2003 Land Rover Freelander brake problems

SERVICE BRAKES

NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OUTSTANDING WARRANTS, TICKETS, COMPLAINTS ETC.

NHTSA complaint #11050999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HILL DESCENT CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL, AND BRAKE INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE HAD A STRONG HESITATION AND STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V041000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA05016 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO SOLUTION TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10920232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

MY LAND ROVER FREELANDER HAS BEEN IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR COOLANT SMELLS COMING INTO THE CABIN 20+ TIMES AND HAS NEVER BEEN REPAIRED. THEY HAVE REPLACED EXTERNAL PARTS, (RESERVOIR TANK, HOSES AND THERMOSTATS) AND NEVER FIXED THE PROBLEM. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY ON MY OWN, I FOUND A COMPLAINT ABOUT HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS WITH THE K SERIES ENGINE AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY NEW NOTHING ABOUT IT, AND YOU CAN'T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ ON THE INTERNET. SINCE THEN I CALLED THE CA BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR AND HAD AN AGENT INVESTIGATE. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO SEND IT TO ANOTHER WARRANTY SHOP WHICH FOUND A BAD HEAD GASKET. I ALSO CALLED L/R DIRECT TO TRY AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO DO FOR ME. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE ENGINE BECAUSE IT COST $11,000 +, AND THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE WILL FAIL ALSO. THE ENGINE WAS MANUFACTURED INCORRECTLY AT THE FACTORY. THE CYLINDER SLEEVES ARE THE WRONG ALLOY AND LOOSEN WHEN THE ENGINE IS HOT CAUSING HEAD GASKET AND EVENTUALLY TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. LAND ROVER HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE 2004, TECHNICAL BULLETIN #0036 AND #0026 ISSUED 06/18/2004. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED ME $3500 TO BUY MY CAR FROM ME, AND WOULD NOT REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 54,000 MILES ON IT. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SAFETY HAZARD AS WELL AS A HEALTH ISSUE FROM BREATHING IN TOXIC FUMES FROM THE COOLANT. THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER INCIDENTS WITH THIS VEHICLE WHICH ARE TO MANY TO MENTION IN THIS LETTER. PLEASE CONTACT ASAP ABOUT THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #10385868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

