2002 Land Rover Freelander

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

TO BEGIN, PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2002 AND CONSISTENT MAINTENANCE AT LAND ROVER DEALERSHIP SINCE PURCHASED. FIRST ISSUE IS THE ENGINE, SEEMS TO MAKE NOISE LIKE A DIESEL LOUD AND VIBRATES. TOLD THAT THE ENGINE WAS OK FOR OVER 2 YEARS THEN NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE HAS A LEAK, LEAKS WATER INTO THE ENGINE OIL AREA AND THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ONLY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. STILL AN ISSUE. SECONDLY, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO HAVE ISSUES AFTER THE 2ND YEAR OF OWNERSHIP AND AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS THE WAY THE CAR HANDLES. THIRD AND MOST IMPORTANT, THIS CAR HAS BEEN MAINTENANCED AT DEALERSHIP, NO ACCIDENTS. THE STEERING BEGAN TO WOBBLE AND WHEEL BEGAN TO MOVE AROUND QUITE SUDDENLY. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE BOLTS WITHIN THE STEERING PACK HAD SHEARED OFF AND WERE BROKEN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I STATED THAT THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE COVERED, EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY HAS SINCE EXPIRED. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT LAND ROVER KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEMS HOWEVER IT IS NOT THEIR ISSUE TO ASSIST CUSTOMERS. I WANT THESE PROBLEMS FIXED. I CARRY MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THIS CAR, HAVE KEPT IT MAINTENENCED CONSISTENTLY AND ALWAYS AT THE DEALERSHIP . THERE ARE NO ACCIDENTS WITH THIS CAR AND I WANT IT FIXED. I AM GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM LAND ROVER THAT IT IS MY ISSUE AND NOT THEIRS, WHEN IT IS CLEARLY A DESIGN DEFECT ALL AROUND FOR BOTH THE STEERING PACK AND THE ENGINE ISSUES. *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

THE YEAR IS ACCURATE,MONTH AND DATE ARE APPROXIMATIONS STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING AND COOLANT LEAKS. COOLANT WOULDN'T PUDDLE UNDER VEHICLE,THOUGH.BUT I COULD SMELL IT SOMETIMES WITH WINDOWS OPEN. THEN,ONE DAY IT WOULD NOT START. TOWED IT TO LAND ROVER DEALER AND OVER THE COURSE OF 3 DAYS,THEY COULDN'T START IT,EITHER. WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE.PAID OUT $5800+.NOW,WITH 104,000 MILES,IT'S LOSING COOLANT,AGAIN. THEY CLAIMED THE OVER FLOW CONTAINER WAS LEAKING. HAD IT REPLACED. AND IT IS STILL LOSING COOLANT.IT IS NOT PUDDLING UNDER THE TRUCK.I SAW,ONLINE,WHERE THE FREELANDER HAS A POSSIBLE ENGINE DEFECT,WITH CYLINDER SLEEVES AND GASKET PROBLEMS.DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH LAND ROVER? OR, COULD THE LEMON LAW COME INTO EFFECT? I,ALSO,HAVE EXPERIENCED REAR WINDOW AND SUNROOF MOTOR FAILURES. I AM RETIRED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE ANOTHER ENGINE ! THANK YOU. *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

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

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

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

WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS WITH MY 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER TYPE S OVERHEATING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOING ON, WE HAVE REGULARLY TAKEN IT TO OUR LOCAL LAND ROVER DEALER TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. THE LATEST, NOW AUGUST 2011, THE COOLANT WAS FOUND TO BE LOW, AND A DISCUSSION WITH THE MECHANIC AND THE SHOP PERSON INDICATED THAT THEIR IS NO EXTERNAL LEAKS, AND THAT THE COOLANT MAY BE LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CYLINDERS/HEADS ARE MADE OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS, AND THAT A GAP MAY HAVE FORMED THERE CAUSING THE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD THAT IF THE COOLANT CONTINUES TO LEAK WITHOUT ANY VISIBLE SIGNS OF EXTERNAL PROBLEMS, THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. WE HAVE DONE ALL OF THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF REPAIRS FOR THE COOLING - INCLUDING MULTIPLE THERMOSTATS(I BELIEVE WE ARE ON OUR FOURTH ONE, INCLUDING THE ONES UNDER WARRANTY, ETC. THE LATEST DIAGNOSIS IS COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE AND FOULING A CYLINDER. I REPEATED ASKED, SINCE WE WERE UNDER WARRANTY, IF WE HAD A LEMON AND HAVE NOW SEEN THOUSANDS OF POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET RELATING TO THIS PROBLEM, WITH MODELS FROM 2000 TO 2005, THE YEARS THE CAR WAS AVAILABLE IN THE US. IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE NO VIABLE REPLACEMENT ENGINES AVAILABLE THAT DO NOT HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM SINCE, THE VEHICLE WAS DISCONTINUED IN 2005. BASED ON THE INFORMATION I HAVE GATHERED, IT APPEARS THAT THE ENGINE USED IN THIS VEHICLE WAS OF A FAULTY DESIGN, GIVEN THE FACT THAT A REPLACEMENT WITH OUT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECORD, MY VEHICLE INFO IS AS FOLLOWS: MAKE: LAND ROVER MODEL: FREELANDER TYPE S YEAR: 2002 PURCHASE DATE: 07/2002 I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, AND I PURCHASED THIS FROM LAND ROVER PORTLAND, PORTLAND OREGON. *TT