Land Rover Discovery L319
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
340–381 PS
3.0L V6 Supercharged Benzin
Discovery 3.0 SC: supercharged V6 for off-road enthusiasts
Fun to Drive!190 PS
2.7L V6 TDV6 Diesel Diesel
6 weaknesses
Stay Away!Generations
Engine Overview
The Land Rover Discovery L319 is available with 6 engine variants — from 190 to 381 hp.
The Land Rover 2.7L V6 TDV6 Diesel (Diesel, 190 PS) has the 276DT (2.7L V6 TDV6 Diesel) — rated: "Stay Away!", 6 known weaknesses.
The Land Rover 3.0L V6 Diesel (Diesel, 211 PS) has the 306DT (3.0L V6 Diesel) — rated: "Stay Away!", 5 known weaknesses.
The Land Rover Discovery 4 SDV6 (Diesel, 256 PS) has the 306DT (3.0L V6 Diesel) — rated: "Stay Away!", 5 known weaknesses.
The Land Rover Discovery 4 TDV6 (Diesel, 245–249 PS) has the 306DT (3.0L V6 Diesel) — rated: "Stay Away!", 5 known weaknesses.
The Land Rover 3.0L V6 Supercharged (Benziner, 340 PS) has the AJ126 (3.0L V6 Supercharged) — rated: "Stay Away!", 4 known weaknesses.
The Land Rover 4.4L V8 NA (Benziner, 299 PS) has the AJ41 (4.4L V8 NA) — rated: "Be Careful", 4 known weaknesses.
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Air suspension compressor failure The air suspension compressor is the Achilles heel of the L319. Leaking air springs or valve blocks overload it until it fails. Early models with the Hitachi compressor are particularly vulnerable. Symptoms: Air suspension warning light, vehicle sags after parking, 'Normal height only available' message, compressor runs non-stop from 100,000 km | Medium | |
| Air springs porous and leaking Air springs on the front and rear axle become porous after 8–12 years. Air escapes slowly — vehicle sags after standing. Ignoring this damages the compressor and valve block. Symptoms: Vehicle sags overnight when parked, air suspension warning light, uneven ride height, compressor runs constantly from 120,000 km | High | |
| Front control arms and bushes worn Front lower control arms and anti-roll bar bushes wear and produce knocking and clunking at low speed. Wheel alignment wanders. Symptoms: Knocking and clunking from the front over bumps and during steering input, steering pulls to one side, uneven tyre wear from 90,000 km | Medium | |
| Rear anti-roll bar bushes and drop links worn Rear anti-roll bar bushes and drop links wear and cause clunking and vague cornering. Typical symptom after 80,000–120,000 km. Symptoms: Clunking from the rear over bumps, vague cornering behaviour, rattling from the rear axle at low speed over rough surfaces from 90,000 km | Low |
Top Reported Issues
Alternatives
Known Problems and Issues
A total of 28 weaknesses have been documented for the Land Rover Discovery L319 (2004–2017) — 19 engine-related and 9 vehicle-related. 3 problem engines: 276DT (2.7L V6 TDV6 Diesel), 306DT (3.0L V6 Diesel), AJ126 (3.0L V6 Supercharged). Typical issues affect Suspension, Electronics, Body, Brakes.
Discovery (276DT, 2004–2009) — Stay Away!: Oil cooler leak: oil-coolant cross-contamination, Crankshaft bearing failure from design weakness, Injector seal leak accelerates bearing wear. Power: 190 PS.
Discovery (306DT, 2009–2013) — Stay Away!: Crankshaft bearing failure from design weakness, Timing chain and tensioner wear, Injector over-fuelling with piston damage. Power: 245–249 PS.
Discovery (306DT, 2011–2013) — Stay Away!: Crankshaft bearing failure from design weakness, Timing chain and tensioner wear, Injector over-fuelling with piston damage. Power: 256 PS.
Discovery (306DT, 2011–2013) — Stay Away!: Crankshaft bearing failure from design weakness, Timing chain and tensioner wear, Injector over-fuelling with piston damage. Power: 211 PS.
Discovery (AJ41, 2004–2009) — Be Careful: Plastic timing chain guide breaks, VANOS seals worn: clatter and power loss, Thermostat (105°C) and cooling system failures. Power: 299 PS.
Discovery (AJ126, 2013–2017) — Stay Away!: Plastic coolant pipe under supercharger bursts, Timing chain and guides wear, Supercharger torsional coupler wears out. Power: 340 PS.
What to watch out for with the Land Rover Discovery? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee