NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Land Rover Freelander. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OUTSTANDING WARRANTS, TICKETS, COMPLAINTS ETC.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HILL DESCENT CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL, AND BRAKE INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE HAD A STRONG HESITATION AND STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V041000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA05016 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLUTION TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY REMAIN ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT DEPRESSED. HILL DESCENT CONTROL (HDC), TRACTION CONTROL (TC) AND CRUISE CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS MAY ALSO BE ILLUMINATED
1.COOLANT SYSTEM:STRONG ANTIFREEZE ODOR IN VEHICLE CABIN - REPLACED COOLANT RESERVOIR;REPLACED COOLANT RESERVOIR CAP; THERMOSTAT HOUSING FAILURE; REPLACED ALL COOLANT LINES AND HOSES AS PREVENTATIVE MEASURE; HEATER CORE FAILURE - LEAKED ANTI FREEZE INTO HEATER CHAMBER 2.TRANSMISSION SYSTEM (1 OF 3): CODE F4 APPEARED ON ODOMETER; HILL DECENT FAULT LIGHT ILLUMINATED; TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED; BRAKE ANTI BLOCK LIGHT ILLUMINATED; TRANSMISSION (WHILE IN AUTOMATIC D) WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT PAST 2. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UPSHIFT BEYOND 3; MANUALLY SHIFTING DOWN TO 1, TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCES HARSH SHIFTING ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD CLUNKING SOUND SHIFTING FROM 1 TO 2; WILL NOT MANUALLY SHIFT BEYOND 3. 3.INTAKE MANIFOLD AND INDUCTION SYSTEM: VEHICLE REVERTED TO CREEP' MODE AND WOULD NOT TRAVEL BEYOND 5 MPH; TOWED VEHICLE TO RESIDENCE; DISCOVERED INTAKE MANIFOLD BUTTERFLY VALVES WERE DISCONNECTED FROM ACTUATION ROD - REPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD 4.FUEL SYSTEM:VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED ON FREEWAY - REPLACED FUEL PUMP 5. SUNROOF, WINDOWS, AND DOORS: SUNROOF WILL NOT CLOSE REPLACE SUNROOF ACTUATION MECHANISM 3 TIMES; POWER WINDOW REGULATOR FAIL ON: LEFT FRONT (2 TIMES); RIGHT FRONT; LEFT REAR; RIGHT REAR (3 TIMES); REAR DOOR (2 TIMES): 5.WARNING AND CAUTION SYSTEM: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES THEN EXTINGUISHES, THEN ILLUMINATES AND STAYS ILLUMINATED (MULTIPLE REPEAT DISCREPANCY AND ONGOING): PURCHASED OBDM II CODE SCANNER/READER: MOST COMMON FAULT LEFT #2 BANK TOO LEAN; MISFIRE DETECTED ON #2 OR #1 SPARK PLUG - REPLACED ALL 6 SPARK COILS; '
ORIGINAL OWNER OF LAND ROVER FREELANDER 2003. AT APPROXIMATELY 60,000 MILES, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. AT THE TIME, THE CAR WAS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY SO MOST OF THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED. NOW, AT APPROXIMATELY 86,000 MILES, THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" HAS AGAIN APPEARED. I TOOK THE CAR TO A LAND ROVER REPAIR FACILITY AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR REQUIRES A NEW MANIFOLD INTAKE VALVE. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS AROUND $3,000. AT THIS POINT, I AM TOTALLY DISGUSTED WITH LAND ROVER AND WILL NEVER EVER BUY OR RECOMMEND A LAND ROVER VEHICLE. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A MAJOR HEADACHE. *TR
F-4 FLASHING ON THE ODOMETER, BOTH CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ON, AND THE HILL DESCENT/TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COMING ON. VEHICLE QUICKLY DROPPED POWER TO NO POWER. SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT AND CAR LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING, SOMETHING WITH THE THROTTLE WAS REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME. THEN THE HARNESS WAS REPAIRED AND TWO WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. MECHANICAL PROBLEMS CONTINUE NOW GOING ON THE 4TH TRIP TO THE AUTO MECHANIC SHOP. THERE IS NO WARRANTY LEFT. MAYBE THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE DONE. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND YET NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT ANY SITUATION. I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER LANDROVER IN ANY MODEL AND WILL LET ANYONE THAT IS INTERESTED IN PURCHASING A LANDROVER OF ANY MODEL THAT THEY ARE NOT WORTH BUYING DUE TO ALL THE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS THAT KNOWINGLY SEEM TO OCCUR OVER AND OVER. WHERE LANDROVER IS MAKING NO ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT RIGHT OR EVEN NOTIFY SUCH SITUATIONS IN THEIR VEHICLE. I WOULD RATHER DRIVE A FORD AT THIS POINT THEN TO BE STUCK WITH THIS HIGH MAINTENANCE PROBLEM OF A HIGH END VEHICLE. LANDROVER MIGHT NOT CARE ABOUT THEIR CONSUMERS BECAUSE THEY ARE SELLING THE VEHICLE AND WHO CARES WHAT HAPPENS AFTER WORDS WE HAVE OUR MONEY. THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO READ ALL REPORTS OF YOUR WORTHLESS VEHICLES. NOT IMPRESSED! *TR *JS
