2002 Land Rover Freelander

I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A GENTLEMAN. HE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TWO YEARS AGO AT 88,000 MILES, AND STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO THE GENTLEMAN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS SERVICE CENTER WHO THEN NOTIFIED HIM THAT HIS TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACING. I HAVE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND PLAN TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. IT DOES SEEM A BIT EARLY FOR A TWO OWNER VEHICLE AT 110,000 TO NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT WAS WELL CARED FOR NOT ABUSED. *TR

WHAT IS TO SAY THAT HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN SAID ABOUT THIS NIGHTMARE! I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING ON THIS CAR: POWER STEERING SYSTEM, ENGINE MANIFOLD, COOLANT RESERVOIR, WATER PUMP, RADIATOR, BRAKES 2X, CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, CRANKSHAFT PULLEY, TIMING BELT, AND NOW I AM LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THE SAME TRANSMISSION FAILURE HAPPENING THAT EVERYONE ELSE WHO OWNS THIS JUNK EXPERIENCES. THIS IS NOT TO MENTION THAT THE SUNROOF DOES NOT WORK, THE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK, AND 3 OF THE 5 POWER WINDOWS DO NOT WORK EITHER. IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE I HAVE PUT MORE THAN $3000+ INTO THIS THING, AND THAT IS BUT A FRACTION OF TOTAL I HAVE PUT INTO IT DURING OWNERSHIP..AND THE BLUE BOOK VALUE IS LESS THAN $5000 AT BEST! WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS HOW ANGRY IT MAKES ME, AND HOW PATHETIC IT IS OF LAND ROVER TO KNOWINGLY IGNORE THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE SUFFERING THAT OWNERS OF IT HAVE TO ENDURE. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ALONE SHOULD HAVE A MANDATORY RECALL FORCED ON LAND ROVER TO FIX FOR ALL FREELANDERS, AND THAT SHOULD JUST BE THE BEGINNING! I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY LAND ROVER TECHNICIANS HAVE BLATANTLY TOLD ME THAT LR KNOWS THESE ARE A MONEY PIT NIGHTMARE FULL OF DEFECTS, AND THAT THEY HATE TO WORK ON THEM AND FEEL BAD FOR US. WHEN WILL THIS SORT OF TREATMENT BY BIG CORPORATIONS END? WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO STANDING BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT? WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ASSIGNED TO ENFORCE RULES GOVERNING THIS SORT OF THING ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING FOR THE CONSUMER? I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THIS NIGHTMARE, TRUST ME, BUT I AM TOO WORKED UP AT THIS POINT AS IT IS. PLEASE NHTSA, DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING FOR US UNFORTUNATE FREELANDER OWNERS! *TR

THE BRAKE LIGHTS SOMETIMES WORK AND SOMETIMES DO NOT WORK (CITED IN 2 INCIDENTS BY THE POLICE). ALL PARTS ARE FINE (BY CHECK-UP OF A REPAIR WORKSHOP), AND NO REPAIR CAN BE POSSIBLY DONE. PROBABLY, THE HEIGHT OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS ABOVE THE GROUND IS TOO LOW, SO THAT IT IS SOMETIMES TOO DAMP OR WET (AFTER SNOW OR RAIN) FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO WORK PROPERLY. WHEN THEY DRY UP, THEY WORK AGAIN. NEXT, THE 2 BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON THE 2 CORNERS OF THE BUMPER, AND THE CENTRAL BRAKE LIGHT IS HIGH ON THE TAILGATE. THEORETICALLY, THE 3 BRAKE LIGHTS GIVE WARNING ENOUGH WHEN THE CAR STOPS. HOWEVER, THERE ARE 2 TAIL LIGHTS ARE HIGH ON THE FENDERS (THE 2 SIDES OF THE CAR'S TAILGATE), RELATIVELY FAR AWAY FROM THE 2 BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE BUMPER. THE 2 TAIL LIGHTS GIVE A WRONG IMPRESSION TO ANY DRIVERS BEHIND THIS CAR, AND LET THOSE DRIVERS MISUNDERSTAND THE TAIL LIGHTS TO BE THE BRAKE LIGHTS (EVEN THE 2 POLICE OFFICERS MISUNDERSTOOD IN THE 2 INCIDENTS). THIS WILL CAUSE COLLISION IN REALITY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS CONSUMING PREMATURELY AND THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF A LEAK. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, THE WATER PUMP, AND THE MOTOR FAN REGULATOR; HOWEVER THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

WE WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN WE HAD TO MAKE A SUDDEN AND HARD STOP AS A CAR ALMOST PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF US. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE MOVED BACK ABOUT THREE INCHES AND WAS RUBBING AGAINST THE TIRE WELL. THE BRAKES WERE MAKING A HORRENDOUS NOISE. WE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE RIGHT FRONT CONTROL ARM THAT SUPPORTS THE TIRE WAS CORRODED AND RUSTED OUT TO THE POINT IT COLLAPSED AND BENT. WE WERE LUCKY WE WEREN'T IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IF WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED. IT COST $426.00 TO BE REPAIRED. THE REPAIR SHOP GAVE ME THE DEFECTIVE PART SO I COULD CONTACT LAND ROVER AS THEY SAID THIS NEVER SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED. I CONTACTED LAND ROVER AND EMAILED THEM PICTURES OF THE PART. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T INVESTIGATE FURTHER WITHOUT HAVING THE CAR SHIPPED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT! I HAVE THE PART AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO SEND IT TO THE NHTSA. I AM SURE THERE ARE OTHER FREELANDERS OUT THERE BEING DRIVEN WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND THEY ARE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS JUST WAITING TO HAPPEN. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AGO. TIME FOR INSPECTION AND CAR HAS MANY PROBLEMS LOOKED ON LINE AT COMPLAINTS AND I AM SICK TO SEE WHAT I AM IN FOR WITH THIS CAR. ITS IS SUCKING UP COOLANT,(BAD SIGN), HEAD GASKET ,OIL IN COOLANT, ENGINE FAILURE. WHY WAS I ALLOWED TO BUY THIS CAR? DO WE HAVE CONSUMER PROTECTION? I PURCHASE CAR FROM DEALER THAT SOLD 85% LAND ROVERS. DO YOU THINK THEY NEW WHAT I WAS IN FOR? YES!. YOU SHOULDN'T ALLOW CARS TO BE SOLD IN AMERICA IF THERE IS NO ACTUAL FIX FOR THE CAR. I READ THAT ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS BAD AS ORIGINAL. WILL SOMEONE BUY THIS CAR? I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE SHADY AND TELL SOMEONE THIS IS A GOOD CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE IGNITION COILS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND ANTIFREEZE HAD LEAKED INTO THE OIL AND A FLUSH WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 05/08/13*LJ THE CONSUMER INSIST THE CAMSHAFT WAS DAMAGED BYT THE SERVICE REPAIR TECHNICIAN. UPDATED 06/17/2013 *JS

ON NOVEMBER 1ST MY WIFE AND I LEFT LA PROPER HEADED TOWARDS PHOENIX, AZ. WITH THE MILEAGE NOW AT 49,807 AND APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS OF DRIVING ON I 10 THE CAR WAS LOSING POWER, SO I DID MY BEST TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE BREAK DOWN LANE WHICH WAS NEXT TO THE ON RAMP (VERY SCARY). I HAD BEEN DRIVING AT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. I HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK BECAUSE AFTER I LET IT REST A MINUTE OR TWO IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, NO SMOKE, THE COOLANT TANK WAS FULL, I CHECKED THE OIL DIPSTICK AND IT SEEMED FINE. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS THAT CAME ON INSIDE THE AUTO TO SIGNAL THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, NO OVERHEATING ETC. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO COME BACK NEXT MORNING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINE BLEW A GASKET AND WAS ADVISED DUE TO DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE WAS TO REPLACE IT. I WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $10,000.00! I ENDED UP SELLING IT FOR SALVAGE FOR $500 SINCE WE WERE TRAVELING SO FAR AWAY FROM HOME AND THE COST TO TOW IT TO RHODE ISLAND DIDN'T SEEM WORTH IT. SINCE THEN I HAVE CONTACTED LAND ROVER AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND LIKE MANY OTHER OWNERS. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE CHANCE SINCE THIS OCCURRENCE TO CHECK VIA INTERNET THAT THIS IS NOT UNUSUAL FOR THE 2002 FREELANDER. I FEEL THIS ENGINE SHOULD OF BEEN RECALLED. *TR

I BEGAN ACCELERATING ON A VIADOCK (BRIDGE) WHEN I FELT A SNAP UNDERNEATH ME, AS I REACHED THE PEAK OF THE BRIGDE, THE CAR STALLED OUT AND I BEGAN DESCENDING ON THE BRIDGE WITH MY 2 DAUGHTERS IN THE CAR. IT COMPLETELY STOPPED BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO REACH THE BOTTOM OF THE BRIDGE, WHICH PUT ME IN HARMS WAY OF TRAFFIC COMING OVER THE HILL. I IMMEDIATELY HIT MY HAZARDS AND PRAYED EVERYONE WOULD SEE ME BEFORE REAR ENDING ME. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TOWED. THEN I FOUND OUT IT MY TIMING BELT BROKE; CAUSING MY ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN. TOTAL COST TO FIX WILL BE $4000. I RESEARCHED THIS MAKE AND MODEL AND FOUND THAT HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR ISSUES. THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS PARTICULAR MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. THE REVIEWS ON HOW LAND ROVER HAS BEEN HANDLING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE ARE MIXED WITH SOME SAYING THEY RECTIFIED THE PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY AND OTHERS SAYING THEY WOULD NOT EVEN RESPOND TO THEIR COMPLAINTS. I AM NERVOUS TO SEE HOW THEY HANDLE MINE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A REPLACEMENT ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AWAY FROM MY HOUSE AND THE ENGINE DIED. IT WOULDN'T RESTART AND AFTER ABOUT 2 MINUTES OF TRYING, IT STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE. WHEN I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, HE SAID IT HAD BLOWN THE HEAD GASKET, THEN THE PISTON ROD HAD COLLAPSED, SO THE ENGINE WAS VIRTUALLY RUINED. THE VEHICLE HAD 96,000 MILES ON IT. LAND ROVER PRODUCED THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES WITH FAULTY ENGINES(THE 2.5 V-6). I ALSO WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT FILED AGAINST LAND ROVER AND HOW TO GET INVOLVED WITH IT. *TR

2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER INTAKE MOTORS. REPLACED BY OWNER APPROX 40K MILES AGO. I WAS IN A VERY BAD(UNRELATED) AUTO ACCIDENT 22 JULY. WHILE RELATIVES WERE AVAILABLE TO TAKE ME TO DOCTORS,ETC., I KNEW I ALSO HAD A TROUBLE LIGHT ON THE FREELANDER THAT HAD TO BE CLEARED FOR STATE INSPECTION. WHEN THEY TOOK IT TO LR OF CARY I HAD TO REPLACE YET AGAIN THE ENTIRE PLENUM ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF 2K TO OWNER. ADVISED BY DEALER THAT THE PARTS WHEN THEY RECEIVE THEM ARE SOMETIMES MALFUNCTIONING UPON RECEIPT. POSSIBLE ACCIDENT IN COLO CAUSED BY SEIZED INTAKE MOTORS(PER LR DEALER IN COLO) NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF FAULTY INTAKE MOTORS CAN BE EASILY FOUND ON LINE. *KB

ENGINE FAILURE ON THE ROAD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND AS THE VEHICLE SHIFTED GEARS, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE. SHE THEN NOTED A PROBLEM SHIFTING GEARS. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED ALONG WITH AN F4 LIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,008.

BOTH HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING COOLANT FROM ALL FOUR CORNERS. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE IN THIS MODEL CAUSED BY THE CYLINDER SLEEVES COMING LOOSE. THE SLEEVES CONTACT THE HEAD GASKETS CAUSING THEM TO LEAK. EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE FAILS. THERE HAVE BEEN CONTINUING COOLANT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE NEW. WHEN IT WAS A MONTH OLD ALL THE COOLANT DISAPPEARED. THE DEALER OFFERED NO EXPLANATION. SINCE THEN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED. IT HAS ALWAYS LEAKED COOLANT.

1 NUMEROUS PROBLEMS OVER SEVERAL YEARS, INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) SUDDEN LOSS OF COOLANT AND OIL. AND YESTERDAY, A STRONG SMELL OF HOT OIL, AND SUDDEN SQUEALING FROM RIGHT, FRONT WHEEL. 2 COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. 3 CONTACTED LANDROVER. *TR

MY SONS 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER CAUGHT FIRE ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2010 AT 4:00 AM. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED SINCE 11:00 PM THE PREVIOUS EVENING. AT 4:00 AM MY SON HEARD HIS ALARMS IN THE CAR GOING OFF AND RUSHED TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON TO FIND THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. HE TRIED TO SLAP THE FIRE OUT WITH HIS HANDS AND RECEIVED 3RD DEGREE BURNS DUE TO THIS. HE THEN RAN INSIDE AND RETRIEVED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED, BUT THE DAMAGE WAS SO SEVERE, THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE WIRING SYSTEM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. WE DO HAVE A CASE OPEN WITH LAND ROVER, BUT THEIR REPRESENTATIVE STATED THIS IS ONLY FOR THEIR INTERNAL USE AND NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE MADE. MY SON ONLY OWNED THE PRE-USED VEHICLE FOR ONE MONTH AND HAD ONLY SECURED "LIABILITY" INSURANCE ONLY ON THE VEHICLE UNTIL HIS NEXT PAYCHECK SO HE COULD AFFORD FULL COVERAGE. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT A VEHICLE WOULD CATCH ON FIRE BY ITSELF. WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT HE WAS NOT HARMED FURTHER AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PARKED IN THE GARAGE, BUT WE ARE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT A VEHICLE WHICH HE OWNED FOR ONLY ONE MONTH WOULD CATCH FIRE AND LAND ROVER WILL NOT OFFER ANY COMPENSATION FOR OUR LOSS. *TR

COOLANT LEAKING, HEAD GASKET FAILURE, THERMOSTAT FAILURE FOR 90,000 MILES. *TR

INVOLVED IN HEAD ON COLLISIONS AT 30MPH. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND IT OPERATED WELL UNTIL APROX. 80,000 MI WHEN I WOULD GO THROUGH A RESERVOIR OF COOLANT EVERY 20 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY WOULD KEEP IT FOR A WEEK, CHARGE ME $2,000 EACH TIME AND SAY THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. I ADDRESSED THE PROBLEMS DOCUMENTED ON THE INTERNET ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY RESPONDED THAT I SHOULD STOP BELIEVING EVERYTHING I READ ON LINE. ON APRIL 4, 2010 I CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS FULL OF COOLANT. THE DEALER SAID THEY STILL COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BUT THE ENGINE WAS SHOT AND THEY WOULD GIVE ME $800 FOR THE CAR. LAND ROVER HAS BEEN DEFENSIVE AND UNRESPONSIVE IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM ALL ALONG. *TR