At first glance, the Land Rover Discovery 4 is easily mistaken for the Discovery 3, with the same chunky styling. However, the 4 brought mechanical revisions that included new engines with improved fuel economy and emissions, and other changes were meant to boost the Disco's reliability.
Speaking of which, the Land Rover/Range Rover family has long had a pretty poor reputation for things going wrong. The brand has tended to fare rather badly in reliability surveys. That's why it's worth having the Haynes AutoFix for the Discovery 4 on your favourite digital device. AutoFix contains all the vital information you’ll need to know when repairing your SUV, including Land Rover Discovery 4 fuse box diagrams, plus wiring diagrams and video tutorials.
Land Rover Discovery 4 recalls
The Discovery IV has been affected by a multitude of recalls in the UK. We've listed them in build date order – check here for the full details.
- Discovery 4s built in 2009 were the subject of two recalls. The first involved more than 77,000 vehicles and addressed a potential braking issue caused by oil entering the brake booster or the brake vacuum pump non-return valve sticking in the closed position after a cold start. Affected Discoverys were fitted with a modified brake vacuum pipe and a revised design non-return valve in the vacuum pump's secondary port.
- The second recall for the 2009 Discovery IV focused on the bearing on some aftermarket high-pressure fuel pumps. It could have caused the failure of the shaft seal which will cause a fuel leak and if not rectified could lead to a vehicle fire. This concerned 255 vehicles.
- 833 Discoverys built in 2012 were recalled because of an issue with the panoramic glass roof, which could result in it becoming detached.
- A faulty crank position sensor was the reason for a recall of 11,290 Discoverys built in 2013, plus a further 11,290 cars built in 2014. The sensor could have caused the engine to cut out or not start.
- Faulty ABS software was to blame for a recall of 6412 vehicles built in 2014. It could cause the dynamic stability control to malfunction. This was fixed with a software upgrade.
- Another software glitch was to blame for the recall of just nine Discoverys made in 2014. This time it affected the vehicle's ability to act to minimise the risk of it rolling over.
- Five recalls were issued for Discoverys built in 2015. Faulty wheel nuts affected 926 vehicles, while the dynamic stability control software issue mentioned above involved 6412 cars. An engine wiring harness recall concerned 9252 cars, the roll-over software issue mentioned above affected another nine cars, while 4779 Discoverys had to have new ECU software installed to reduce CO2 emissions.
- You might think that practice makes perfect, but that's clearly not the case with the Discovery 4, because the 2016-built model had a whopping six recalls to fix two front airbag deployment issues, an engine wiring issue on 2.0-litre models with an auto gearbox, the front lower control arm to knuckle fixing, the roll over software issue (again) and the CO2 software problem (again).
No fewer than 35 technical service bulletins have also been issued for the Discovery 4, many of which concern software issues. We'd strongly recommend using an OBD reader when you go to test drive a Discovery IV, to check for fault codes
What common problems does the Land Rover Discovery 4 have?
The Discovery 4 tends to suffer from sensor issues, in particular those that govern the air suspension and the air conditioning.
Electrical issues can affect the Disco 4's powered windows, central locking and even the rear wiper – the latter is a particularly common fault.
Sunroof drain channels can get blocked, which means water leaks into the interior; damp front footwell carpets are the first sign that something's wrong.
The Discovery IV is a big, heavy SUV, so it may not be a total surprise that the electronic parking brake doesn't always perform well if it's not maintained properly.
Read on for more details on all of the above, and more.
Does the Land Rover Discovery 4 have any leaks?
If your Discovery IV has a sunroof (or even sunroofs), we'd recommend opening it up fully and getting up on a step ladder – or even taking off your shoes and standing on the front seats – to have a good look at the drainage channels.
If they become blocked, water will overflow into the headlining and find its way down the A-pillar and into the driver's and passenger's footwells, soaking into the carpet (so also feel around for dampness if you're looking at a Discovery 4 for sale).
Some owners have reported that they've cleared blocked drainage channels by threading a flexible bicycle brake cable into the drain holes, which clears the blockage.
Once you've examined the top side of the Disco, take a look at the underside, because oil leaks from the engine and transmission are relatively common.
Does the Discovery 4 have air suspension and air conditioning problems?
Like all modern vehicles, the Discovery is chock full of electronics. While most tend to behave themselves, the ride height sensors for the air suspension and the air conditioning sensors can fail. Aftermarket ride height sensors cost around £30-£130.
Additionally, the air con's compressor can fail and the pipes can oxidise – check to make sure the system blows icy cold before you buy. If not, a simple re-gas may not fix the issue.
Discovery 4 central locking problems
If your key buttons are refusing to unlock or unlock the Land Rover Discovery remotely, your first port of call should be to change the battery – if you have the spare key, check that it's working properly (and change the battery in that, too, even if it seems okay).
Sometimes, individual doors won't unlock or lock when the others do. This is likely to be an actuator. However, wiring looms within the doors and between the doors and the vehicle's body can be damaged by water or chafing, so check everything carefully.
An issue with the rear wiper may not always require a new motor. Check the fuse before you remove the wiper assembly and clean the contacts behind the main cog using isopropyl alcohol.
Electric window problems usually take the form of one-touch issues, where the glass fails to raise or lower fully with one press of the electric window switches. This can happen if the 12V battery has run flat or been disconnected. You can reset this function by putting the affected window down fully and then up fully. Release the window button and then hold it in the up position for five seconds.
Land Rover Discovery 4 parking brake problems
The Discovery 4's electronic parking brake can sometimes fail to work properly or may not hold the vehicle securely. This can be caused by dirt or brake dust accumulating around the parking brake module, so clean it and the surrounding area with brake cleaner and a suitable brush.
We'd also recommend cleaning the brake shoes and drums with brake cleaner for a long-term solution.