I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FOR MY DAUGHTER 16TH BIRTHDAY. NIGHTMARE. THE REAR WINDOW PASSENGERS REGULATOR WENT OUT COST TO BE OVER $300. THE TRANSMISSION HAS A HARD SHIFT BANG FROM 2ND TO THIRD GEAR. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. THEY WANT TO REBUILD IT AT A COST OF $4000. ESTIMATE WAS TO REPLACE CRACKED HIGH CLUTCH PISTON & OR VALVE BODY LEAKS. LABOR WOULD BE OVER 20 HOURS WORTH OF WORK. I AM STUCK WITH NO VEHICLE FOR MY DAUGHTER WHO IS UPSET THAT SHE CAN'T ENJOY HER FIRST CAR. WHAT A SHAME. VERY DISAPPOINTED. I THOUGHT LANDROVER WAS RELIABLE LIKE BMW. APPARENTLY NOT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE SHIFT SOLENOID SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC ALSO DETECTED THE TRANSMISSION INTAKE VALVES WERE DAMAGED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR PASSENGER AUTOMATIC WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED TO OPERATE AND THE SUN ROOF MOTOR EXHIBITED FAULTY WIRING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE ADDITIONAL DEFECTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
PURCHASED THE TRUCK IN 2003 FROM LAND ROVER, BRAND NEW. DEALT WITH A FEW RECALLS AND OTHER ISSUES ( SUN ROOF WAS OFF TRACK, DID NOT WORK. LEATHER SEATS HAD DEFORMATIONS ON SEATS. TRUCK NEED AN ACID WASH FOR SPOTS THAT DEVELOPED ON BUMPER) SOON MY ENGINE AND COOLANT ISSUES OCCURRED. WHY DRIVING ID NOTICE MY TRUCK START TO OVERHEAT. THIS WAS EVEN AFTER BEING SERVICED AT LAND ROVER. COME TO FIND OUT MY COOLANT WAS LEAKING. THE ISSUE CONTINUED TO THE POINT WHERE I HAD TO GET NEW EXTERNAL PARTS ( THERMOSTAT, WATER PIPE, EXPANSION TANK) THIS HELPED BUT NOT FOR LONG. MY TRUCK CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT AND LEAK, O THE POINT I HAD TO REPLACE THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AND THE TIMING BELT.. I ACCUMULATED ONLY 56,000 MILES OVER 9 YEARS OF DRIVING THIS TRUCK AND SPENT +$20,000 TRYING TO SAVE IT ... I SEE WHY THIS MODEL WAS DISCONTINUED AFTER ONLY ONE YEAR. I HAVE TO TAKE MY SITUATION TO CIVIL COURT EVEN THOUGH THIS SHOULD FALL UNDER THE LEMON LAW.THE CLASS ACTION GROUP I WAS APART OF FOR 4 YEARS HAS MADE NO PROGRESS AT ALL.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE COOLANT MIXED WITH THE OIL AND THE ENGINE SEIZED AS A RESULT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE OIL WAS CHANGED AND THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ANY FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.
AT 88,000 MILES, MY 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER LOST ~80% OF POWER WHILE GOING UP A HILL ON A MAJOR HIGH WAY AND STARTED TO BILLOW SMOKE. AFTER STEERING THE VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC, I POPPED THE HOOD TO FIND THE MATERIAL ON THE LOWER SIDE OF THE HOOD ON FIRE. UPON PUTTING THIS FIRE OUT, I REALIZED THERE WAS STILL A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE COVER AND MY ANTI-FREEZE WAS EMPTY, WHEN SERVED ONLY A COUPLE WEEKS PRIOR. AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE COOL, I TOOK OFF THE ENGINE COVER TO FIND IT HAD A MIXTURE OF COOLANT AND OIL RESTING ON TOP OF IT; A DARK-MILKY COLORED LIQUID. UPON HAVING IT TOWED AND FURTHER INSPECTED BY A PROFESSIONAL, NOT ONLY IS MY HEAD GASKET GONE, A FITTING ON THE A RADIATOR LINE HAD MELTED ABOVE THE ENGINE, AND A CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS AS WELL. I GOT IT BACK TO MY HOUSE IN THIS CONDITION BECAUSE I STILL OWE $7500 AND HAVE ONLY HAD IT FOR 1 YEAR. MECHANICALLY TOTALED IN MY DRIVEWAY, IT NOW ONLY SOMETIMES WILL SHIFT AND WHEN IT DOES, ONLY HAPPENS WITH FORCE. PRIOR TO THIS ALMOST FATAL DISASTER, I HAD THREE WINDOW ASSEMBLIES BRAKE; RUINING THE MOTORS AND CAUSING THEM TO FALL WHILE DRIVING, AND MY BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION. I REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LIGHTS STILL PERSISTS. I'VE GIVEN UP HOPE ON THIS SUV AND HAVE GOT NOT ONE REPLY FROM LAND ROVER COSTUMER SERVICE. I AM STUCK MAKING PAYMENTS, AND EVEN IF I COULD AFFORD TO FIX IT, WOULD NEVER PUT MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN IT AGAIN. PLEASE GET THESE VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD, BEFORE SOMEONE IS EVEN LESS LUCKY THEN I. *TR
