotainment system to avoid potential safety hazards and operational issues.
- Bodywork Damage:
Due to being used for light-to-medium off-road work, Discovery Sports are more likely to have bodywork damage. It is recommended to inspect the lower bodywork for scuffs, cracks, and signs of off-road damage to ensure the structural integrity of the vehicle.
- High CO2 Levels:
Some models built during a specific period could produce higher CO2 levels than normal. However, this issue can be resolved with a software update during routine servicing, minimizing environmental impact and ensuring compliance with emission standards.
- Insecure Locking Ring for Fuel Pump:
Certain examples built within a specific timeframe might have a loose locking ring for the fuel pump, potentially leading to fuel leaks. It is essential to have a technician inspect and tighten the ring to prevent fuel vapor escape or leaks, ensuring safety and preventing environmental hazards.
- Seatbelt Pretensioner Malfunction:
Vehicles manufactured within a particular period might have issues with the seatbelt pretensioner, a critical safety component. If affected, new pretensioners need to be fitted to ensure the proper operation of the vehicle's safety restraint system.
- Electrical Short Circuit:
Some Discovery Sport models manufactured during a specific period could experience chafing of the electrical wiring harness, leading to a short circuit. It is advisable to have the vehicle inspected by a technician to address this issue and prevent electrical malfunctions or safety hazards.
- Fuel Leaks:
There have been recalls related to fuel leaks in Discovery Sports. It is important to determine if the vehicle is affected and have it inspected by a dealer to address any potential fuel leak issues, ensuring safety and preventing environmental contamination.
These problems highlight the importance of regular maintenance, thorough inspections, and prompt repairs to ensure the safety, reliability, and longevity of the Land Rover Discovery Sport 2016.
What is the most common problem with the Land Rover Discovery Sport?
The Land Rover Discovery Sport is known to suffer a problem with its stabiliser bar bushes, which can cause a creaking noise over rougher roads. The front brakes on the Discovery Sport are also known to cause a vibration, while the rear brakes can also generate a squeak.
How long will a 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport last?
The estimated lifespan of a Land Rover Discovery Sport is 122,000mi, before reaching the life expectancy upper limit. Fuel type is a major factor when looking into a vehicles lifespan/life expectancy.
Is a Land Rover Discovery Sport expensive to maintain?
Maintenance and repair costs for a Land Rover Discovery Sport will amount to $4,177 after 5 years. Expenses include scheduled maintenance, normal wear and tear items and expected repairs. These estimates exclude any free warranty work performed.
What are the safety features on a Land Rover Discovery Sport 2016?
The list of standard safety features on the 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport includes antilock brakes, stability and traction control, front side airbags, a driver knee airbag and side curtain airbags. A rearview camera and parking sensors are also standard, as are hill descent control and hill start assist.
2016 Land rover Discovery sport complaints
The NHTSA has received 0 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2016 Land rover Discovery sport.
You can leave your car complaint via the special form below.
2016 Land rover Discovery sport recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 2 recalls for different components of the 2016 Land rover Discovery sport.
- Manufacturer: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC
- Components: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
- Summary: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Land Rover Discovery Sport vehicles manufactured May 30, 2016, to August 24, 2016, and 2016-2017 Range Rover Evoque vehicles manufactured June 7, 2016, to August 26, 2016. The affected vehicles have front lower control arm fasteners that may fail due to an assembly error, possibly resulting in separation of the steering knuckle.
- Consequence: If the fasteners were to fail causing the knuckle to separate, vehicle handling may be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy: Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will replace the hardware that connects the front lower control arm to the knuckle, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2017. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is Q650/Q651.
- Manufacturer: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC
- Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport vehicles manufactured September 17, 2014, to March 5, 2016. In the affected vehicles, the license plate illumination lamp may fall out. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Consequence: Without license plate illumination, the vehicle may be difficult to identify at night.
- Remedy: Land Rover will notify owners, and dealers will replace both rear license plate lamp housings, free of charge. The recall began on June 21, 2016. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is P077.
