2002 Land Rover Freelander complaints

I FINALLY GOT MY FREELANDER BACK FROM OVER 4 MONTHS OF WAITING. MY 2002 FREELANDER REQUIRED A NEW ENGINE AFTER IT WAS FOUND THAT MUD AND/OR DEBRIS HAD ENTERED MY TIMING BELT ENCLOSURE AND CAUSED MY ENGINE TO JUMP TIME AND CATOSTROPHICALLY DESTROY MY ENGINE VALVES AND CYLINDER WALLS. A SPECIFIC LAND ROVER DEALER NOTED THAT "MUD" WAS THE TOTAL CAUSE OF MY ENGINE FAILURE, WHEN IN FACT IT WAS A 1" X 1" HOLE IN THE TIMING BELT ENCLSOURE; THIS HOLE IS A DESIGN FLAW OR OVERSIGHT AND THUS ALLOWS ANY DIRT/GRIME/DEBRIS/MUD TO ENTER AND CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE. FREELANDER NEVER SHOWED VISIBLE SIGNS (METER OR STEAM) THAT IT WAS OVERHEATING. INSURANCE HAS COVERED THIS ISSUE UNDER A FLOOD COVERAGE AND HAS FRONTED OVER $12,800 FOR A NEW ENGINE. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY LOSS-USE COVERAGE FOR THE 4 MONTHS. UPON INSPECTION OF MY NEW 2003 ENGINE, I FOUND A NEW PLASTIC PIECE THAT NOW COVERS THE ONCE 1" X 1" HOLE IN THE TIMING BELT ENCLOSURE. THIS PIECE ALSO HAS A PIECE NUMBER AND COSTS APPOXIMATELY $6.00. NOW YOU CAN SEE, A MERE $6 ITEM WOULD HAVE SAVED ME AND INSURANCE OVER $13,000. LAND ROVER HAS NOT INITIATED A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN TO MY KNOWLEDGE; I SUSPECT THAT THIS WILL ONLY BE INSTALLED ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS FOR THOSE DRIVERS WHO DO USE THEIR FREELANDER AS ADVERTISED BY LAND ROVER. IN A RECENT ARTICLE IN LAND ROVER CHRONICLE, IT WAS STATED THAT THE 2006 FREELANDER WILL HAVE A BETTER SEALED ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DUE TO THE FACT THAT MOST DRIVERS ARE USING THEIR VEHICLES FOR OFF-ROAD USE (AS

2002 LANDROVER FREELANDER TRANMISSION FAILURE. *AK

NUMEROUS TIMES THE ENGINE OF MY FREELANDER LOSES COMPRESSION AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TRAVEL AT A SPEED FASTER THAN 5 MPH. THE VEHICLE LURCHES AND WON'T MAINTAIN A PROPER SPEED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY AREN'T SURE WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS AGO THE REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY. THE VEHICLE WORKED PROPERLY FOR 7 MONTHS. A MONTH AGO IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS TIME I WAS ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN BETWEEN SEMI TRUCKS. THE VEHICLE LOST SPEED AND I COULD NOT TRACEL FASTER THAN 5 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I LET IT COLL DOWN FOR 20 MINUTES. WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE IT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. HOWEVER, THEY DID STATE, "WE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL." I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND BRING IT BACK IF IT HAPPENED AGAIN. ONE WEEK LATER, IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY. AGAIN' I LET IT COOL DOWN, AND I WAS ABLE TO GET IT HOME. I MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEARLERSHIP AND LAND ROVER OF NORTH AMERICA, AND NOT ONCE HAVE THEY ASKED TO SEE THE VEHICLE, OFFER TO FIX IT, LOOK AT IT. ALL THE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DO IS FOR ME TO TRADE UP TO A DISCOVERY. THE VEHICLE SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND LAND ROVER REFUSES TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK, OR EVEN OFFER TO FIX IT. *AK