BOUGHT CAR USED IN FALL 09, HAD SEVERAL WHAT SEEMED LIKE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR REPAIRS. THERE WAS NO WARRANTY ON IT AS I BOUGHT IT FROM ANOTHER OWNER. EARLY MAY '11 THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS. I ARRIVED AT MY DESTINATION. ON THE WAY HOME IT CAME ON AGAIN AND AS I WAS 2 BLOCKS AWAY FROM HOME THE CAR JUST SLOWED AND CAME TO A STOP. THIS TURNED INTO A 2+ MONTH STINCH IN THE SHOP, WITH THE ENGINE NEEDING TO BE REBUILT. THIS WAS DONE BY MY MECHANIC. I WISHED I HAD READ THE INFO LISTED HERE PRIOR TO THE PURCHASE OR EVEN A YEAR AGO. LAST WINTER THE COOLANT CONSTANTLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED LIKE EVERY FEW DAYS AND THE CAR WAS OVER HEATING. MY MECHANIC SAID THE HOSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. BETWEEN THEN AND THIS WINTER BOTH WERE REPLACED AND NOW I'M EXPERIENCING THE CAR OVER HEATING WHEN ITS FULL WITH COOLANT, HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT STARTING, THERE NOT BEING ENOUGH POWER TO GET IT UP A HILL ETC. *TR
CAR JUST LOSES POWER AND STOPS WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY. I TOOK IT IN TO MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP SHUT OFF. AFTER GETTING FUEL PUMP REPLACED, THE CAR CONTINUES TO LOSE POWER AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE ACCELERATING. VERY DANGEROUS! *TR
I PAID $2,700.00 FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGHLANDROVER/EASYCARE MY (2003 FREELANDER ) IN JUNE OF 2007. THE WARRANTY IS FOR 60MONTHS AND UP TO 100,000MILES. MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN OPERABLE FOR OVER 2 MONTHS LARGELY DUE TO THE DIFFICULTIES OF CONDUCTING WHAT SHOULD BE NORMAL BUSINESS WITH EASYCARE. EASYCARE HAS BEEN SO DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH THAT THE FIRST CAR REPAIR SHOP I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO 'ADVANCED AUTO SERVICE' CHOSE TO GIVE UP AFTER GETTING NOWHERE WITH EASYCARE. 'ADVANCED AUTO SERVICE' STATED 'THEY ARE JUST TOO DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH' AND REQUESTED I PICK-UP/TOW THE VEHICLE TO A LAND ROVER DEALERSHIP, THIS WAS 3 WEEKS AFTER I HAD DROPPED OFF THE VEHICLE. I THEN HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO '[XXX]' AND THE VEHICLE IS STILL AT [XXX]AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR 2.5 WEEKS AND COUNTING. [XXX] HAS EXPRESSED TO ME THAT MAJOR REPAIRS NEED TO BE PERFORMED ON TO THE ENGINE. THEY HAVE ALSO EXPRESSED TO ME THIS ENGINE REPAIR WAS NOT DUE TO 'LACK OF MAINTENANCE' AND THAT THE APPEARANCE OF 'SLUDGE' IS NOT IN EXCESS. [XXX] HAS RELAYED TO ME THAT EASYCARE INFORMED THEM ENGINE REPAIRS WILL NOT BE COVERED, AND HAVE ONLY GIVEN THE REASON OF 'LACK OF MAINTENANCE' ' DUE TO 'SLUDGE'. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS I HAVE ASKED THREE OF EASYCARE'S STAFF (UNKNOWN NAME, [XXX]) TO PROVIDE ME WITH THE REASON FOR THE DENIAL OF THE ENGINE REPAIR CLAIM. BOTH TIMES THEY HAVE REFUSED TO PROVIDE THIS DOCUMENTATION AND/OR THE EVIDENCE FOR DECISION MADE. TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN NO COMMUNICATION TO ME FROM EASYCARE OTHER THAN THE 2 TIMES I CALLED. THE REQUESTED INFORMATION HAS NEVER BEEN PROVIDED TO ME, NOR HAS EASYCARE PROVIDED ME WITH ANY DOCUMENTATION AS TO WHY THEY HAVE DENIED, THE REQUIRED ENGINE REPAIR. SINCE I BOUGHT MY WARRANTY AT [XXX] AND THROUGH EASYCARE, I EXPECT THEM TO WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE THESE ISSUES WITHOUT ME HAVING TO CONSTANTLY WASTE MY TIME. THIS CAR IS TRUELY A LEMON. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
I WAS DRIVING 70MPH, OUT OF NO WHERE, THE CAR DOWN SHIFTED, "THE HILL DECENT! LIGHT CAME ON, F4 BEGAN FLASHING. I LOST CONTROL BRIEFLY BUT REGAINED IT. *TR
2003 LAND ROVER FREELAND - BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A MYSTERIOUS LOSS OF COOLANT. MADE MULTIPLE TRIPS TO LOCAL GARAGE - THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE LEAK. CHECKED WEB SITE - IT'S A WELL-KNOWN ENGINE FLAW WITH THE FREELAND THAT LEADS TO ENGINE FAILURE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2003 FROM LR DEALER. TECHNICAL BULLETINS WERE ISSUED BACK IN 2005. WENT TO DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY - $8000-$10000 TO REPLACE ENGINE IF THEY COULD GET ONE. EVIDENTLY, IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET ENGINES. SERVICE DEPARTMENT KNOWS THE PROBLEM WELL - TOLD ME MY CAR WAS JUNK AND LR WAS WELL AWARE. ASKED WHAT WAS DONE FOR OWNERS SINCE IT WAS A WELL KNOWN DOCUMENTED DESIGN FLAW. NOTHING! TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY IT DID NOT HAPPEN SOONER. LR IS JUST PREYING ON THE INNOCENT PUBLIC BY REFUSING TO DEAL WITH WHAT IS CLEARLY OF THEIR OWN MAKING. *TR
03 FREELANDER, PURCHASED USED WITH 74,000 MILES. ENGINE HAD KNOCKING NOISE, WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT WAS "NORMAL", NOT EVEN NINETY DAYS LATER FUEL PUMP FAILED. OK, NO BIG DEAL. TOWED CAR 90 MILES TO LR DEALER FOR COVERED PART. WAS DETERMINED AT LR DEALER THAT THERE WERE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH ENGINE AND VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. COOLANT MIXING WITH OIL, ETC. HAVE READ ALL OF THE ISSUES I AM EXPERIENCING IN FORUMS ONLINE. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE AND LR NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. *TR
I HAVE A LANDROVER FREELANDER 2003. THE CAR NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AT 41,000 MILES AND RIGHT AFTER THAT TRANSMISSION SEALS HAD TO BE REPAIRED RIGHT AFTER THAT AIR. HEATING UNITS WERE REPLACED NOW THE CAR IS AT 73,000 MILES AND THE DEALER IS TELLING ME THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE AGAIN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM COOLANT AND OIL MIXING ,WHICH WAS THE PROBLEM I HAD IN 2007 WHEN THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALER FOR THE PAST TWO WEEKS AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO GIVE ME A LOANER BECAUSE I HAVE CONTACTED LAND ROVER TO SEE WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE GARBAGE OF A CAR AND THEY ARE TAKING THEIR TIME RESOLVING THE ISSUE. *TR
2003 LANDROVER FREELAND - BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A MYSTERIOUS LOSS OF COOLANT. MADE MULTIPLE TRIPS TO LOCAL GARAGE - THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE LEAK. LOCAL GARAGE CONTACTED LANDROVER. TURNS OUT NOT SO MYSTERIOUS LEAK. IT'S A WELL KNOW ENGINE FLAW WITH THE FREELAND THAT LEADS TO ENGINE FAILURE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 2007 FROM LR DEALER. TECHNICAL BULLETINS WERE ISSUED BACK IN 2005. WENT TO DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY - $8000-$10000 TO REPLACE ENGINE IF THEY COULD GET ONE. EVIDENTLY, IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET ENGINES. I PAID $11600 FOR THE CARE 2.5 YRS AGO. SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS KNOWS THE PROBLEM WELL - TOLD ME MY CAR WAS JUNK AND LR WAS WELL AWARE. ASKED WHAT WAS DONE FOR OWNERS SINCE IT WAS A WELL KNOWN DOCUMENTED DESIGN FLAW. NOTHING! TOLD ME I WAS LUCKY IT DID NOT HAPPEN SOONER. HECK - THERE IS EVENT A YOUTUBE VIDEO POSTED BY ANOTHER LR DEALERSHIP WHICH SHOWS EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, AND WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FIX IT. LR IS JUST PREYING ON THE INNOCENT PUBLIC BY REFUSING TO DEAL WITH WHAT IS CLEARLY OF THEIR OWN MAKING. LANDROVER IS A -0- INTEGRITY CORP!!!
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE DISPLAYED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS HOT. HE PULLED OVER, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FAN WAS RUNNING AT A VERY HIGH RATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO ADD ANTI FREEZE EVERY OTHER TIME FUEL WAS ADDED TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO ADVISED HIM TO REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE OF A WELL KNOW COOLANT FAILURE. THE LOCAL MECHANIC ADVISED HIM TO CONTINUE ADDING COOLANT AND THAT IF THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR THE SEAL COULD BREAK, MIX WITH THE COOLANT AND RUIN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN JUNE 2010. THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
IN HEAVY RAIN OR SLUSH THE ENGINE WILL JUST DIE (EVEN GOING THROUGH THE CAR WASH!). I HAVE BEEN LEFT ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY ROUGHLY A HALF DOZEN TIMES, A COUPLE OF TIMES IN VERY UNSAFE LOCATIONS. I'M GUESSING THAT IT'S AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, BUT THE DEALERSHIP IN BOTH CORTE MADERA AND ROSVILLE, CALIFORNIA SAID THEY WILL CHARGE ME HUNDREDS TO ISOLATE THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM... *TR
COOLANT IS LEAKING VISIBLY IN COOLANT BOWL. I ADD COOLANT ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND DEALER TELLS ME TO REPLACE THERMOSTAT ($1,000). COOLANT STILL LEAKING VISIBLY SO THEY REPLACE BOWL. COOLANT STILL LEAKING VISIBLY. I HAVE FOGGY WINDOWS AND THE DEALER TELLS ME THIS IS VAPOR FROM THE COOLANT LEAKAGE. SO NOW I AM INHALING COOLANT (GLYCOL) WHICH IS PROBABLY A TOXIC CHEMICAL. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE A HEATING SENSOR WHERE THE COOLANT IS LEAKING STILL. COST IS $1100, DEALER TELLS ME AT LEAST I DON'T HAVE THE BIG PROBLEM. I SAY, WHAT IS THAT? HE SAYS THE COOLANT CAN LEAK IN ABOUT 1/3 OF THE FREELANDERS AND IT CAN RUIN THE ENGINE. THE COST OF A REBUILT ENGINE IS $7,000. THIS IS THE SAME ENGINE AND WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS! *TR
