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SUVs Land Rover Freelander Maintenance and Repair
281 messages, Last post on Nov 21, 2009 at 10:22 AM
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| I had a 2004 Freelander. It experienced so many of the same problems that are mentioned in these posts! Coolant was leaking into some unknown region of the engine, 2 windows had stopped working and there were constant electrical problems. I chose to trade it in and purchase something more reliable. The problem is that the dealers know these cars are junk and its hard to get an acceptable trade in value. Still, I am glad to get rid of it now, rather than be stuck with years of problems! It was an expensive lesson, but now I know never to purchase a LR product !!! | |
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I still have a 2003 Freelander with the same Head Gasket & Heater Core Failure, I have had the coolant leak for the past 2+ years (93,000 miles on the Freelander now, but it is just about on its last leg). I never traveled long distances with the vehicle, which is probably why the thing didnt die a year ago. I had tried putting the Barrz Pellets to try and plug up the leak gasket, but that only worked for about 3-4 months, and the problem has progressed now to a point where all the coolant seeps into the engine within 15 minutes of use. I am considering using a product by Universal Products called Blue Devil, that supposedly will temporarily seal the leak, and then look to get rid of the car finally. I didnt get the extended warranty, and basically now have to go through a routine of adding coolant each time I drive, getting oil changes about every 2 weeks to drain all the emulsified fluids, have been getting the cylinder misfires periodically, where if I ride it on 3 cynliders for a little it warms up the engine oil and then will fire all 6. I just thought I'd share my story, since so many others have done so. I was told by a friend that I apparently have been lucky to get it to ride 93,000 miles, and that this regiment of things I have to do really has been only in the past 9 months that the engine misfires and leak has gotten to this awful point (it was alot more tolerable a year ago, when was requring oil change, adding coolant about every 30 days). If a class-action lawsuit was to be filed, please add my name on the list. Here's to hoping that I can get another month or even week out of this Freelander. There's alot of forums discussing this, so this is apparently a complete design flaw, and an issue especially warranting class action status. I appreciate everyone else's stories, they at least make me feel like I'm not alone with this problem, for whatever its worth. |
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Replying to: pflash (Jan 22, 2008 7:03 pm) Disappointed Land Rover Freelander SE 2002 Owner! |
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Just thought I'd update that my 2003 Freelander SUV is no longer functional, that oil from the engine has completely filled up the radiator and overflow cannister. The car showed sympomatic overheating and this time the head gasket seal completely failed. I have read that this is the final thing that happens with the head gasket failure and that there is no point to even trying to repair the head gasket or use the Universal Products "Blue Devil" head & head gasket repair solution, that the vehicle is done/unrepairable. I've been told that I was lucky to even get 93,000 miles out of this piece of sh*t vehicle. I dont feel lucky, I feel cheated that I bought the Freelander and all it is now is a 2000 Pound Paperweight. I have to now go out an purchase another vehicle, and never again will it be a Land Rover product. I tried contacting an attorney who was mentioned/linked earlier in this or another forum, he basically helps only when owners waste money replacing the engine or trying to repair the head gasket for thousands of dollars. I am not wasting my money trying to fix what I have seen and am told is un-fixable, just getting a different car. Very frustrating all of this is. |
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OMG! I wish i had stumbled on these posts before today. My story: purchased it from the dealer, it was a loaner car for the company at 9500 miles. Got ,what i thought, was a good deal. Did notice the yearly brake replacement and costly oil changes. at around 45000 miles, the car loosing water weekly. filled it up weekly, took it to the dealers, they did a diagnostic and said nothing was found. Took it home, in a week, it was overheating, couldn't drive to the dealer, took it to my mechanic, they replaced expansion tank and hoses. Problem still occurred. Back to the dealer, said the NEW expansion tank was leaking, replaced NEW parts all over. Noticed car was still leaking water, just every 2 weeks, not weekly. Back to the dealer, at this point they thought i was crazy! Fluid was INSIDE of the car. Coolant had been leaking into my passenger side, floor mat was drenched. Showed the service "professionals" they finally believed me found that heater core was leaking, replaced that. Oh, and my regulator on my back window was out, window was not going up and down, so they replaced that too. no problems until right after my warranty expired. in the last month, i paid $2000 for replacement timing belts, all of the and a new starter. And now the regulator on the other side window is broken and not working. At 55700 miles, that car is costing me more every month than my rent! I will contact my attorney regarding all of this, thanks for posts and info. I hope SOMETHING CAN BE DONE!