Negative 2016 Land rover Discovery sport car reviews
Positive 2016 Land rover Discovery sport car reviews
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Update 2021: I recently bought my wife a Jag iPace EV for her 60th birthday and it's been an amazing experience! Although, she wouldn't let me drive it, so I decided to sell my Discovery for $27,500 (private) and bought my own iPace. One interesting thing that happened during the sale was that the buyer of my Discovery wanted to purchase a warranty plan, but no company would offer them on LR. Eventually, he found one for $3700 for 3 years, so I had to adjust my sale price by $500. However, since I now own 2 Jags and plan to keep them for a long time, I'm concerned about going out of warranty on an EV. Update 2020: Edmunds asked me to update my review and I'm happy to say that I still love this car! I haven't had any complaints or issues since my last review. I did see the new version of the Discovery and I have to admit, I'm not a fan of the boot's design. It's just not as sleek as before. These 2016 models seem to be holding their value pretty well. I bought mine for $41K off the lot with tax and it's worth $29.6K today (private sale). Update 2018: After 2.5 years and 6K miles, my battery went up, but that's normal for Florida. Even though I only have 6K miles at 2.5 years, I had the 30K mile check-up which cost me $750. Original: We recently took delivery of a 2016 Discovery Sport and we couldn't be happier with our purchase! While waiting for 3 months for delivery, I was reading reviews and was quite worried by the bad press. We also test drove the full-size Sport before buying the Discovery and found the almost twice as expensive Sport to have clunky breaking, albeit a luxurious interior. I had a Mercedes GL450, which we found too hard to get in and out of and quite a sterile interior. Compared to the Discovery, it was not nearly as comfortable and the transmission was more cumbersome/computerized than the Discovery...by far. So, I don't understand the bad reviews. The Discovery Sport in sports mode is super smooth in acceleration and I haven't experienced any of the down-shifting issues mentioned in the many reviews.I live in a small town and I didn't choose the car based on its 0-60 rating. During my first test drive of the Discovery, I was a bit taken aback by the sparse interior, by Land Rover standards, but the dealer only had black. It's important to consider that this is a low-cost Land Rover product. However, I ordered an SE with a Glacier Brushed Aluminum interior and it was very nice. The steering wheel is much more comfortable than the $75K GL450 with the premium 2 upgrade package I had. On the SE, the two-tone roof option was only $350, which really sets it apart from the competition in terms of look and feel. We looked at every car in this price range and would highly recommend it to anyone in this market. I hope maintenance goes well, but my CPO GL450 had to have a leaking shock absorber replaced with only 28,000 miles and it was not covered by the Benz CPO and cost $900, so I don't think Mercedes offers any better in quality.
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Before purchasing the 2016 Discovery Sport HSE, I spent months researching and pricing with many dealers. As a long-time BMW customer, I was new to the brand. However, I found the smaller production British car to be exactly what I was looking for. During my search, I test drove several other cars, including the Audi Q5, Porsche Macan S, BMW X3 & X4, Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit, and Mercedes GLE300. After the test drives, I knew that the Land Rover Discovery Sport was the car that connected me to the road. It's important to note that JLR dealers outside of your 'market area' may not sell to you, so it's best to ask before negotiating. I was able to do all of my negotiating between two dealers via phone, email, and text, and I didn't even have to step inside the dealer's lot since I had already test driven the 2015 model earlier. When it comes to dealers, it's important to find one that matches your personality and needs. Some dealers can be snobby, snooty, or rude, while others are very helpful, professional, and patient. If you are financing or leasing, it's a good idea to find out what the best bank rates are before you negotiate. Some dealers are forthcoming and will tell you the finance rate or lease residual/money factors. I dealt with two dealers that were very transparent in their sales approach. The car has a slightly stiffer suspension than the other cars I test drove, but the connection to the road is more important, and the suspension is not jarring - it has manners. The most important standard feature on this car that makes the drive so good is Torque Vectoring by Braking. Torque vectoring makes high-speed turns, power acceleration into turns, and off-road handling a must-have for confidence if you are the driver type. I absolutely love this car - it makes me smile again, like I remember when I had my first 4WD BMW. The Discovery Sport is definitely for someone or a family that wants to travel almost anywhere safely and comfortably. Update: In 2016, new software was loaded for the Powertrain and Infotainment, which has changed the car entirely.Engine is now very quick to engage with no more laggy acceleration. The navigation is reliable 100% of the time. Fuel tank reading is now accurate. I love this car! Update: In 2017, updates for the seat rattles, In Touch controls, Navigation, Auto Start Stop, and service reminder were all done at no cost, which was excellent. It's good to see JLR changing their way of listening to customers and addressing issues with factory campaigns. The service department was very receptive to customer concerns and there was good follow-up after the service work by JLR in England via a written survey returned by post. Since I have less than a year left on my lease, I am considering another JLR product to replace the Discovery Sport. Whilst at the dealer for service, I had a chance to speak to my sales advisor and he pointed towards the Range Rover Velar or the full-sized Discovery that replaced the LR4. Both look very appealing and are a great way to step up from the Discovery Sport. So far, I am very happy with the Discovery Sport and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a driver's car (not a mushy soft car like everyone else).....