HEATER DOESN'T PROVIDE POWERFUL HEAT AND RIGHT FOOT GETS SO HOT AND LEFT FOOT FREEZES WHILE DRIVING. CAR SHAKES AND RUMBLES OFTEN, SOUNDING LIKE THERE IS NO OIL. HAD SEVERE WATER LEAK FROM MISSING SEALS AROUND REAR CARGO DOOR. SEALS, HEADLINER AND RUG HAD TO BE REPLACED. GAS CAP CAN ONLY BE REMOVED WITH KEY IN IT. IF KEY IS REMOVED WHILE GAS CAP IS OFF, MAKES FOR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TIME TO REPLACE (ABOUT 5-10 MINUTES TO WORK THE KEY BACK IN). DASHBOARD LIGHTS COME ON FREQUENTLY TO WARN OF A FAILURE WHEN THERE IS NO SUCH FAILURE. ENGINE DOESN'T START ON FIRST TRY A LOT OF TIMES. ONCE DRIVING FOR A WHILE THEN PARKING FOR, CAR SOMETIMES DOESN'T START ON FIRST TRY. SHIFTING IS DIFFICULT, RPMS REV PRETTY HIGH. CAR HAS LURCHED FORWARD WHEN SPEED DECREASES (I.E. GOING DOWN HILL). *CB

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. *LA

2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER EXPERIENCED A VEHICLE FIRE.*MR THE CONSUMER ADDRESSED DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, LAND ROVER TOLD HIM THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MEET THE MEXICO LEMON LAW GUIDELINES AND THEY WERE NOT IN ANY POSITION TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SUCH AS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE, DRIVERS REAR SEAT DID NOT FOLD, THE REAR WINDOW DID NOT GO UP WHEN IT WAS COLD AND THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS SQUEAKY. THE CONSUMER HAD MADE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE THE FIRE OCCURRED. *CB *JB

WE OWN A 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES. WHILE ON A TRIP ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LITE UP AND THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN 4TH GEAR. BECAUSE ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE COULD NOT DIRECT US TO AN OPEN DEALERSHIP, WE HAD TO DRIVE FROM BUFFALO NY TO CHICAGO IL. ONCE BACK IN THE CITY, THE DEALERSHIP TOOK THE CAR AND REPLACED THE COMPUTER, WHICH TOOK MORE THAN TWO WEEKS. ON THE WAY HOME, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. WE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE VEHICLE FOR THE PAST 26 DAYS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. WE WENT IN TO TRY AND TRADE IT IN FOR A DISCOVERY AND THEY ONLY OFFERED 14,000. WE HAVE TRIED TO GET CORPORATE TO BUY BACK THE CAR AT OUR PAY OFF AMOUNT AND THEY HAVE REFUSED. WE ARE CURRENTLY EXPLORING OUR OPTIONS UNDER THE UCC AND THE MAGNUSON-MOSS ACT FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY.*AK

WHEN DEPRESSING BRAKE PEDAL AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE PULSATED. BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WERE WARPED, AND HAD BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. *AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT NORMAL CONDITIONS ABS LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER STATED BRAKING SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE BUT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK

ENGINE WILL STALL WHEN VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE, IN DIVE GEAR, AND ALLOWED TO ROLL BACK. ALSO, IF VEHICLE IS ALLOWED TO ROLLBACK AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, VEHICLE WILL STALL. DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS A "SAFETY FEATURE" AND THAT ALL SAME MODEL VEHICLES DOES THE SAME THING. IF THIS IS INDEED A "SAFETY FEATURE," THEN BRAKES SHOULD HAVE AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS. THIS IS NOT THE CASE, HOWEVER AS THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO ROLLBACK WITH THE STALLED ENGINE. *LA

I PURCHASED MY 2002 LANDROVER IN AUG 02. SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER 30 DAYS FOR REPAIR WORK TO THE STEREO, SUNROOF, THROTTLE ASSEMBY, TRANCTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT, PASSENGER WINDOW BREAKING, ETC. HOWEVER, I WAS MOST DISTURBED TO LEARN THAT LANDROVER IS "FINDING" OUT, AS QUOTED BY TWO DEALERSHIPS, THAT THE BREAKS NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 12000 MILES BECASUE THE VEHICLE IS TOO HEAVY FOR THE PADS USED DURING MANUFACTURING. LANDROVER NORTH AMERICA HAS PROVIDED NO RELIEF IN THIS MATTER AND MAINTAINS THAT IT IS MY PERSONAL DRIVING HABITS THAT ARE RESPONSIBLE AND THIS IS A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. I HAVE OWNED SEVERAL OTHER SUVS AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE BREAKS EVEN UP TO 70,000 MILES DRIVING ON MOUTAIN ROADS. I BELIEVE LANDROVER NA HAS A PERSONNEL RESPONSIBILITY TO DISCLOSE THE ADDITIONAL COST OF $300 THAT EACH CUSTOMER HAS TO PAY EVERY 12K MILES FOR BREAK IN ADDITION TO THE $350 THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR SCHEDULED SERVICE EVERY 12K MILES. I DOUBT THEY WOULD SELL ANOTHER VEHICLE. EVEN THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT SERVICES MY CAR ADMITTED HE WOULDN'T BY ONE EITHER.