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Replying to: abeck1112 (Feb 28, 2008 5:51 pm) forums.preloved.co.uk www.landyzone.co.uk home.austarnet.com.au/edwardsonline/freelanderheadgasket This was the worst vehicle I have ever owned, including the old used car I got when I was 18yrs old. I hope and believe there will be a Freelander Class Action Lawsuit eventually, but will probably be years from now, at least that was what the attorney said. He also said you can try to sue Land Rover for the repair costs incurred, but its an uphill battle. He suggested getting rid of the vehicle quickly, as did the dealership mechanic that I spoke with in December. Everyone apparently knows this vehicle is junk, but us, or we do now. |
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Let me join the rest of you poor suckers who thought (like myself) that you were buying a "quality" vehicle when you purchased the 2002 Freelander. After reading many messages of the nightmares of the maintenance and repair costs, I might as well add my own lovely story as well. I bought my 2002 Freelander in 2004. It had previously been a leased vehicle with less than 17,000 miles on it-looked absolutely brand new. I loved my car. I loved the fact that I was driving a Land Rover and people would stare at it because there were'nt many of these on the road yet. I guess I could actually consider myself luckier than a lot of you since I've had less problems with mine even at 51,400 miles. The first thing to go was the sun roof. It took me two trips to the Land Rover dealership but they fixed it and it still works fine. I've only had to change the front brake pads once. Fast forward to 2008 and I get hit with the first blow. The car literally quits running on the road and I'm able to at least get it to the side of the road. I take it to my own mechanic and he proceeds to tell me that it's the transmission. So it gets taken to the transmission shop next door. I'm not about to take it to Land Rover since my warranty has run out and I'm not about to put out $7000+ to fix the transmission. Just the same, I get stuck with a $5000 repair. One month later, the coolant is leaking and it keeps overheating. Say goodbye to another $2600. Can't wait to see what's in store for me next because I know that it's just a matter of time. I still love my car, but I better sell it while it's still in running mode. I just e-mailed a letter to Land Rover North America. Have'nt heard back yet, but will let you know if there's any light at the end of this tunnel.
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Replying to: wildrover (Dec 15, 2006 8:59 am)  comcast.net
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Has anyone else had problems with their brakes wearing out too quick. I had mine replaced in January '07 & they said it was a manufacturers defect. Still made grinding noises and took it back in April 07. Said still had 90% life and was just "dust" making the noises. Continued grinding noises & I finally had someone else look at them. Rotors have big grooves & pads are about shot with only 19K miles on them. Dealership said they may very well be worn out as they are high-performance pad and made out of soft composite material. If they are made out of soft composite material, how can they cause such hard deep grooves in the rotors? In the shop now. Hopefully they will replace them free of charge. Seems brakes haven't been right since I bought used 1 & 1/2 ago with only 16K on it. Also, does anyone else constantly smell coolant? One of the Land Rover dealerships confessed they use cheap plastic parts and that's why you smell it so bad. And why does it cost $100 for just an oil change? I'm trading this car in as soon as my brakes are fixed before something else breaks. Sunroof motor was bad when I bought it, they replaced it but now I'm afraid to use it. This car has got to go. Thought this would be a quality car. I'll never buy another Land Rover or recommend to anyone.
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Replying to: aligator71 (Apr 16, 2008 5:53 am) Yes, the brake pads wear out fairly quickly on these Freelanders, I would wear through pads every 15,000 miles and the sales rep who sold me the car said it was normal as the weight of the vehicle was so heavy. I had to replace pads at every 15,000 miles and have the rotors re-cut at every 30,000 miles (rotors replaced at 50,000 miles). That smell of coolant that you mention is the more serious problem alot of people, including myself, have experienced. If you are smelling coolant, you seriously should check your oil cap to see if you notice coolant in the oil and/or you should also notice your coolant overflow level dropping slowly over a 20-30 day period, which is the Head Gasket Failure issue many, many of us have had. Once the Head Gasket Failure starts to happen, you will only get so long before it fails completely and the vehicle is done. I seriously would suggest trading it in now or as soon as possible and get a different vehicle while you can. Once the coolant/Head Gasket Failure happens, you might get another 9 months out of it before it completely over-heats and seizes. You are correct to never buy another Land Rover again. Get rid of it while you can! |
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