10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,998 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #11

Nov 142010

Freelander

  • 120,840 miles
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.

- South San Francisco , CA, USA

problem #10

Sep 162009

Freelander

  • 38,000 miles
While driving up a hill, my car jerked forwarded as if it got hit from the back. It happened at least 2 more times before I got it to the mechanic that same day. This is the second time since obtaining the vehicle in January 2003 that the transmission has failed. It was replaced in 2004. In 2009 my Freelander is now dead. The transmission is dead and it killed my battery. This vehicle has been a constant problem, transmission, locking devises, brakes.

- Christiansted, VI, USA

problem #9

Sep 102008

Freelander

  • 33,000 miles
I have 2002 landrover Freelander with less than 35000 miles. I have transmission failure, repeated brake problems, cooling system problems, window and door operator problems, to include the lock on the driver side not been able to be opened with the remote. The hesitate when accelerating up hills. I have had to ship the car back to the states for repair. I am not happy with what I thought was my dream car. The company is not helpful. The dealership that repaired my car was very abrupt when they dealt with me. Something needs to be done about this problem vehicle. Too many complaints without any remedy.

- Christiansted, VI, USA

problem #8

Sep 222005

Freelander

  • 65,000 miles
I bought a 2002 Land Rover Freelander as a 2nd owner of the vehicle from a local car dealership. Since the purchase of the vehicle, I replaced a sunroof, a transmission, the brakes require constant replacement (more often than should be necessary), a passenger door window motor and the engine has been replaced once and now has blown again - I am unable to have this engine replaced #1 there are no more engines as the landrover dealer only made this defective model 1 year and there have been so many engines replaced by other owners that there are no other engines available. Even if there were any engines I would not pay $10,000 to have another "defective" engine placed in this vehicle. There are over 1400 messages on the edmond forum.com outlining other peoples similar complaints. This defective vehicle has caused countless people's credit to be ruined, and financial hardship to untold families. I wonder why nothing has been done already with all the complaints that have been filed. Landrover needs to reimburse these owners the money they have spent - such as myself on repairs, constantly in the shop and having to pay for rental vehicles. The local dealer was rude and had absolutely no sympathy and actually told me after bringing my vehicle in to them over and over that "he will be glad when my husband and I get out from under this vehicle" and admitted that this vehicle had been a problem for them. But... the dealer wouldn't even offer us a free oil change for all of our hardships. It is a shame. I hope eventually something is done before this company "bellies up" and files bankruptcy and all of these families that have been ruined will have no recourse for their financial woes as a result of this horrible situation. Please help any way you can!

- Soddy Daisy, TN, USA

problem #7

Jul 312008

Freelander

  • 59,000 miles
ABS failure, Land Rover Freelander 2002, Land Rover houston refused to work on vehicle even though it was purchased there. Service manager bruce watkins asked to tow the vehicle from his dealership.

- Sugarland, TX, USA

problem #6

Feb 232007

Freelander 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,000 miles
Land Rover Freelander hse 2002: At 70,000 miles, transmission halts, seizing, rapid RPM jumps; less than one month later, the transmission completely died. Inoperable car towed and transmission rebuilt at private shop. Five miles from shop after pickup, car seized and died. Now, an additional repair of the "transfer case, " which we were told caused the transmission failure. Now, service engine soon light on; battery keeps dying. Rapid depreciation, frequent repairs of brakes, brake pads, headlights, etc. Complained to manufacturer 2/23/2007. Car inoperable as of this date. Don't know what to do -- owe more than it's worth, cannot get full nada/kbb trade in value...frustrated and disappointed. And out of money.

- Mount Laurel, NJ, USA

problem #5

Dec 072006

Freelander 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,888 miles
In October of 2002 my husband and I purchased a 2002 Freelander from landrover North dade of Florida. The car was in the showroom with minimal miles. Within three(3) days of purchase we returned the car because it shook violently after reaching a speed of 50 mph. I must admit the dealership advised us of some type of malfunction and offered us an exact replacement Freelander. At that point we should have asked for a refund of our cash payment and left landrover alone. It has been a completely expensive nightmare diving this lemon with its myriad of problems: Repeated overheating, loss of power without warning (often times resulting in close call situations, replaced brakes and rotor (lost count), not to mention an air conditioner unit that only works on full power(imagine that in Florida). At present, the vehicle is at an authorized landrover repair shop because the warranty has ended. The landrover dealership has been negligent even rude when approached regarding all these mechanical defects. Two weeks out of every two to three months, my young children and I are without transportation and at least $800 minimum, each time. Most importantly however is my fear to drive the car at all, and to add insult to injury, we are offered $3000 by carmax when we attempted to sell them a car we purchased for over $30,000. With 73K miles.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #4

