Land Rover Discovery 2 (L318) Common Problems & Reliability
More refined than the Discovery 1 but carries specific TD5 engine risks and the notorious "Three Amigos" warning lights. Better built than its predecessor but still showing its age.
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Detailed fault breakdown, symptoms, and estimated repair bills by production year.
Most Common Land Rover Discovery 2 (L318) Faults & Repair Costs
TD5 Head Gasket Failure
Early TD5 engines used plastic dowels to locate the cylinder head, which can break and allow the head to shift, causing gasket failure. Metal dowels are the fix.
Overheating, White exhaust smoke, Coolant loss, Mayonnaise under oil cap
- Service history for head gasket replacement
- Metal vs plastic dowels
- Coolant condition
TD5 Injector Harness Oil Migration
Oil seeps along the injector wiring harness into the ECU red plug connector, causing rough running, misfires and potential ECU damage.
Rough idle, Misfires, Hard starting, Engine cutting out
- Oil in ECU red plug
- Injector harness condition
- Injector seal condition
Air Suspension and ACE System Failures
Self-levelling suspension (SLS) air bags perish and compressors fail. The ACE system leaks from corroded pipes, causing handling issues and expensive repairs.
Vehicle sagging, ACE warning light, Fluid leaks underneath, Compressor running constantly
- Air bag condition
- ACE pipe condition
- Compressor operation
- Ride height sensors
Three Amigos (ABS/TC/ HDC Warnings)
The ABS, Traction Control, and Hill Descent Control warning lights illuminate together. Usually caused by ABS sensor failures but can indicate more expensive 4WD system issues.
Three warning lights on together, Loss of traction control, HDC inoperative
- ABS sensor condition
- Fault codes
- Brake pedal switch
Buying a used Land Rover Discovery 2 (L318)? Always check for hidden finance and write-off history.
Mechanical problems are only half the battle. Over 1 in 3 UK used cars checked have unpaid finance or accident write-off records that could cause you to lose the car or thousands in value.