2003 FREELANDER LAND ROVER - TRANSMISSION DIED AT 40000 MILES AND COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED 2 WEEKS LATER. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR, CAR IS INCREDIBLY UNRELIABLE AND HENCE UNSAFE. *TR
I HAVE LAND ROVER FREELANDER 2003 TRAVELING SLIGHT DOWNHILL THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGE. THE CAR HAVE 54,000ML ON CONSEQUENTLY HAVE HAD ROUGH RUN AND COMPLETE REAR GEAR LOSS. *TR
I AM HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE ENTIRE ENGINE SYSTEM. I SPENT $1000 REPAIRING THE TIMING BELT, YET THE TIMING BELT PERSIST WITH ENGINE FAILURE. MASS AIRFLOW METER KEEP BLOWING UP, I AM BOUGHT 3 AT $325 SO FAR. I HAVE SPENT ANOTHER $2000 TO GET THE ENGINE FIXED STILL NO SOLUTIONS. HIGHLIGHT KEEPS COMING ON EVERY TIME I PRESS THE BRAKE LIGHT. THE CAR WON'T SPEED UP CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON, SRS LIGHT IS ON EVERYTHING IN THIS CAR IS BAD AS A RESULT MAKE IT REAL UNSAFE. PLEASE PEOPLE TRY TO DO SOMETHING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT DRIVE THIS AND HOPEFULLY GET IT OFF THE MARKET. *TR
WHEN I PURCHASE MY CAR JAN 2009 IT HAD ROUGHLY 56,000 MILES ON IT. I DID NOTICE THAT WHEN I STARTED IT IN THE MORNING IT HAD A FUNNY SOUND. I TRIED TO BRING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, EITHER NO ONE WAS THERE TO HELP ME OR THE NOISE WAS GONE SINCE THE CAR WAS WARM. I NOTICE SOME SMOKE A WEEK AGO AND FILLED THE ANTIFREEZE FLUID BACK TO MAX LINE, THEN I NOTICE THE ANTIFREEZE WAS DOWN PAST THE MIN LINE AGAIN, WITH NO ANTIFREEZE ON THE GROUND??? TOOK IT IN THE SHOP AND HE GAVE A LIST OF THIS WRONG, INTAKE MANIFOLD VALVES ALWAYS OPEN, BANK 1 & 2 LEAN, HE REPLACE MY "T" CONNECTOR, JUST TO NAME SOME.. OH YEAH AND NOISE COMING FROM THREE DIFFERENT PLACES.. VALVE TRAN, WATER PUMP/TIMING BELT AND THE ALTERNATOR. NO HE TOLD ME IT WILL COST THOUSAND OF DOLLARS TO FIX IT. *TR
I PURCHASED MY 2003 FREELANDER LANDROVER 11/05/08. I HAVE HAD ISSUES EVER SINCE BOTH PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS DO NOT WORK TAILLIGHTS NO LONGER WORKING EVEN AFTER CHANGING BULBS, FUEL PUMP WENT LR DID REPLACE PER RECALL, TRANSMISSION HAS GONE, INSTRUMENTS LIGHTS WITH IN DASH HAVE GONE OUT , TIRES ARE BALDING QUICKLY AFTER REPLACEMENT. *TR
COOLANT LEAKS INTO THE ENGINE IN THE 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. PROBLEM STARTED AT 25,000 MILES AND WAS DISMISSED BY THE LAND ROVER DEALER (FRANKEL LAND ROVER- HUNT VALLEY) WHO I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. EVENTUALLY AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES THEY TOLD ME I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I CONTINUED TO FILL THE COOLANT CHAMBER DAILY AND DROVE IT UNTIL IT COMPLETELY FAILED AT 103,000 MILES WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE BALTIMORE BELTWAY (695) AT 60 MPH. FREELANDER K-SERIES ENGINES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO DROP THE CYLINDER LINERS INTO THE BLOCK. BECAUSE THE LINERS ARE STEEL AND THE BLOCK IS ALLOY, THE LINERS BEING HARDER, WORK THEIR WAY INTO THE BLOCK. THIS IS DUE TO THE ENGINE BLOCK AND CYLINDER HEAD BEING COMPOSED OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS THAT EXPAND AT DIFFERENT RATES WITH HEAT GENERATED DURING RUNNING OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAN CAUSE THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL. THE HEAD GASKET/CYLINDER LINER DESIGN FAULT HAS NOT BEEN CLASSIFIED AS A RECALL. *TR
COOLANT HAS BEEN LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE EVER SINCE I PURCHASED ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO. LANDROVER FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM BUT NOW THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FUNDS ON MY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER A NEW ENGINE. FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST HALF THE TIME. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A BIG COVER UP. *TR
AFTER KNOWING ABOUT THE COOLANT PROBLEMS OF THIS CAR WE TOOK CARE, HAD AN COOLANT FLUSH AND REGULARLY CONTROL THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH COOLANT. WHEN WE NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT WAS RUNNING LOW, WE TOPPED IT OFF, BUT THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN WITHOUT ANY OBVIOUS LEAKING. THE REPAIR FACILITY SAW SOME CRACKS IN THE COOLANT TANK SO WE CHANGED IT, A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR DID NOT WORK AT ALL AND HAND TO BE TOWED. THE WHOLE ENGINE HAD TO BE CHANGE; THE EXPLANATION WAS COOLANT WAS LEAKING AND MIXING WITH OIL. NOW, WITH THE NEW ENGINE THERE ARE AGAIN WARNING LIGHTS BLINKING AND REPAIR FACILITY TOLD US WE COULD NEED A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD. MEANWHILE THE COOLANT WAS LOW AGAIN AND WE HAD TO CHANGE THE THERMOSTAT BECAUSE THEY FOUND A LEAKING THERE. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE COOLANT AND ENGINE TO FIND IN THE INTERNET AND EVEN ON THIS PAGE, SO WHEN DO THEY RECALL THE COOLANT SYSTEM AND ENGINE?? *TR
