Recalls: Land Rover L319 Discovery 3
Overview
Manufacturers, or importers, issue recalls for defects or faults which have the potential to cause injury. Generally, manufacturers will inform the original buyers if their vehicle is subject to a recall and of the steps required to remedy the defect or fault. Please note that the recalls below (if any) are for Australian-delivered vehicles only. Furthermore, the number of recalls should not be taken as an indication of a model’s reliability or its safety more generally.
Recalls: Land Rover L319 Discovery 3
2005-06 model year Land Rover L319 Discovery 3: incorrect vehicle jack
In October 2005, a recall was issued for MY2005 and MY2006 Land Rover L319 Discovery 3 models fitted with coil spring suspension due to some vehicles having an incorrect scissor-style jack (PRA 2005/8129).
2005-06 model year Land Rover L319 Discovery 3: ‘park’ may not engage
In November 2005, a recall was issued for MY2005 and MY2006 Land Rover L319 Discovery 3 models fitted with automatic transmissions as the transmissions may not fully engage ‘Park’ when selected (PRA 2005/8160).
Recalls: Land Rover L319 Discovery 3
In February 2007, a recall was issued for L319 Discovery 3 models with petrol engines due to some vehicles being fitted with a breather pipe that was not manufactured to specification. This could result in excessive swelling and cracking of a retaining grommet and subsequent detachment of the breather pipe from a connector tube. When the fuel level in the tank was above the level of the detached joint, fuel could then enter the breather pipe (PRA 2007/9082).
2004-09 Land Rover L319 Discovery 3 TDV6: loss of braking assistance
In August 2009, a recall was issued for L319 Discovery TDV6 models manufactured from November 2005 to April 2007 in the VIN range LA367110 to LA440000. In these vehicles, oil could migrate from the engine-driven vacuum pump and collect in the brake booster – this could cause the brake pedal to be harder to depress and increased stopping distances for the same pedal effort. In extreme cases, oil could migrate from the brake booster to the brake master cylinder, leading to a loss of one or both of the foundation brake system hydraulic brake circuits. If both primary and secondary brake master cylinder seals failed, there would be a total loss of service brakes (PRA 2009/10961).
In July 2010, this recall was extended to Land Rover L319 Discovery 3 TDV6 models manufactured from June 2004 to June 2009 and in the VIN range LA000005 to LA513325 (PRA 2010/11848).
2007-09 Land Rover L319 Discovery 3: high pressure fuel pump failure
In August 2009, a recall was issued for Land Rover L319 Discovery 3 models produced from 2007 to 2008 in the VIN range LA412125 to LA4870333 (specific vehicles only). The recall was issued for potential failure of the front seal of the high pressure fuel pump due to inadequate lubrication and subsequent excessive wear of the fuel pump’s front bearing (PRA 2009/10962).
In November 2010, this recall was extended to Discovery 3 models produced from 2007 to 2009 in the VIN range LRA412306 to LA512711 (PRA 2010/12122).
Problems and faults: Land Rover L319 Discovery 3
Overview
This section identifies potential problems, causes and fixes based on the experiences of owners and repairers, online sources and technical service bulletins. This information is provided solely for reference purposes and AustralianCar.Reviews recommends that only properly qualified persons carry out repairs or modifications. Furthermore, the number of items below should not be taken as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur.
To report a problem or fault to the AustralianCar.Reviews team, please use the Contact Us form. Note that AustralianCar.Reviews does not offer advice on automotive problems or disputes; such enquiries will not receive a reply. For vehicles purchased from dealers after 1 January 2011, please see our Australian Consumer Law fact sheet.
Land Rover Discovery 3 2.7L TDV6: crankshaft bearing failure
In May 2014, Land Rover issued service bulletin SSM71816 for Land Rover Discovery 3 2.7L TDV6 vehicles that had V6 diesel engines. According to the bulletin, these vehicles could experience crankshaft failure due to:
- Incorrect location of the main crankshaft bearing shells during assembly; or,
- Rotation of the crankshaft bearing shells during normal use.
Owners have reported experiencing sudden engine failure and having had less than thirty (30) seconds to pull off the road once abnormal engine noises are heard. The service bulletin lists the following as symptoms of crankshaft failure:
- The engine may make a loud ‘rumbling/knocking’ noise when running which worsens under load. Furthermore, the engine oil pressure warning light may flash or be continuously illuminated, especially at low engine speeds;
- There may be a hole in the oil sump or engine cylinder block, with oil leakage and/or metallic debris in the under-tray; and,
- If the crankshaft seized, it would not be possible to turn the engine (via the starter motor or crankshaft pulley bolt).
It is understood that a new crankshaft bearing design was introduced in 2012 to prevent crankshaft bearing failure.
In August 2016, SSM72928 was issued and AustralianCar.Reviews understands that it supersedes SSM71816.
Land Rover L319 Discovery 3 2.7L TDV6: turbocharger actuator arm corrosion
In May 2011, Land Rover issued Service Bulletin SSM49537 for Land Rover L319 Discovery 3 vehicles that had 2.7L TDV6 engines. In these vehicles, the turbocharger actuator arm pivot points could corrode and cause a full or partial seizure of the actuator arm mechanism. If this occurred, the vehicle may exhibit the following symptoms:
- A loss of engine power;
- Illumination of the Check Engine Lamp (CEL); and,
- Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) for turbocharger boost pressure faults.
To fix, Land Rover released actuator service kits so that the entire turbocharger did not have to be replaced.
