RoadVitals

2002 Land Rover Freelander Powertrain (other) Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Powertrain (other) reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Apr 25, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 226 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Land Rover Freelander submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming powertrain

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 25, 2015

I JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A GENTLEMAN. HE HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TWO YEARS AGO AT 88,000 MILES, AND STARTED HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TRANSMISSION ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO THE GENTLEMAN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS SERVICE CENTER WHO THEN NOTIFIED HIM THAT HIS TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACING. I HAVE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND PLAN TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. IT DOES SEEM A BIT EARLY FOR A TWO OWNER VEHICLE AT 110,000 TO NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. IT WAS WELL CARED FOR NOT ABUSED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10712817
Incident
Apr 3, 2015
Mileage
110,031 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 9, 2014

WHAT IS TO SAY THAT HAS NOT ALREADY BEEN SAID ABOUT THIS NIGHTMARE! I HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING ON THIS CAR: POWER STEERING SYSTEM, ENGINE MANIFOLD, COOLANT RESERVOIR, WATER PUMP, RADIATOR, BRAKES 2X, CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR, CRANKSHAFT PULLEY, TIMING BELT, AND NOW I AM LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE THE SAME TRANSMISSION FAILURE HAPPENING THAT EVERYONE ELSE WHO OWNS THIS JUNK EXPERIENCES. THIS IS NOT TO MENTION THAT THE SUNROOF DOES NOT WORK, THE PASSENGER DOOR LOCK, AND 3 OF THE 5 POWER WINDOWS DO NOT WORK EITHER. IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE I HAVE PUT MORE THAN $3000+ INTO THIS THING, AND THAT IS BUT A FRACTION OF TOTAL I HAVE PUT INTO IT DURING OWNERSHIP..AND THE BLUE BOOK VALUE IS LESS THAN $5000 AT BEST! WORDS CANNOT EXPRESS HOW ANGRY IT MAKES ME, AND HOW PATHETIC IT IS OF LAND ROVER TO KNOWINGLY IGNORE THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE SUFFERING THAT OWNERS OF IT HAVE TO ENDURE. THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ALONE SHOULD HAVE A MANDATORY RECALL FORCED ON LAND ROVER TO FIX FOR ALL FREELANDERS, AND THAT SHOULD JUST BE THE BEGINNING! I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MANY LAND ROVER TECHNICIANS HAVE BLATANTLY TOLD ME THAT LR KNOWS THESE ARE A MONEY PIT NIGHTMARE FULL OF DEFECTS, AND THAT THEY HATE TO WORK ON THEM AND FEEL BAD FOR US. WHEN WILL THIS SORT OF TREATMENT BY BIG CORPORATIONS END? WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO STANDING BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT? WHATEVER HAPPENED TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ASSIGNED TO ENFORCE RULES GOVERNING THIS SORT OF THING ACTUALLY DOING SOMETHING FOR THE CONSUMER? I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THIS NIGHTMARE, TRUST ME, BUT I AM TOO WORKED UP AT THIS POINT AS IT IS. PLEASE NHTSA, DO SOMETHING, ANYTHING FOR US UNFORTUNATE FREELANDER OWNERS! *TR

NHTSA ID
10663023
Incident
Dec 8, 2014
EngineInterior & seatsPowertrain (other)
Filed Dec 29, 2010

FREELANDER 2002 HAS HAD MANY DEFECTS. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT APPROX. 50K MILES & WAS REPLACED. POWER WINDOWS FAILED. A/C HOSE CRACKED & REPAIRED. MANIFOLD REPLACED. EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. ELECTRICAL POWER TO PASSENGER DOOR LOCK SYSTEM HAVE BEEN REPLACED. NOW, AT 70K MILES THE COOLANT LEAKING AND ENGINE KNOCKING. NOT WORTH REPLACING ENGINE AT THIS POINT. THIS CAR HAS COST MORE TO REPAIR THAN WHAT IS WAS WORTH. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED AS A LEMON & LAW SUIT AGAINST LAND ROVER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10373264
Incident
Jan 30, 2007
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 27, 2009

MY 2002 FREELAND LANDROVER IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE F4 LIGHTS CAME ON AND THEY ARE SAYING I NEED TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. THERE AREN'T EVEN 65K MILES ON THE VEHICLE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. IT SEEMS THAT EVERYONE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10270145
Incident
May 21, 2009
Mileage
65,000 mi
BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Jan 7, 2009