KNOWN DEFECTIVE METAL USED IN ENGINE WITH THIS MODEL... CAUSES ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND ENGINE FAILURE, COOLANT LOSS... ETC. FIRST OVERHEATING IN MY OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR... BUSTED THERMOSTAT 1500.00 REPAIR ESTIMATE. *TR
WELL I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE LANDROVER. ITS A HORRIBLE CAR, I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE ENGINE TWICE, ALONG WITH A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT THAT WAS LATER RECALLED. THIS SUMMER, MY CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE AND OVERHEAT I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE SHOP I WAS TOLD THERE HAD BEEN A CRACK AND THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO MY ENGINE. THEY FIXED THE VEHICLE, A WEEK LATER THE CRACK CAME BACK BUT THIS TIME MY SIXTEEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND IT BEGAN TO SMOKE LEAVING HER STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY. I AGAIN TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND IT WAS FIXED THEY REPLACED THE PIPE AND FIXED THE CRACK. 2 DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED SHE WAS AGAIN STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY, AND IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SHOP. WE WERE TOLD BY OUR MECHANIC THAT I NOW NEEDED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE FOR THE THIRD TIME AND IT WAS A COMPLETE LEMON. I CALLED LANDROVER AND THEY WERE VERY RUDE, AND SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING. I BEGAN TO READ REVIEWS ABOUT THE VEHICLE AND THIS APPARENTLY HAS HAPPENED TO ABOUT 85 % OF THE VEHICLES. PLEASE RECALL THIS CAR SO PEOPLE KNOW THE DANGERS OF THIS VEHICLE , AND ME AND THE REST OF THE LANDROVER OWNERS CAN GET JUSTICE! *TR
WE WERE DRIVING OUR 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER DOWN FREEWAY IN PORTLAND, OR AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE THERMOMETER BEGAN TO BOUNCE AROUND, THEN THE CAR DECIDED NOT TO GO ANYMORE AND THE ENGINE DIED ON FREEWAY !! SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED FOR A DEFECT IN THE MOTOR THAT LAND ROVER HAS KNOWN ABOUT. ONCE THREE TRANSIENTS HELPED US WE GOT IT TO A SAFE PLACE AND LIFTED THE HOOD WHILE CLOUDS OF SOMETHING WAS BILLOWING OUT. CAR WOULD START BUT NOT STAY RUNNING AND ALL FLUIDS WOULD RUN RIGHT THROUGH IT.. LAND ROVER PORTLAND TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD NEED A NEW MOTOR. THIS CAR ONLY HAS APPROX. 65K MILES ON IT. ARE YOU SERIOUS!!! LAND ROVER WHAT A COP OUT... THEIR SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS MOTOR BEFORE SOMEONE GET SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. SO FAR NOTHING CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BECAUSE LAND ROVER NO LONGER CARRIES THIS MOTOR, WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO!!!! *TR
I AM DRIVING AN SUV - FREELANDER SE3 OF THE LAND ROVER, AND HAVE A DEFECT THAT IS GETTING WORSE AS THE CAR GET INTO HIGHS MILES. I CAN BE DRIVING OVER 50 MILES PER HOUR AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME UP, FOLLOWED BY T/C AND DECENT HILL LIGHTS, THEM THE CAR HAVE A STRONG JUMP AND THE D (DRIVE MODE) CHANGE TO A FLASHING "F" "4"- THEM SUDDENLY THE ENGINE SHOTOFF. I DRIVE WITH THE FEAR THAT ONE DAY I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PULL OVER AND I WILL BE CRASHING. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THAT THE VEHICLE LOSS TOTAL POWER AND STOP MOVING, NO MATTER HOW HARD I PRESS DOWN THE GAS PEDAL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED. A LOCAL MECHANIC PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TIMING BELT AND THE WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED AGAIN AND IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE MECHANIC WHO THEN REPLACED THE OVER FLOW RESERVOIR AND HOSES. WHEN THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED THE THIRD TIME IT WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS AIR IN THE ENGINE, WHICH WAS REMOVED; YET, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN THE PURCHASE PRICE. THE CONTACT REFUSED AND WAS ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE AND NOTIFY HER OF THE RESULTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,483 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,900.