THE 2002 FREELANDER S I OWN HAS VERY POOR BRAKES. AT 12000 MILES OR SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SOME OTHER PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD THE BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED. I WANT TO NOTE THAT LAND ROVER COMPENSATED ME FOR THE COST OF THE BRAKE PADS BECAUSE THERE WERE OTHER FRONT END PROBLEMS. TODAY I TOOK MY FREELANDER IN AND THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME AN IDENTICAL 2003 FREELANDER. THE BRAKES WERE SOMEWHAT BETTER AND THE FREELANDER HAD 11000 MILES. I AM HOPING THE DEALERSHIP CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM. I ALSO HAVE HAD SEVERAL INSTANCES WHERE THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD ON ITS OWN. I THOUGHT IT WAS MY DRIVING UNTIL I SAW OTHER ENTRIES ON THIS SITE. ONE OTHER ITEM IS THAT MY 2002 FREELANDER A/C BLOWER IS VERY LOUD. I NOTICED THAT THE 2003 FREELANDER I AM DRIVING TODAY THE BLOWER IS SOMEWHAT NORMAL. THE SPEAKERS IN MY AND TWO OTHER LANDROVER FREELANDERS ARE VIBRATING DUE TO THE LACK ON INSULATION IN THE DOOR FRAMES. *AK

VEHICLE HAS 19,000 MILES. BROUGHT INTO DEALER FOR EMISSIONS WORK. DEALER STATED I NEEDED NEW FRONT BRAKES (PADS & ROTORS). ROTORS ARE DEEPLY GROOVED. I EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT AT UNDER 20K MILES I NEEDED NEW ROTORS. WAS TOLD THIS WAS "REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR" AND NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER STATED THAT LAND ROVER NEEDS THEIR ROTORS REPLACE EVERY 10-15K. I CONSIDER THIS EXCESSIVE WEAR AND TEAR. DEALER WILL NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE NUMEROUS OTHER ISSUES WITH CAR & DEALER AS WELL. *NLM

I STRONGLY URGE THE MODIFICATION OF THE BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNAL CONFIGURATION ON CURRENT FREELANDERS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE PLACEMENT OF THESE CRUCIAL SIGNALS IS LOCATED IN AN UNEXPECTED AND LESS VISIBLE LOCATION TO OTHER DRIVERS . I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A REAR-END COLLISION (AND HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS) ON THE HIGHWAY LIKELY BECAUSE THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME DO NOT NOTICE MY BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATING. THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD EASILY BE MOVED TO THE CURRENT FOG LIGHT LOCATION AND THE TURN SIGNALS COULD BE MOVED TO WHERE THE REVERSE LIGHTS ARE NOW LOCATED - THIS WOULD PROVIDE A COST EFFECTIVE SOLUTION TO THIS SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *TT

BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS AND REAR TURN SIGNALS ARE LOCATED FAR LOW DOWN INTO THE REAR BUMPER; DIFFICULT FOR OTHER DRIVERS TO SEE; COULD EASILY CAUSE REAREND COLLISIION.

I FEEL THE DESIGN OF THE TAIL LIGHTS HAS CAUSED MANY CLOSE-CALL NEAR ACCIDENTS WITH MY FREELANDER. THE DESIGN IS COUNTER-INTUITIVE FOR THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME, WHO EXPECT THE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES ON THE CORNERS OF THE VEHICLE TO ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKING. THE BRAKE LAMPS ARE IN THE BUMPER, HOWEVER- WHICH DOESN'T SEEM INTUITIVE OR SOMETIMES AREN'T VISIBLE TO A CLOSE-FOLLOWING VEHICLE. WHEN NOT ILLUMINATED, IT'S DIFFICULT TO EVEN SEE THE BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES EXIST, YET THE CORNER MOUNTED ASSEMBLIES ARE AT EYE LEVEL- BUT THEY HAVE NO BLINKERS OR BRAKE LAMPS. SOME PEOPLE HAVE STARTED MODIFYING THEIR OWN BRAKE LAMPS IN RESPONSE TO THIS ISSUE! I'D RATHER HAVE THEM CHANGED LEGALLY THAN MODIFY MY VEHICLE WITHOUT DOT/NHTSA APPROVAL.