PARKING BRAKE

THE 2003 LANDROVER FREELANDER STALLED ON 2 SEPERATE OCASSIONS,ONCE IN AN ACTIVE INTERSECTION WITH BARELY MISSING BEING STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE 2ND TIME OCURRED ABOUT 4 MINUTES BEFORE THE PREVIOUS INSTANCE. ADDITIONALLY,THE VEHICLE AS A WHOLE SHOULDN'T BE ON THE HIGHWAY. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND IT'S UNCERTAIN IF IT MAY BE REFURBISHED FROM A AREA WHERE DAMAGE WAS SUCH THAT SOME WORK AND RELOCATION PRESENTED IT FOR SALE ELSEWHERE. THE VEHICLE PURCHASED AT A LITTLE OVER 73,000 MILES HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 14 TIMES IN 27 MONTHS TOTALLING WELL OVER $10,000 IN REPAIRS. I PAID $12,288 FOR THE VEHICLE. INTAKE MANIIFOLD GASKETS,CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS, HEAD BOLTS,CAM BOLTS, THE FAMED "COOLANT LEAK" THAT HAS COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE CAUSING IT TO CEASE UP. THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT HASN'T HAPPENED MECHANICALLY WITH THIS VEHICLE. I RIDE AROUND, WHEN IT'S NOT IN THE SHOP,WITH COOLANT IN THE BACK IN CASE ITS STARTS TO STEAM AGAIN. LOCK ASSEMBLYS (2X), TORQUE CONVERTER MOTOR,THEMOSTAT AND SEVERAL OTHER ISSUES THAT MAKE IT NON-HIGHWAY WORTHY. THIS IS JUST MINE, AT THE EMUNDS.COM AUTOMOTIVE FORUM AMONG THE MANY OTHERS I VISITED THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS AND ARE LEFT WITH EITHER, BROKEN DOWN SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY, IN THE DRIVEWAY AFTER ITS LAST REPAIR SO MILES ARE KEPT LOW FOR RESALE OR FORCED TO PROCURE ANOTHER VEHICLE OR MODE OF TRANSPORTATION, OR FORCED TO CONTINUE DRIVING IT AS ITS THEIR ONLY SOURCE OF TRANSPORTATION AND LOW RESOURCES WHILE STILL PAYING A LOAN ON IT AND AN EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY THAT YOU HOPE DOESN'T DANCE AROUND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PAYING FOR REPAIRS THAT ARE OBVIOUS COVERED ITEMS IN THE WARRANTY. FINALLY, IF IT WEREN'T BAD ENOUGH TO BE STUCK WITH THIS VEHICLE AND NOT KNOW IF IT WILL REMAIN OPERABLE FOR THE LENGTH OF THE LOAN,CURRENTLY 48 MONTHS, I CAN'T EVEN RELY ON THE VEHICLE TO SAFELY TRANSPORT MY WIFE AND DAUGTHER. LANDROVER MECHANICS CAN'T KEEP THESE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #10284242 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WELL I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE LANDROVER. ITS A HORRIBLE CAR, I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE ENGINE TWICE, ALONG WITH A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT THAT WAS LATER RECALLED. THIS SUMMER, MY CAR BEGAN TO SMOKE AND OVERHEAT I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE SHOP I WAS TOLD THERE HAD BEEN A CRACK AND THE COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO MY ENGINE. THEY FIXED THE VEHICLE, A WEEK LATER THE CRACK CAME BACK BUT THIS TIME MY SIXTEEN YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND IT BEGAN TO SMOKE LEAVING HER STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY. I AGAIN TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND IT WAS FIXED THEY REPLACED THE PIPE AND FIXED THE CRACK. 2 DAYS LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED SHE WAS AGAIN STRANDED ON THE FREEWAY, AND IT WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SHOP. WE WERE TOLD BY OUR MECHANIC THAT I NOW NEEDED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE FOR THE THIRD TIME AND IT WAS A COMPLETE LEMON. I CALLED LANDROVER AND THEY WERE VERY RUDE, AND SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING. I BEGAN TO READ REVIEWS ABOUT THE VEHICLE AND THIS APPARENTLY HAS HAPPENED TO ABOUT 85 % OF THE VEHICLES. PLEASE RECALL THIS CAR SO PEOPLE KNOW THE DANGERS OF THIS VEHICLE , AND ME AND THE REST OF THE LANDROVER OWNERS CAN GET JUSTICE!

NHTSA complaint #10283589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

PRIOR TO THIS MAJOR PROBLEM, THE CAR HAS HAD SEVERAL MINOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES: WINDOWS GETTING STUCK IN UP AND DOWN POSITION, REAR WIPER MALFUNCTION; ALSO, UNABLE TO DEFROST DRIVER'S SIDE OF WINDSHIELD. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR ISSUES THAT WERE NOT QUICK FIXES: 1. BRAKE WORK 2. CAR GOT STUCK IN GEAR AND WAS UNABLE TO REVERSE. FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS, CAR HAS BEEN REVVING WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 10 AND 20MPH. MOST RECENTLY, IT BRAKED HARD AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT THE DRIVER PRESSING THE BRAKE. CURRENTLY, THE CAR IS FLASHING F AND 4 IN THE DASH DISPLAY AND IS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR IS UNABLE TO CLIMB EVEN THE SLIGHTEST OF INCLINES. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO AN AUTO REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC AT THE SHOP BELIEVES THE TRANSMISSION IS "SHOT", BUT SUGGESTED HAVING IT DIAGNOSED AT A MR. TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10260230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

