The 2017 Discovery Sport with the 2.0L Ingenium turbo four is plagued by catastrophic engine failures stemming from manufacturing defects in early Ingenium engines, plus typical Land Rover electrical gremlins and transmission cooling issues that can strand you.
Ingenium Engine Catastrophic Failure (Piston Ring / Bore Scoring)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 30,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (quart every 500-1000 miles), Blue smoke on startup or acceleration, Loss of power under load, Metallic knocking from crankcase, Check engine light with misfire codes
Fix: Early 2.0L Ingenium engines suffered piston ring design flaws and cylinder bore machining issues causing scoring and catastrophic wear. Fix requires complete short block replacement or full engine rebuild with updated pistons/rings. 20-28 labor hours for R&R and reinstallation. Some extended warranty coverage existed but expired for most 2017s.
Estimated cost: $8,000-15,000
Nine-Speed ZF Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Common · high severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid in coolant or coolant in trans fluid (strawberry milkshake), Harsh shifting or slipping, Transmission overheating warnings, Coolant loss with no external leaks
Fix: Internal oil cooler integrated into radiator end tank fails, cross-contaminating fluids. Requires new radiator, complete transmission fluid flush (multiple cycles), often new transmission if contamination severe. Filter and pan service mandatory. 8-12 labor hours depending on damage assessment.
Estimated cost: $2,500-7,500
Transmission Mount Collapse
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Severe clunking on acceleration or deceleration, Vibration at idle in Drive, Visible drivetrain movement when rocking vehicle, Transmission shifter feels loose
Fix: Hydraulic transmission mount rubber deteriorates prematurely, allowing excessive powertrain movement. Replacement requires subframe access. 2.5-3.5 labor hours. OEM part required; aftermarket rarely lasts.
Estimated cost: $600-1,000
Fuel System High-Pressure Pump and Filter Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Extended cranking before start, Loss of power especially uphill, Engine stalling at idle or low speed, Fuel pressure fault codes (P0087, P0088), Rough idle and hesitation
Fix: High-pressure fuel pump fails or fuel filter clogs (non-serviceable inline filter in tank area). Pump replacement requires tank drop or rear seat/floor access depending on configuration. Filter often replaced with pump assembly. 4-6 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200
Electrical Module Failures (Gateway / BCM)
Occasional · medium severitySymptoms: Intermittent no-start with full battery, Infotainment system freezing or rebooting, Warning lights illuminating randomly, Power windows/locks operating erratically, Accessory functions dropping out
Fix: Central gateway module or body control module software corruption or hardware failure. Requires dealer-level diagnostics and programming. Module replacement 2-3 hours, but diagnosis can add significant time. Software updates sometimes resolve, hardware replacement often needed.
Estimated cost: $800-2,500
Front Lower Control Arm Bushing Failure (Recall Related)
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 50,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps, Steering wander or vague feel, Uneven tire wear on inside edges, Vibration at highway speeds
Fix: Lower control arm bushings separate or tear, sometimes related to recall 19V-073. Requires control arm replacement (bushings not serviceable separately on this platform). 2.5-3 hours per side. Check for open recall before paying.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Turbocharger Wastegate Actuator Sticking
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Check engine light with boost control codes (P0234, P0299), Limp mode activation, Lack of power especially under acceleration, Whistling or fluttering from engine bay
Fix: Wastegate actuator carbon buildup or mechanical failure causes boost control issues. Turbo removal and actuator replacement or full turbo replacement if shaft play present. 6-9 labor hours for turbo R&R.
Estimated cost: $1,500-3,500
Hard pass unless you find one with documented engine replacement under warranty and can afford $3k-5k annual repair budget—these are money pits after 60k miles.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.