Dave Phillips
Your Discovery or Range Rover Sport could be concealing a hidden death trap – so get it checked out as soon as possible, says Dave Phillips
Should you get your Disco’s tow bar looked at? Go to
PRACTICALLY FROM the moment the first Discovery rolled off the production line in Solihull in 1989 this versatile model has been regarded as the very best tow car in the world. And that’s not just the opinion of biased Land Rover fanatics like me – all five incarnations of the Discovery have been voted best tow car in all the automotive awards.
Discovery and towing are synonymous. They go together like fish and chips. So it comes as a big shock to the system when you suddenly learn of a flaw in the tow bar system of the Discovery 3 and 4, as well as first-generation Range Rover Sport.
It certainly came as a shock to my sheep farmer mate, Martin. I’ve known Martin for over 20 years and he has never owned any car other than a Land Rover. He started as a youngster with a Series III Lightweight, progressed to a naturally-aspirated diesel Ninety, then a Tdi, followed by a Td5 Discovery and, a couple of years ago a Discovery 3.
To him they are working vehicles and towing ability is important to Martin. Seldom a week goes by when he isn’t towing a trailer of sheep somewhere and he has been delighted with the performance of his D3. But a recent visit to the livestock market at Melton Mowbray wiped away the customary smile from his face. As he reversed his trailer into the parking area, a farmer pal strolled over with a worried frown on his face.
“You’re not towing with that, are you?” he said.
“Of course I am. What’s wrong with that?” replied Martin.
“It’s lethal, that’s what,” replied his friend. “My towbar failed and I lost a trailer the other week. Luckily it didn’t cause an accident, but it could easily have done. I was really shook up.”
Once Martin had driven – very gingerly – home, he checked it out. There had been a factory recall for all Discoverys built between 2005 and 2015 (and RR Sport between 2005 and 2013), but he had missed it because he had bought his 06 Disco secondhand from an independent dealer.
The recall involves the revolutionary cassette-style detachable tow hitch, that fits into a slot in the rear crossmember. It was introduced with great fanfare when the D3 was launched, because it could be removed to improve the departure angle at the rear of the vehicle when off-roading.
“It was designed to be used for occasional towing duties, like taking the family caravan out at weekends,” explained Kevin Bates, parts manager at Duckworth Land Rover, Market Rasen. “But some owners didn’t realise that and left it in permanently. Water and mud got trapped in there, acted as an abrasive and caused it to wear.”
Land Rover asked its franchise dealers to contact all affected customers, offering a free check and, if the wear was excessive, a replacement rear chassis and heavy-duty multiheight tow hitch, to be fitted free of charge. But, by then, many Discoverys were no longer being serviced by main Land Rover dealers and so missed the official communication.
The good news for owners like Martin is that all owners can book their D3, D4 or RR Sport into any franchise dealer for the free check and replacement (if worn), regardless of where they bought their vehicle from.
I therefore recommend all unaware owners to get their tow hitches checked asap. Phone your local main dealer to book the check, quoting 'Customer Satisfaction Programme Q393'. If you aren’t sure where your nearest Land rover franchise dealer is, go to landrover.co.uk to find out.