POOR MECHANICAL DESIGN ON 2003 FREELANDER LAND ROVER WITH 75,000 MILES LEADING TO NUMEROUS MECHANICAL FAILURES. LOW MILEAGE (40,000 TO 70,000) FAILURE OF VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCLUDING: BRAKES (TWICE), FUEL PUMP, AND WATER PUMP. OVER $5,000 IN REPAIRS. ENGINE NOW LEAKING COOLANT INDICATING HEAD GASKET AND EVENTUAL ENGINE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10256980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

LAND ROVER FREELANDER: THE VEHICLE IS A TIME BOMB, AT SOME POINT EARLY IN THE VEHICLES LIFE IT WILL DIE ON YOU WHILE DRIVING....YOU THEN HAVE A VERY SHORT TIME TO GET OF THE ROAD BEFORE IT LOCKS UP. IT THEN BECOMES A MONEY PIT!!!

NHTSA complaint #10231892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

PARKING BRAKE

CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT WORKING, PARKING BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON, VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, HEATER CORE LEAKING. TOOK VEHICLE INTO DEALERSHIP THEY REPLACED THE LEAKING HEATER CORE, HOSE CAMSHAFT, ANTI FREEZE HOSE.

NHTSA complaint #10228341 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

THE LAND ROVER FREELANDER IS NOT A SAFE CAR. I FEEL THIS CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS TO THE CONSUMER WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THIS CAR. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I AM SEEING ON THE INTERNET THAT MY FELLOW FREELANDER OWNERS ARE HAVING SUNROOF PROBLEMS, BRAKES, OIL LEAKS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT LOW MILEAGE, HEATER CORE LEAK THAT CAUSE WINDOWS TO MIST AT 30,000-40,000 MILES THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR CONSUMERS AND I FEEL THE NHTSA NEEDS TO CHECK INTO THESE MANY DEFECTS AND HAVE LAND ROVER PAY THESE CONSUMERS THERE MONEY BACK AND SAVE LIVES. I HAVE HAD MY SUNROOF FIXED TWICE WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES, I HAVE HAD A OIL LEAK WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES, PRESENTLY I AM DEALING WITH A HEATER CORE LEAK AT 50.400 JUST WHEN MY WARRANTY IS UP AND THIS IS GOING TO COST ME 1,000 DOLLARS AND ALL LAND ROVER HAD TO SAY WAS I AM SORRY. I EXPECT A CAR LIKE LAND ROVER TO BE MORE DEPENDABLE THAN THAT, WITH LOW MILEAGE AND ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. I FEEL THIS IS TO MANY PROBLEMS FOR A CAR THAT LAND ROVER CLAIMS TO BE RUGGED, TOUGH AND DEPENDABLE. I TRULY HOPE THAT NHTSA CAN HELP MYSELF AND MY FELLOW CONSUMERS WITH THE DEFECTS WE ARE HAVING WITH THIS CAR AND PROVIDE CONSUMER SAFETY THAT WE ALL NEED DURING THESE TOUGH TIMES. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #10173222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER 1. DEFECTIVE ENGINE 2.DEFECTIVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 3.DEFECTIVE SUNROOF. *JB 4.DEFECTIVE MARKER LIGHT 5.DEFECTIVE BRAKE SYSTEM

NHTSA complaint #10102809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10101557 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE PADS ON 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER SE.*MR THE BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 18000 MILES. THE DEALER'S TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THIS WAS COMMON WITH LAND ROVER'S.

NHTSA complaint #10089551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

PROBLEMS WITH FRONT BRAKES AT ONLY 15,000 MILES. DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS, THESE ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BECAUSE IT IS A "WEAR & TEAR ITEM".

NHTSA complaint #10028927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

PROBLEMS WITH FRONT BRAKES AT ONLY 15,000 MILES. DEALER REPLACED FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS, THESE ARE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BECAUSE IT IS A "WEAR & TEAR ITEM".

NHTSA complaint #10028927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.