AT 1000 MILES OF DRIVING, VEHICLE STARTED TO MAKE NOISE AFTER WARMING UP. DEALER REPLACED FROONT ROTORS AND PADS WITH IN TWO WEEKS. VEHICLE HAS BEEN ON TWO OCASSIONS AT THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM STILL REOCURRING. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

DEALER CAN'T FIX AND HAS RETURNED CAR TO ME. AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO AT THIS TIME. DT

THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE DESIGNED VERY POORLY. I HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER TWICE FOR FAULTY BRAKE LIGHTS. I HAVE ALSO ALMOST BEEN REARENDED. DUE TO THE SET UP OF THESE LIGHTS. THIS IS NOT A SAFE VEHICLE AND I WILL NOT LET MY PREGNANT WIFE AND KIDS RIDE IN IT. DT

A/C UNIT IS NOT ADEQUATE TO COOL CAR WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO TURN OFF REICRCULATION BUTTON, AS PER OWNER'S MANUAL RECCOMONDATIONS. DOES NOT ALLOW PROPER VENTILATION AND COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE DRIVER FATIGUE DURING LONG HAUL OPERATIONS DUE TO LACK OF FRESH AIR BEING INTRODUCED INTO THE CABIN. ALSO ON HOTTER/SUNNY DAYS YOU MUST KEEP FAN TURNED UP TO A HIGH LEVEL IN ORDER TO GAIN ANY COOLING AFFECT THUS CAUSING NOISE FATIGUE. SYSTEM IS OVERALL INEEFECTIVE AND HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY SEVERAL OWNERS ON BBS'S. HAVE HAD SYSTEM CHECKED BY DEALER FOR PROPER OPERATION AND IT CHECKED OUT OK.*AK

ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP IN CHARLOTTE, NC OVERHEATING IS A KNOWN DEFECT DUE TO INADEQUATE ENGINE EXHAUST FAN. *AK

WHEN TURNING ON AIR CONDITIONER WATER SPRAYED OUT THROUGH THE VENTS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER, BUT SITUATION IS NOT REMEDIED. PLEASE ADD FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

AT 2MPH APPROACHING PARKING SPACE CAR LURCHED FORWARD OVER CURB AND HEADED RIGHT AT BUILDING. MY FOOT WAS NOT IN CONTACT WITH THE ACCELERATOR WHEN THIS HAPPENED. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS ON THE SIDEWALK AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR TWO FEET IN FRONT OF. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

DEFECT IN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: HARD SHIFT BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE YET TO RECOGNIZE AND ACKNOWLEDGE SAID DEFECT. LAND ROVER FREELANDER OWNERS HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AND ARE BEGINNING TO COMPLAIN AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO NOTIFY THE NHTSA OF SAME.*AK

THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER (WHICH WE JUST PURCHASED) ARE EXTREMELY MISLEADING TO ANYONE TRAVELING BEHIND THE VEHICLE ARE BOUND TO BE THE CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS, IF THEY HAVENT BEEN ALREADY. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE LIGHT CLUSTERS ON EACH SIDE OF THE TAILGATE (AS THERE ARE ON EVERY VEHICLE IN THE US), THEY DO NOT LIGHT UP WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. INSTEAD, THE THIN, RECTANGULAR LIGHTS IN THE BUMPER LIGHT UP. WE WERENT AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL MY WIFE WAS PULLED OVER BY A CONNECTICUT STATE POLICE OFFICER FOR FAULTY BRAKE LIGHTS. THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR THEN SAID THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AGREED IT WAS CONFUSING, BUT WERE "POWERLESS" TO FIX IT BECAUSE LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA SAYS IT MEETS ALL NHTSA REGULATIONS. ALTHOUGH THE LIGHTS MAYBE WITHIN THE 15-72 INCH FROM THE ROAD RANGE, THE PLACEMENT OF THEM IS DECEIVING. IVE YET TO SEE ANY OTHER VEHICLE IN THE US WITH BRAKE LIGHTS ONLY IN THE REAR BUMPER. MY FEAR IS THAT THIS WILL NOT BE ADDRESSED UNTIL SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENS BECAUSE OF IT. EVERYDAY THIS ISN'T FIXED IS A DAY WE HAVE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH DECEIVING BRAKE LIGHTS, PUTTING OUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF THOSE BEHIND US AT RISK. UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, EVEN THOUGH WED RATHER NOT. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS.*AK