1. THE HEAD GASKET FAILS ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE CRANK CASE, WHICH AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE MOTOR LOCKS UP., WHICH CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT 2. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS THE MOTOR IS DESTROYED, AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THESE VEHICLES WITH DEFECTIVE MOTORS AND LAND ROVER REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING IF OUT OF WARRANTY. BUT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE NEW FREELANDER HAS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MOTOR DESIGN WHICH SHOWS THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS DEFECT. WE NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE IM MAKING THIS SAFETY ISSUE A NATIONAL RECALL. 3. LAND ROVER TOTALLY REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING, THEY SAY TAKE IT TO A LAND ROVER DEALERSHIP, BUT IT WILL BE ALL AT YOUR EXPENSE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS WARM AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE HEAD GASKET. THE MECHANIC FURTHER STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,000. UPDATED 8/10/09 *CN UPDATED 08/13/09.*JB
ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MECHANIC SAID THAT THE COOLANT WAS GOING INTO ENGINE AND MIXING WITH THE OIL CAUSING OIL PRESSURE TO DROP. ALSO PISTONS WERE CRACKED BECAUSE ENGINE WAS RUNNING TO HOT (POSSIBLE CAUSE). I HAVE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR WINDOWS, LEFT PASSENGER DOOR JAMS UP, THERMOSTAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER CAR STALLED WHILE I WAS DRIVING, BRAKE LIGHTS WERE MALFUNCTIONING DEALERSHIP SAID I HAD REPLACED WRONG BULB ON ONE BRAKE LIGHT AND THAT CAUSED MALFUNCTION. I FOUND OUT AFTER SHELLING OUT 400 DOLLARS THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON BRAKES. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY THE BATTERY TWICE IN THE FIVE YEARS I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. ALL WINDOW MOTORS HAD TO BE WORKED ON FRONT RIGHT TWICE. *TR
2003 LANDROVER FREELANDER WITH 35000 WHEN PROBLEMS STARTED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SOON AFTER PURCHASE. CAR WOULDN'T HOLD COOLANT AND CONSTANTLY OVERHEATED. WE DROVE IT AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. ENGINE BLEW ON HIGHWAY. CERTIFIED MECHANIC SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE HEAD GASKET AND THAT ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED FOR APPROX $6500. *TR
PRIOR TO THIS MAJOR PROBLEM, THE CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL MINOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES: WINDOWS GETTING STUCK IN UP AND DOWN POSITION, REAR WIPER MALFUNCTION; ALSO, UNABLE TO DEFROST DRIVER'S SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR ISSUES THAT WERE NOT QUICK FIXES: 1. BRAKE WORK 2. CAR GOT STUCK IN GEAR AND WAS UNABLE TO REVERSE. FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, CAR HAS BEEN REVVING WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 10 AND 20MPH. MOST RECENTLY, IT BRAKED HARD AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT THE DRIVER PRESSING THE BRAKE. CURRENTLY, THE CAR IS FLASHING F AND 4 IN THE DASH DISPLAY AND IS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR IS UNABLE TO CLIMB EVEN THE SLIGHTEST OF INCLINES. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC AT THE SHOP BELIEVES THE TRANSMISSION IS "SHOT", BUT SUGGESTED HAVING IT DIAGNOSED AT A MR. TRANSMISSION. *TR
CAR LOST POWER ON HIGHWAY AFTER DRIVING 10 MILES AT SPEED OF 65-70 MPH, EXITING THE HIGHWAY. TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOWED HIGH TEMPERATURE ONLY WHEN DECREASING SPEED. COOLANT WAS SMELLED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAR WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. REPAIR SHOP DID NOT HAVE PROPER EQUIPMENT. LAND ROVER OF ST.LOUIS WAS CALLED. REPAIR DEPT. TOLD ME THAT THE REPAIR WOULD TOTAL MORE THAN THE VEHICLE WAS WORTH, THE ENGINE HAD KNOWN PROBLEMS FOR THAT MODEL YEAR. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE, DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS AND THE ADVICE OF THE REPAIR SHOP. *TR
POOR MECHANICAL DESIGN ON 2003 FREELANDER LAND ROVER WITH 75,000 MILES LEADING TO NUMEROUS MECHANICAL FAILURES. LOW MILEAGE (40,000 TO 70,000) FAILURE OF VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCLUDING: BRAKES (TWICE), FUEL PUMP, AND WATER PUMP. OVER $5,000 IN REPAIRS. ENGINE NOW LEAKING COOLANT INDICATING HEAD GASKET AND EVENTUAL ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
2003 FREELANDER BY LAND ROVER CUT OFF ON ME WHILE DRIVING. I HAD TO BE TOWED. THE FUEL PUMP AND GASKET WERE BAD. MY MILEAGE IS 47,863 MILES AND THE CAR IS DRIVEN LOCALLY LESS THAN 5 MILES PER DAY. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 LANDROVER I HAVE HAD TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THIS AUTO DUE TO THE DRIVE SHAFT. I HAVE TO PUT DRIVE SHAFT BEARING ON BOTH SIDES OF CAR THIS IS VERY EXPENSIVE. I HAVE ALSO CALLED LAND ROVER THEY SAY THEY CANNOT HELP SINCE I DON'T TAKE MY CAR TO THEIR DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE SUV WORKED ON I HAVE KEPT MY CAR IN TIP TOP SHAPE I GET. *TR
IN JULY 2004 I PURCHASED A 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER HSE WITH 25K MILES. IN THE FOUR AND A HALF YEARS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS. THE SUNROOF FAILED TWICE AND REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS SINCE BROKE AGAIN. THREE OF THE FOUR WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE FAILED (2 FIXED UNDER WARRANTY). I HAVE JUST REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP @ 95K MILES. HAD TO REPAIR MYSELF BECAUSE THE NEAREST DEALER IS 120 MILES AWAY AND NOBODY ELSE WOULD WORK ON IT. NOW IT SEEMS THE HEAD GASKET OR WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE HAS FAILED. WE HAVE TO PUT A GALLON OF WATER IN PER WEEK. LAND ROVER HAS DISCONTINUED THE SALE OF THE FREELANDER IN THE US. THIS DOES NOT SURPRISE ME BECAUSE OF ALL THE COMPLAINTS DUE TO THE OVERALL POOR QUALITY OF A "LUXURY SUV". *TR
2003 FREELANDER HAD SUDDEN FUEL PUMP FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO DEALER WHERE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 1 1/2 DAYS CAR STARTS AND THEN IMMEDIATELY DIES. ONCE MANAGED TO START IT WILL IDLE BUT AS SOON AS ANY PRESSURE IS PUT ON THE GAS PEDAL THE ENGINE FALTERS. WILL CONTACT THE DEALER ON MONDAY TO REASSESS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER ON THE HIGHWAY ON NOVEMBER 24,2008, WHEN THE ENGINE DIED ON ME. IT WAS SNOWING AND WET ON THE HIGHWAY AND DARK. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND WAITED FOR AAA. I HAD TO BE TOWED 19 MILES TO MY HOME. I WAS TOLD THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT ON THE CAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING AND IT FAILED IN A HIGHWAY WHERE THE AVERAGE SPEED IS 70 MPH. *TR
I HAVE A LANDROVER FREELANDER 2003 SE, THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR IS VERY HARSH, SHIFTING FROM ONE SPEED TO ANOTHER MAKES VERY BIG NOISE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR LONG TIME. TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP , THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG IN THE OUTSIDE AND ALL LOOK GOOD, BUT AFTER READING IN THE INTERNET I FOUND OUT THAT THIS TYPE OF CAR HAS AN ISSUE WITH THEIR TRANSMISSION. *TR
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. I HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED ALL OF THE FACTORY SERVICE MAINTENANCE INTERVALS AND HAVE ALL OF THE SERVICE RECORDS FOR THIS WELL-MAINTAINED VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 63,000 MILES ON IT, I RECENTLY HAD TO TAKE IT IN TWICE FOR SERVICE AT THE LAND ROVER OF FORT LAUDERDALE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT IN DECEMBER, 2004. I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN FROM MY SERVICE ADVISOR, JESSE ROBINSON, THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A "HEAD GASKET AND POSSIBLY A NEW ENGINE." HE EXPLAINED TO ME THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE'S CYLINDERS, AND THAT IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE ENGINE WOULD STOP WORKING AND BE WORTHLESS. HE TOLD ME THAT CHANGING THE HEAD GASKET WOULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM ANYWAY, THAT IT IS THE RESULT OF A SEVERE ENGINEERING FLAW THAT THE LAND ROVER CORPORATION HAS BEEN AWARE OF FOR SEVERAL YEARS. IT SEEMS THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK, WHILE MADE OF ALUMINUM, HAS CYLINDER SLEEVES THAT ARE MADE OF STEEL. SINCE METALS EXPAND WITH HEAT AND DIFFERENT METALS HAVE MAJOR DIFFERENCES IN THEIR METALLURGIC PROPERTIES, WHAT EVENTUALLY HAPPENS IS THAT THE SLEEVES DISJOIN FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK AND BEGIN TO SLIP AND SLIDE IN PLACE, SOMETHING NO ENGINE SHOULD DO REGARDLESS OF THE MILEAGE ON IT. ONCE THE SLEEVES MOVE, THEY BEND AND SOON AFTER BREAK THE HEAD GASKET, WHICH ALLOWS COOLANT TO ENTER THE CYLINDERS, WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO RUN VERY ERRATICALLY UNTIL IT STOPS RUNNING ALTOGETHER. CHANGING THE HEAD GASKET, THEREFORE, DOESN'T FIX THE PROBLEM, AND EVEN REPLACING THE ENGINE ISN'T POSSIBLE. THE MANUFACTURER THAT ONCE BUILT AND SUPPLIED THEM FOR LAND ROVER WENT OUT OF BUSINESS, AND WHAT FEW ENGINES ARE AVAILABLE ARE ONLY RELEASED TO THOSE WHO BOUGHT THE FACTORY EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE SINCE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF VERY SIMILAR CASES OUT THERE, THAT ANYONE WITH THE 2002 TO 2005 MODEL EXPERIENCES THE SAME PROBLEMS ONCE THEIR VEHICLES REACH 40,000 TO 70,000 MILES (PLEASE SEE EDMUNDS.COM). *TR
MY VEHICLE WAS GIVING OFF SERVICE ENGINE FAULTS AND THEN WENT BACK TO NORMAL, NOTHING FELT WRONG ABOUT MY LANDROVER. A MONTH OR SO LATER I PARKED MY CAR, WENT INTO THE STORE, CAME BACK OUT AND MY LR WOULDN'T START. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO IS REPLACING THE PUMP. I NOW RIDE MY BICYCLE IN THE NORTH DAKOTA WINTER. THIS IS NOT PLEASANT. *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026