Model year guide

1998 Land Rover Discovery

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1998 Land Rover Discovery is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 7 on record.

1998 Land Rover Discovery — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1998 Land Rover Discovery at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints34
Combined13–14 mpg
Typical price$1,270

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1998 Land Rover Discovery recalls 2

Power Train:driveline:driveshaft NHTSA Campaign #12E010000 · 15/03/2012

JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, INC. (LAND ROVER) IS RECALLING CERTAIN REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLINGS, LAND ROVER BRANDED PART NUMBER TVF100010, MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2011 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2011, SOLD FOR USE AS SERVICE PARTS FOR CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1995-1999 DISCOVERY, 1999-2004 DISCOVERY II, AND 1995 RANGE ROVER CLASSIC VEHICLES. SOME OF THE REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLINGS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED TO THE REQUIRED EN…

Fix: LAND ROVER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED REAR DRIVESHAFT COUPLERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 4, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA AT 1-201-818-8500.

Air Bags:frontal NHTSA Campaign #98V040000 · 24/02/1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AS A RESULT OF CHAFFING OF A CRUISE CONTROL WIRE, THE STEERING WHEEL ROTARY COUPLER CAN OVERHEAT AND INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSIBLE LINK WHICH WILL PROTECT THE ROTARY COUPLER FROM OVERHEATING.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1998 Land Rover Discovery common problems

Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Visibility
Test wipers, washers, defrosters and all mirrors. Check the windshield for cracks and any camera/sensor for fogging or faults.

1998 Land Rover Discovery MPG & running costs

Combined13–14 mpg
City12 mpg
Highway16 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$6,075

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 1998 Land Rover Discovery worth?

Low
$550
Typical price
$1,270
High
$2,500

From 5 comparable 1998 Land Rover Discovery listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1998 Land Rover Discovery costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$30,375
Fuel only$30,375
Per mile$0.41

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

1998 Land Rover Discovery trims & engines on record

Trims
LE
Engines
3.9L 8-cyl

1998 Land Rover Discovery vehicles on record

1998 Land Rover Discovery 1998 Land Rover Discovery LESALJY1244WA778770 1998 Land Rover Discovery 1998 Land Rover Discovery LESALJY1242WA775883 1998 Land Rover Discovery LESALJY1247WA782442 1998 Land Rover Discovery 1998 Land Rover Discovery LESALJY1245WA783993 1998 Land Rover Discovery LESALJY1249WA784256 1998 Land Rover Discovery 1998 Land Rover Discovery LESALJY1249WA780210 1998 Land Rover Discovery LESALJY1246WA782075

Other Land Rover Discovery model years

2018 2004 2003 2002 1999

1998 Land Rover Discovery — frequently asked questions

Does the 1998 Land Rover Discovery have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1998 Land Rover Discovery. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 1998 Land Rover Discovery?

Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are steering, air bags, service brakes.

What gas mileage does the 1998 Land Rover Discovery get?

The 1998 Land Rover Discovery has U.S. EPA estimates of 13–14 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (2 versions).

How much is a 1998 Land Rover Discovery worth?

Comparable 1998 Land Rover Discovery listings run roughly $550–$2,500, typically around $1,270 (from 5 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.