Sep 162006

Freelander 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 21,000 miles
I purchased this SUV with only 14,000 on it with the remaining factory warranty. At 21,000 the SUV engine left me stranded on the interstate 2 hours from home. It had to be towed. Land Rover fixed it, $13,000 they found metal shavings in the engine at 21,000 miles. The warranty covered the engine, but they charged me $80 for an oil change~ you have to put new oil in a new engine~~but they made me pay for the oil! they navigation system screen went black and keeps going off, they said the warranty would pay for it, never heard back and the warranty is out last month. They fixed a recall on the carb the last oil change. The brakes ground down to the rotors, had to replace them at 20,000. New engine left me stranded in another state with my little girl in the middle of no where with no cell service. Needed towed again. The anti-freeze hose had come loose from engine, caused it to shut down...had to fix, no warranty, car had 52,000 miles (2,000 over) last week I was taking my daughter to school and smelled gasoline very strongly, after having to idle in behind the buses in front of her school. With children walking by, and blocked in by another mom, it nearly exploded! the gas gauge had went down 1/2 tank, it started to smoke and nearly got fire. They said I was very lucky to have not been in a fire with my daughter. Over 3/4 tank of gas had leaked out under the hood of the SUV and if something would have sparked it, my daughter & I would not be here, and maybe not the children in front of the school standing by buses or on bus next to SUV. They also found oil plug was leaking after Land Rover dealer changed oil at $80 and never put seal back on plug. Almost burnt engine up again. Right now it is sitting at repair shop, Land Rover accidentally sent them a wheel bearing last week instead of the part to fix gas leak, I have a rental car for over 1 week now. I have no idea how much the cost will be to get it fixed this time, I'm pretty much screwed.

- Glenville, WV, USA

problem #3

Aug 072006

Freelander

  • Automatic transmission
  • 37,100 miles
I purchased a new 2002 Freelander from Land Rover fort worth (tx) in January of 2002. While under warranty the car had numerous problems. My warranty expired in February of 2006 (4 years), but due to my low mileage 32,000 miles, I did not purchase an extended warranty. Since February 2006, I have replaced the brakes for the 3rd time ($1000), had the engine overheat due to a faulty temp gauge which in turn blew the intake gasket ($1500), replaced the heater core again (pd. For by dealership), and am now faced with replacing the entire transmission ($5000). My transmission trouble began in early August 2006, when the car began to jerk and shudder unexpectedly. I immediately took the car into the dealership to check out the issue. They replaced the transmission temp sensor and said the care was fixed. I picked up the "fixed" car and 4 hours later the dangerous jumping/shuddering happened again. While attempting to drive the car back to the dealership, the problem grew worse and several warning lights lit up on the dash. I pulled over and the car was then flatbedded to the dealership. The next diagnosis was that an electronic computer chip (ecc) for the transmission needed to be replaced. The part was ordered and installed - but this did not fix the problem. The dealership now states that the entire transmission needs to be replaced for $5000. The car currently has 37,000 miles (highway and city miles only - no off-roading) and has been serviced on time and only at lr dealerships for routine maintenance. I find this entire situation unacceptable.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #2

Aug 092002

Freelander 4WD 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 10,000 miles
I have a 2002 landrover Freelander with 50,000 miles, and I am on my 4th set of brake pads and rotors. I drive primary back and forth to work, which is no more than 15-20 miles each way, so I feel that the braking system for the Freelander was designed improperly and the company should be responsible. I would warn everyone, not to buy this SUV.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #1

Jun 122003

Freelander 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 16,151 miles
The car was purchased new in 2002. With only 23,000 miles, the vehicle has been out of service for 43 days with catastrophic mechanical failures, including: 21 days for a new wiring harness; 3 days for a new gearshift assembly and 8 days for a new transmission and ECU and front brakes. Additionally, the vehicle has been in the shop 8 times for warranty repairs; and brakes. The vehicle is currently in the shop where it was been for the last 11 days with the dealer once again trying to resolve warning light and transmission issue. I have had problems with the vehicle shifting to lower gears by itself at freeway speeds. In addition all of the on-board failure lights coming on and stay on routinely. The car continues to be plagued by electrical/mechanical problems. After every visit the dealer I am assured the problem has been fixed by both the dealer and Land Rover customer service; only to find myself bringing the vehicle back literally days later with the exact same problem. Within 8 months of purchasing the new vehicle, it required three separate visits to the dealer for a total of 15 maintenance problems, but the purchasing dealer could not fix any of these problems. In June 2002, I brought the vehicle to another dealer with identical maintenance problems. Though the car continues to have hard shifting and failure lights. In October 2003, I started caring a digital camera in the vehicle so that I could document the problems.

- Benicia, CA, USA