NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The keyless entry system may fail to fully latch the rear passenger doors, allowing them to open while driving. The open-door warning light may also fail to alert you of this problem.
This page covers 7 recalls, 16 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2020 Land Rover Discovery.
18–23 mpg combined
10.2–13.1 L/100km
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
Across 2020 Land Rover Discovery complaints, water intrusion is the dominant theme. Owners repeatedly describe water leaking into the cabin from the windshield area, roof rails, and rearview mirror base, with some reporting the problem persisting even after dealer repairs. The leaks don't stay contained, several owners say water reaching the electrical system triggers erratic behavior including lights flickering or cycling on and off, intermittent loss of infotainment, and battery drain severe enough to leave the vehicle immobile while parked. A handful of reports describe more serious downstream effects: sudden loss of steering assist and brake assist while driving, and the engine running with no drivetrain response. The structural complaint count is small at 16 total reports, but the water-to-electrical failure chain shows up consistently enough across multiple owners to be a recognizable pattern for this model year.
16
Total Complaints
By System
The 2020 Land Rover Discovery has 7 recalls, the most serious being a loose battery ground connection that can cause electrical failures or a complete engine shutdown while driving.
Recalls 1, 2, 3, and 4 all stem from the same underlying battery ground fault, where the ground stud does not make proper contact with the chassis, cutting power to the vehicle while in motion. A separate but related electrical concern involves the rear passenger doors: the keyless latch system can fail to fully close them, and the instrument cluster warning light may not alert the driver that a door is open. On the occupant safety side, second-row seat frames may be missing fasteners, leaving the seats without enough structural strength to hold occupants in a crash. The rear seatbelt retractors can also deactivate too early when a child seat is installed, preventing the restraint from locking securely. Finally, the automatic high beam system can activate without showing any indication in the instrument cluster, leaving the driver unaware that high beams are on and reducing visibility for oncoming drivers.
At a glance
What can fail
The keyless entry system may fail to fully latch the rear passenger doors, allowing them to open while driving. The open-door warning light may also fail to alert you of this problem.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will disable the keyless entry function for the rear passenger doors at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt automatic locking retractors may stop working early, preventing child car seats from being secured properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assemblies as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A loose connection between the battery ground stud and chassis can cause electrical faults, potentially resulting in loss of electrical power or the vehicle shutting down while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the ground stud at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The battery ground connection may not be properly secured to the chassis, causing electrical malfunctions. This could result in loss of electrical power while driving and engine shutdown.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the battery ground stud on the chassis to restore proper electrical connection.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Auto High Beam system automatically turns on the high beams, but the instrument cluster doesn't display that they're on, failing to notify the driver.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the vehicle software at no cost to fix the display notification in the instrument cluster.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A loose connection between the battery ground stud and chassis can cause electrical faults, resulting in loss of electrical power or the vehicle shutting down while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the ground stud at no charge to restore a secure electrical connection.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The second row seat frame assembly may be missing fasteners, leaving the seat frame without sufficient structural strength.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the second row seat frame and properly tighten all bolts at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