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! *TR

NHTSA ID
10254082
Incident
Sep 22, 2005
Mileage
65,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 3, 2009

THE CAR HAS DIED AGAIN, AND IS NOT RUNNING. THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10253653
Incident
Jan 2, 2009
Mileage
116,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 25, 2008

2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 45,000 MILES. CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AT 55,000 MILES. VEHICLES STOPPED DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. MECHANICS AT THE LAND ROVER DEALERSHIP SAID THAT 100% OF THE FREELANDER MODEL HAD THE SAME TRANSMISSION & ENGINE FAILURES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10239675
Incident
Aug 2, 2006
Mileage
55,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 23, 2008

JUST BOUGHT THE 2002 LAND ROVER - FREELANDER 2 WEEKS AGO, IT HAS 68K MILES, THEN ITS TRANSMISSION TOTALLY FAILED, IT WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE / BACKWARD. ALSO, WHEN IT IS SWITCHING GEAR, THE GEAR 2 & 3 ARE VERY VERY ROUGH. TODAY, THE MECHANIST TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10239467
Incident
Aug 18, 2008
Mileage
688,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 30, 2008

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN BUSY INTERSECTION, I WAS STRANDED 100 MILES FROM MY HOUSE. 1 MONTH LATER CAM SHAFT SEAL BURST WHILE DRIVING. 2 MONTHS LATER ENGINE COMPLETELY BLEW WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10236419
Incident
Dec 13, 2006
Mileage
49,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Transmission+1 more
Filed May 18, 2008

LESS THAN 50,000 MILES LANDROVER FREELANDER GIVES F4 FAULT, WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR. HAS OVERHEATING PROBLEM, SUNROOF DIED, DEALER SAID NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION, COMPLETELY NEW WIRING HARNESS, NEW ECU, NEW DOOR TO FIX WINDOW FAILURE, AND!!!!!!!!!!!! A NEW ENGINE TO FIX THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM THAT THEY TELL ME IS A COMMON THING, AND THEY HAVEN'T SEEN ANY FREELANDER'S GET OVER 65,000 MILES WITHOUT AN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. LUXURY VEHICLE MY [XXX]. DEALERSHIP GAVE ME AN 18,000 DOLLAR REPAIR ESTIMATE. I GUESS LUXURY MEANS IT COSTS A LOT TO DRIVE NOT YOU HAVE THE LUXURY OF DRIVING WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT SITTING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A 30,000 DOLLAR PIECE OF CRAP. READ SOME FORUMS ONLINE. ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE HAPPENING EVERYDAY, AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE TO MAKE THIS LUXURY VEHICLE COMPANY MAKE A BETTER VEHICLE. I MEAN [XXX] I SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT A HONDA...... AT LEAST THEY HAVE HEATED SEATS TO KEEP MY [XXX] WARM WHEN I WAIT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10228097
Incident
Dec 20, 2007
Body & structureDriver assistanceElectrical+6 more
Filed May 16, 2008

THE ENGINE/HEAD GASKET ISSUE IS THE REPAIR THAT IS THE MOST CRITICAL AND TERMINAL CONDITION FOR THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERS MECHANICS WILL NEVER FIX THE GASKET, SO THEY WILL ONLY OFFER THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT, BUT EITHER REPAIR WILL COST YOU MORE THAN THE SUV IS WORTH. AND YES, THE BRAKE PADS AND THEN ROTORS WEAR OUT VERY QUICKLY, BECAUSE OF THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE (THE DEALER SAYS). I PERSONALLY THINK IT HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT THERE ARE 2 DISC FRONT BRAKES AND 2 DRUM REAR BRAKES ON THE VEHICLE, HENCE THE WEAR AND WEIGHT ALL GOES TO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. ANOTHER POOR DESIGN FLAW ISSUE, AND I WAS TOLD THE DRUM BRAKES WERE THERE TO BETTER ALLOW THE OFF-ROADING. YEAH, WHO EVER COULD OFF ROAD THESE THINGS, THEY FALL APART ON THE DRIVEWAY! *TR

NHTSA ID
10227995
Incident
Dec 9, 2007
Mileage
45,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 5, 2005

AT 40000 MILES THE VEHICLE STARTED TO BECOME UNSTABLE BECAUSE OF A "WOBBLE" ON THE FRONT WHEELS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVETRAIN BEARINGS WERE BAD. MY WIFE HAD TROUBLE CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE AND I IMMEDIATLY HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10116414
Incident
Nov 17, 2004
Mileage
41,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .