There are 50 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2002 Land Rover Freelanderin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
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
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
ENGINE FAILURE ON THE ROAD. *TR
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.
COOLANT LEAKING, HEAD GASKET FAILURE, THERMOSTAT FAILURE FOR 90,000 MILES. *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
I BOUGHT A 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER HSE WITH 92,000MI, ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO, FEW MONTHS AFTER THIS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING, SO I TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP, IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE THERMOSTAT AND SOME RELATED PARTS, I ENDED UP PAYING 600 DOLLARS. THEN A WEEK AFTER THAT MY TRANSMISSION FELT WEIRD AND SHOWED A CODE IN F-4 IN THE DASHBOARD SO I TOOK IT TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND IT TURNS OUT IT IS A SOLENOID, THE REPAIR COST WILL BE ABOUT ANOTHER 300 DLLS. *TR
ENGINE ISSUES. REPLACED VACUUM HOSE TO 6TH CYLINDER. ALSO, THE TIMING BELT IS MAKING NOISE AND THE MECHANIC HAS ADVISED I WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 68,850 MILES. ALSO, HAVE REPAIRED THE BRAKES ON FIVE OCCASIONS AND THEY STILL SQUEAK. HAD TO REPAIR THE WINDOW REGULATOR. THE SRS LIGHT AND ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT IS ON. *TR
I OWNED A 2002 LAND OVER FREELANDER, SINCE 2006. IT HAS BEEN HAVING ENGINE PROBLEM 12 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING. I HAVE CONTACTED AND INTERVIEWED OTHER CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE AND ISSUES. WHEN I CONTACTED LAND ROVER, THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE ENGINE FIRST OVER HEATS, IT THEN HAS A CACKLING SOUND IN THE HEAD, THE SERVICE ENGINE SIGN IS ALWAYS ON. WHEN I TAKE IT TO THE DEALERS FOR DIAGNOSTICS, ONE EMPLOYEE SAID THAT THESE MODEL VEHICLES COME IN FOR THIS PROBLEM VERY OFTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS ESTIMATED TO COST ME OVER $5,000 TO REPAIR. THIS WAS NOT FEASIBLE BEING THAT THERE WAS A $70,000 PAYMENT LEFT ON THE CAR. I HAD TO TURN IT IN TO THE BANK BUT STILL STUCK WITH A PAYMENT ON A CAR THAT I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE AND WAS MANUFACTURER'S AND DEALERS DEFECT. *TR
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2002 FREELANDER TYPE S WITH AROUND 60,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER OWNING IT FOR LESS THEN A WEEK IT STARTED OVERHEATING. EACH TIME IT WOULD START TO OVERHEAT, IT WOULD REQUIRE US TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OFF THE ROAD TO PREVENT THE ENGINE BLOCK FROM CRACKING. I TOOK IT INTO THE LANDROVER DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CYLINDER SLEEVE WAS SLIPPING CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE AND MIX WITH OIL AND WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FREEZE. THE ONLY REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THE COST OF 12,000 DOLLARS AND THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE LABOR COSTS. AFTER READING QUITE A FEW COMPLAINTS THIS SEEMS TO BE THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. LANDROVER SHOULD BE AT FAULT AND SHOULD RECALL THE FAULTY PARTS IN THE ENGINE! *TR
WE PURCHASED A 2002 LANDROVER FREELANDER WITH 71,000. REGULAR MAINTENANCE HAD BEEN PERFORMED ON CAR BY ORIGINAL OWNER AND WE CONTINUED IT. IN THE FIRST 2 YEAR OF OWNERSHIP WE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATERPUMP TWICE AT $ 1,100 AND $565. THERE WAS A RECALL ON FUEL FILTER AFTER I HAD IT REPLACED DUE TO BREAKING DOWN. NOW, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT AND IT BROKEN DOWN ON SIDE OF HIGHWAY WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER FROM ALMOST 2 HOURS. SHOP CALLED SAID NEEDS NEW ENGINE BECAUSE BLOCK IS MADE OF ALLOY AND CYLINDER SLEEVE MADE OF STEEL. WHEN THEY GET HOT EXPAND AT DIFFERENT RATES. AFTER A WHILE THIS CAUSE THE SLEEVE TO DROP INTO LOWER BLOCK AND THE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED. IT CANNOT BE REBUILT. THIS COST AT LEAST $4,000 FOR ENGINE PLUS REPAIR. DO A INTERNET SEARCH AND SEE ALL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ENGINE. MOST GO OUT BETWEEN 50,000 AND 100,000 MILES. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS AND NOT LET LANDROVER GET AWAY WITH TAKING ADVANTAGE OF US CITIZEN. *TR
2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. ENGINE REPLACED AT 56,000 MILES, IT IS ONCE AGAIN IN SHOP FOR ENGINE PROBLEMS AT 79,000 MILES. FUEL PUMP REPLACED AT 70,000 MILES. 5-6 BATTERIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED SINCE OWNED CAR IN 2005 AND NO ONE KNOWS PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT LEAST 10 TIMES FOR EXTENDED LENGTHS SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. I HAVE KEPT UP WITH ALL OIL CHANGES AND HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF THIS CAR. EVERYTIME I RESEARCH IT, I FIND NOTHING BUT COMPLAINTS A MILE LONG. I BELIEVE THERE TO BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, AND THINK THAT SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE FOR THE UNFORTUNATE OWNERS OF THEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE STALED WITHOUT WARNING. THE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE STORE WHERE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS STILL UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED 10/20/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUE HAS BEEN SETTLED WITH LANDROVER. UPDATED 10/21/10*JB
AT LESS THAN 40,000 MILES I NEEDED TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND LESS THAN 50,000 I NEEDED TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED BECAUSE OF A HEADGASKET PROBLEM. ALSO MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE BUT THESE WERE THE MAJOR ONES. *TR
BOUGHT THE CAR USED 2002 FREELANDER LAND ROVER V6 AND DROVE IT. DAY FOUR HEARD A LOOSE BOLT SOUND, IT WENT AWAY. LATER THAT DAY DRIVING HOME WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR, IT DIED ON THE FREEWAY, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NO WARNING AT ALL, JUST DIED. TURNS OUT THE TIMING BELT BROKE AND BROKE THE VALVES AND NOW THEY WANT TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. I PAID 4K FOR THE CAR AND IT WILL COST 6K TO REPAIR. THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS. WE HAD TO MOVE OVER 3 HIGHWAY LANES WITH NO POWER AND SIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR 1.5 HOURS TO BE TOWED. I HAD MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME, THIS WAS VERY VERY SCARY! *TR
MY 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER WAS HAVING COOLING LEAK PROBLEMS STARTING AT 50,000 MILES. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE LEAKS WERE CAUSED BY BRITTLE HEATER LINES AND BRITTLE UNIVERSAL HEATER JOINTS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC. THE LINES FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY. THE LINES AND JOINTS WERE REPLACED COSTING $50. AT 58,000 MI THE THERMOSTAT HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE COOLANT LEAK STILL EXISTED AND WAS LEAKING FROM THIS LOCATION. COST OF REPAIR AT DEALER $1100. AT 59,828 MI THE ENGINE FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE ENGINE FAILURE IS DUE TO THE CYLINDER LINER (SLEEVE) SLIPPING CAUSING A GAP WHICH CAUSED THE COOLANT LEAK INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE ENGINE REQUIRED TOTAL REPLACEMENT. THERE IS NO RECALL AGAINST THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. LAND ROVER'S STANCE IS THAT THEY ONLY GUARANTEE THE VEHICLE FOR 50,000 MI, SO THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENGINE FAILURE. COST OF REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE IS $15,000 AS QUOTED FROM THE LAND ROVER DEALER. TOTAL CONSUMPTION OF COOLANT WAS AT A RATE OF 1 GALLON PER WEEK, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE HEATER LINES AND UNIVERSAL JOINTS. *TR
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026