NHTSA Complaint #10323539 — 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY II

I PURCHASED A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SERIES II HSE WITH 44K MILES. IN FEBRUARY 2008, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO LAND ROVER DEALER TO HAVE A FULL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. THE INSPECTION REPORT NOTED THAT VEHICLE WAS IN GREAT CONDITION WITH NO ISSUES NEEDING TO BE ADDRESSED. BUT ALONG WITH THE EVALUATION PAPER WORK PROVIDED BY THE LAND ROVER DEALER WAS A LAND ROVER TECHNICAL ALERT. THE TECHNICAL ALERT STATED THE FOLLOWING;' DISCOVERY SERIES II (LT) 3A771801 ' 3A808362 SITUATION OIL PUMP FAILURES ON 2003 DISCOVERY SERIES II VEHICLES MAY BE THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURING ERROR. LOCATING DOWEL PINS MAY BE SLIGHTLY MISALIGNED PERMITTING ASSEMBLY OF THE OIL PUMP TO THE ENGINE BLOCK, BUT PLACING STRESS ON THE PUMP HOUSING WHICH CAN ULTIMATELY LEAD TO LEAKAGE OR FAILURE. RESOLUTION WHENEVER AN OIL PUMP FAILURE IS ENCOUNTERED ON VEHICLES WITHIN THE ABOVE VIN RANGE THE ONLY EFFECTIVE REPAIR CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IS REPLACEMENT OF THE COMPLETE ENGINE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE FRONT COVER/OIL PUMP MANUFACTURED TO THE LATEST TOLERANCES. MY LAND ROVER VIN NUMBER FALLS WITHIN THE IDENTIFIED VIN NUMBER RANGE OF AFFECTED VEHICLES. JUMP AHEAD TO 2010. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON 26 MARCH 2010, THE OIL LIGHT CAME AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE RUMBLING SOUNDS. I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. FEARING THE WORST, I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AT A COST OF $545 TO MY MECHANIC. MY MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE OIL PUMP HAD FAILED. I SPOKE TO THE LAND ROVER DEALER AND TO LAND ROVER OF NORTH AMERICA. NEITHER WOULD COVER THE REPAIR IN SPITE OF THE TECHNICAL ALERT PUBLISHED AND PROVIDED BY THEM ON THIS CONDITION. THE ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE IS $10,000. I BELIEVE THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OWNERSHIP AND REASONABLE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH A USED VEHICLE. BUT, THE ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE IS NOT REASONABLE. LAND ROVER MADE A MANUFACTURING 'ERROR', PUBLISHED IT AND THEN LEFT THE 'ERROR' TO THE CONSEQUENCE AND EXPENSE OF MYSELF. *TR