2007-08 Land Rover Discovery 3 2.7L TDV6: oil pump casing and timing belt failure
For 2007-08 Land Rover L319 Discovery 3 2.7L TDV6 models, the oil pump casing/housing is not sufficiently strong to withstand the stresses of tensioning the cam belt. As a result, the majority of oil pump casings have failed shortly after the timing belt was replaced.
The cam belt tensioner is bolted to the oil pump casing. When the oil pump casing fails, it breaks at the timing belt tensioner mount – this causes the timing belt to be dislodged such that valve timing is disrupted. As a result, the pistons and valves collide, destroying the engine’s valve train.
Subsequent to the original oil pump casing design, Land Rover introduced three revisions. The part number for the current oil pump casing is LR013487 and it is fitted to Land Rover vehicles in which the last eight digits of the VIN exceed 9A510122. It is understood that most failures have occurred to Land Rover vehicles in which the oil pump casing part number is LR007131; this corresponds to VINs in the range 8A457086 to 9A508509.
Land Rover Discovery 3: air suspension compressor failure
In November 2012, Land Rover issued technical bulletin LTB00420 (version 2) for 2005-09 Land Rover Discovery 3 vehicles with VINs in the range 5A000360 to 9A513325. Due to failure of the air suspension compressor, the air suspension warning lamp may illuminate, the air suspension will not rise and diagnostic trouble code (DTC) C1A20-64 may be logged. The Land Rover Discovery 3 was fitted with a Hitachi air suspension compressor which could be replaced with an AMK compressor (part no. LR044360 for the replacement kit).
2004-09 Land Rover Discovery 3: tow bar and risk of trailer detaching
In 2014, Land Rover UK issued a ‘non-code action’ for Land Rover Discovery 3 vehicles that had VINs in the range SALLAAA545A000002 to SALLAAA549A510177. For affected Land Rover Discovery 3 vehicles, owners may have unknowingly exceeded the trailer hitch nose weight specification or were not removing the quick release tow ball from their vehicle when not in use. This could:
- Cause premature wear of the quick release tow ball system; or,
- Increase the risk of the self-adjusting mechanism not operating correctly.
If these events occurred, the tow ball may become loose and make a rattling noise. In extreme cases, however, trailers could detach from the vehicle and cause a collision. For affected Land Rover Discovery 3 vehicles, the tow bar was to be checked and the type of use identified. If the tow bar was damaged or was the wrong type of tow bar, then it would be replaced (NCA/2014/022).
Land Rover L319 Discovery 3: steering gear O-ring fluid leaks
In August 2013, Land Rover issued a Technical Service Bulletin (Reference SSM60517) for Land Rover L319 Discovery 3 vehicles. In these vehicles, oil may leak from the supply and return hose O-ring seals. Where a steering gear leak was suspected, the following process was to be followed:
- Clean the area of the pinion housing, casting, yoke plug, gaiter and pipe connections;
- Replace the supply and return O-ring seals and top up the fluid level;
- Start the engine, allow it to idle and rotate the steering wheel lock-to-lock for three cycles. Then, switch off the engine and re-assess the area of the oil leak;
- Only if there were signs of damage or fluid leak from the pinion housing, casting, yoke plug, gaiters or O-ring seals was the steering gear to be replaced.
2005-09 model year Land Rover Discovery 3: rear differential motor and DTC P186D
In March 2011, Land Rover issued Technical Bulletin LTB00228 (Issue 2) for 2005-09 model year Land Rover L319 Discovery 3 vehicles that had serial numbers in the range 5A000360 to 9A513325. In these vehicles, the Electronic Torque Managed (ETM) rear differential motor could be ‘energized’ while the motor brake was still partially engaged – this would cause mechanical wear of the motor assembly such that the actuator may stick and Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P186D would be logged in the electronic rear differential control module.
Additional symptoms included:
- Illumination of the transmission Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL);
- DTCs P080A and P0806 may also be logged in the electronic rear differential control module;
- The ‘Transmission Fault Stop Safely’ warning message may be displayed; and,
- The Dynamic Suspension may lower.
To fix, the rear differential motor was to be replaced and new software was to be downloaded to the rear differential control module.
Problems and faults: Land Rover L319 Discovery 3
- For Land Rover L319 Discovery 3 models with the 4.0-litre V6 petrol engine, the engine may engage ‘limp’ mode and the ‘check engine’ light may illuminate due to damaged wiring to the throttle body.
- For Land Rover L319 Discovery 3 models with the 4.4-litre V8 engine, a clunking noise when the throttle is released and applied may be due to a powertrain control module problem which requires the unit to be reflashed.
- The parking brakes may make a squealing noise when applied or released – improved parking brakes shoes were released to fix this problem.
- A low coolant warning may appear because the float in the reservoir absorbs coolant and sinks. Oil may leak from the rear main crankshaft seal.
- A chirping noise under the bonnet may be due to a bad accessory drive-belt idler pulley.
- A knocking noise from the steering column when driving over bumps may require the intermediate steering shaft to be replaced.
- Where fitted, the air suspension system may malfunction due to an electrical connector near the right-front wheel corroding.
- Electrical components in the front doors may malfunction due to the door harness chafing on the lower edge of the door panel.
- Water may leak through holes for the trim attachments in the A-pillar(s) and collect in the foot wells.
- The rear wiper may stop working due to corrosion of the pivot; a revised wiper arm was subsequently released.