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I have owned my Discovery since December 2015, and although I adore its appearance and comfort, I am disappointed with its acceleration. Initially, I suspected a fault with the vehicle. In hindsight, I would have preferred a more extensive test drive before making the purchase.
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I think this car is great overall, but I was a bit disappointed when I bought a Land Rover. Although I know it is on the lower end of the spectrum, I still expected it to have everything my sister's Sonata has. Unfortunately, it doesn't have a blind spot warning, and we were told it was because we got the third row seats and they couldn't get the wiring in. Additionally, the material in the black package feels cheap, and every so often it pops out of place and I have to push it back in. There is also a lot of squeaking, and I can't change the preset from the steering wheel. Despite these issues, I still enjoy driving it and appreciate its other features.
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I never thought I would be driving a Discovery Sport, until I actually got behind the wheel of one. When I went to Land Rover, I had intended to test drive the Evoque, but as soon as I saw the white and black Discovery Sport, I was sold. Despite hearing about some issues with the Discovery, I found that none of the complaints were true. I experienced no trouble with acceleration or rough starts, and any questions or concerns I had were promptly addressed by the salesperson. During the test drive, which lasted over 2 hours in the pouring rain, I was impressed by the vehicle's incredible response to the road. I wanted to see how it would perform in bad weather, and it did not disappoint. I am absolutely thrilled with my Discovery Sport.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2016 Land rover Discovery sport problems:

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Hugh Gottlieb 2025-06-20
I am sorry to hear about your experience with your Land Rover. It sounds like you have had a frustrating time with the gas mileage and electrical system. I understand how important it is to have a reliable car, and it must be disappointing to have a year left on your lease. Thank you for sharing your feedback with us, we will make sure to take it into consideration. If there is anything we can do to assist you, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Brant Leuschke 2025-06-12
Hi there! I wanted to share my experience with my Land Rover Discovery. I've taken it to the dealer twice now to address a shifting problem, but unfortunately, they couldn't find anything wrong. The problem is still there and they're blaming it on the software. As someone who has driven many different models from various manufacturers over the years, I don't think I can recommend owning a Land Rover Discovery.
Lew Dibbert 2025-05-12
I have experienced multiple issues with my car, including a coolant leak, failed water pump, and computer system failures. Despite taking it to the dealer several times, I was disappointed to find that not all the work was completed as promised, and the problems persisted. At 58,000 miles, one cylinder lost compression without warning, which was a frustrating experience. Although Jaguar Land Rover USA, LLC eventually replaced the engine after three months of back-and-forth, there were still issues with the engine after each repair. Unfortunately, Jaguar Land Rover refused to take any further action, leaving me without a car and without any rebates to help me purchase a new one. It was a disappointing experience, and I would caution others to stay away from these cars. Despite their enjoyable driving experience, Jaguar Land Rover's poor handling of the situation and lack of customer service ultimately led to an $8,000 loss for me.
Colton Fahey 2025-05-09
I have owned this car for some time now and have put about 16,000 miles on it. I must say, I fell in love with the way the car looks, its road presence and general cache. However, I have noticed that the actual gas mileage is not as good as I expected, about 15mpg mixed driving. I believe an NA V6 would get better mileage on a car of this size. On the bright side, the engine does have good torque and get up when the transmission is not getting in its own way so that you can merge or fight to the death on the 405 in intermittent traffic. The interior is very clean and no fuss, which I like, but it is a bit annoying. Since most things are digital, you have to pull your eyes off of the road to get anything done on the screen. I realize this is a trend going forward, but it is making people worse drivers, including myself in this confounded thing. Although the interior quality is not up to par for a car of this price, it still has its own charm. Its on the level of older Korean cars, no joke. However, I must admit that EVERYTHING squeaks, rattles or bangs. The center console creaks every time I accelerate, the rear bench rattles and squeaks on everything but the absolute smoothest road and the tailgate creaks over every speed bump or small rock. Despite these issues, I still believe that it is by far the best looking small SUV on the road. Overall, it has its flaws, but it still has its own unique appeal.
Rylan Aufderhar 2024-07-01
Hi there! I wanted to share my experience with my 2016 Land Rover Discovery Sport. I've had a few issues with it, such as needing to replace the radiator hoses at 30,000 miles and currently experiencing some trouble starting the car after filling up with fuel. I've had the DMTL pump and gas cap replaced, but unfortunately the check engine light keeps coming back on. It's been a bit frustrating, but I'm hopeful we can get it sorted out soon!