NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Exterior Lighting complaints
13 reportsClear category filter120,090 miles · Jan 25, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Exterior LightingService Brakes
THE BRAKE LIGHTS SOMETIMES WORK AND SOMETIMES DO NOT WORK (CITED IN 2 INCIDENTS BY THE POLICE). ALL PARTS ARE FINE (BY CHECK-UP OF A REPAIR WORKSHOP), AND NO REPAIR CAN BE POSSIBLY DONE. PROBABLY, THE HEIGHT OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS ABOVE THE GROUND IS TOO LOW, SO THAT IT IS SOMETIMES TOO DAMP OR WET (AFTER SNOW OR RAIN) FOR THE BR…
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THE BRAKE LIGHTS SOMETIMES WORK AND SOMETIMES DO NOT WORK (CITED IN 2 INCIDENTS BY THE POLICE). ALL PARTS ARE FINE (BY CHECK-UP OF A REPAIR WORKSHOP), AND NO REPAIR CAN BE POSSIBLY DONE. PROBABLY, THE HEIGHT OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS ABOVE THE GROUND IS TOO LOW, SO THAT IT IS SOMETIMES TOO DAMP OR WET (AFTER SNOW OR RAIN) FOR THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO WORK PROPERLY. WHEN THEY DRY UP, THEY WORK AGAIN. NEXT, THE 2 BRAKE LIGHTS ARE ON THE 2 CORNERS OF THE BUMPER, AND THE CENTRAL BRAKE LIGHT IS HIGH ON THE TAILGATE. THEORETICALLY, THE 3 BRAKE LIGHTS GIVE WARNING ENOUGH WHEN THE CAR STOPS. HOWEVER, THERE ARE 2 TAIL LIGHTS ARE HIGH ON THE FENDERS (THE 2 SIDES OF THE CAR'S TAILGATE), RELATIVELY FAR AWAY FROM THE 2 BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE BUMPER. THE 2 TAIL LIGHTS GIVE A WRONG IMPRESSION TO ANY DRIVERS BEHIND THIS CAR, AND LET THOSE DRIVERS MISUNDERSTAND THE TAIL LIGHTS TO BE THE BRAKE LIGHTS (EVEN THE 2 POLICE OFFICERS MISUNDERSTOOD IN THE 2 INCIDENTS). THIS WILL CAUSE COLLISION IN REALITY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10561427
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2010
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting
ENGINE ISSUES. REPLACED VACUUM HOSE TO 6TH CYLINDER. ALSO, THE TIMING BELT IS MAKING NOISE AND THE MECHANIC HAS ADVISED I WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 68,850 MILES. ALSO, HAVE REPAIRED THE BRAKES ON FIVE OCCASIONS AND THEY STILL SQUEAK. HAD TO REPAIR THE WINDOW REGULATOR. THE SRS LIGHT AND ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT …
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ENGINE ISSUES. REPLACED VACUUM HOSE TO 6TH CYLINDER. ALSO, THE TIMING BELT IS MAKING NOISE AND THE MECHANIC HAS ADVISED I WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 68,850 MILES. ALSO, HAVE REPAIRED THE BRAKES ON FIVE OCCASIONS AND THEY STILL SQUEAK. HAD TO REPAIR THE WINDOW REGULATOR. THE SRS LIGHT AND ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT IS ON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10315905
45,000 miles · May 16, 2008
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting
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 QUICK…
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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 ODI #10227995
50,000 miles · Nov 14, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline
WATER PUMP FAILED, TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT, GAS PUMP FAILED TOOK IT TO SHOP TO REPLACE IT, GAS TANK LID FAILED, BOTH ONE FROM DEALER TO REPLACE IT, ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED, TRANSMISSION FAILED, TOOK IT TO SHOP THEY REFUSE TO FIX, THEY SAY IS NOT THEIR FAULT AND IS NOT COVER BY WARRANTY ANYMORE, WINDOW MOTOR FAILED, W…
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WATER PUMP FAILED, TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT, GAS PUMP FAILED TOOK IT TO SHOP TO REPLACE IT, GAS TANK LID FAILED, BOTH ONE FROM DEALER TO REPLACE IT, ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED, TRANSMISSION FAILED, TOOK IT TO SHOP THEY REFUSE TO FIX, THEY SAY IS NOT THEIR FAULT AND IS NOT COVER BY WARRANTY ANYMORE, WINDOW MOTOR FAILED, WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH FAILED, HEADLIGHTS FAILED, COOLANT CONTAINER CRACK, REPLACED WITH NEW ONE FROM DEALER. STOP LIGHT RECALLED. AIR FILTERING SYSTEM RETAINS WATER WHICH ALLOWS MOLD TO GROW, AIR FILTERS REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10208918
40,000 miles · Nov 14, 2007
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingPower Train
WATER PUMP FAILED, TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT, GAS PUMP FAILED TOOK IT TO SHOP TO REPLACE IT, GAS TANK LID FAILED, BOTH ONE FROM DEALER TO REPLACE IT, ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED, TRANSMISSION FAILED, TOOK IT TO SHOP THEY REFUSE TO FIX, THEY SAY IS NOT THEIR FAULT AND IS NOT COVER BY WARRANTY ANYMORE, WINDOW MOTOR FAILED, W…
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WATER PUMP FAILED, TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT, GAS PUMP FAILED TOOK IT TO SHOP TO REPLACE IT, GAS TANK LID FAILED, BOTH ONE FROM DEALER TO REPLACE IT, ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED, TRANSMISSION FAILED, TOOK IT TO SHOP THEY REFUSE TO FIX, THEY SAY IS NOT THEIR FAULT AND IS NOT COVER BY WARRANTY ANYMORE, WINDOW MOTOR FAILED, WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH FAILED, HEADLIGHTS FAILED, COOLANT CONTAINER CRACK, REPLACED WITH NEW ONE FROM DEALER. STOP LIGHT RECALLED. AIR FILTERING SYSTEM RETAINS WATER WHICH ALLOWS MOLD TO GROW, AIR FILTERS REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10208911
76,000 miles · Feb 23, 2007
Electrical SystemExterior LightingPower Train
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," W…
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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. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10183326
50,654 miles · Dec 4, 2006
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting
LAND ROVER, FREELANDER HSE 2002. ENGINE VALVE LEAK, 5TH CYLINDER NOT FIRING, CATALYTIC SENSOR WENT BAD, PRESSURE VALVE LEAKAGE. THE CAR STOOPED ALL OF A SUDDEN. JUST CROSSED THE MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, BY 700 MILES. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10175130
Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2006
Exterior Lighting
BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE. CHECKED FUSE, BULBS AND WIRING. ALL WERE OPERATIVE. HAD BRAKE LAMP SWITCH REPLACED. LIGHTS STILL NOT OPERATIONAL. (NEW STOP LAMP SWITCH WAS THE SAME MANUFACTURER AS THE ONE THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER NHTSA INVESTIGATION.) SINCE NEW PART DIDN'T WORK, OLD PART WAS REINSTALLED AND NEW ONE RETURNED TO D…
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BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT ILLUMINATE. CHECKED FUSE, BULBS AND WIRING. ALL WERE OPERATIVE. HAD BRAKE LAMP SWITCH REPLACED. LIGHTS STILL NOT OPERATIONAL. (NEW STOP LAMP SWITCH WAS THE SAME MANUFACTURER AS THE ONE THAT IS CURRENTLY UNDER NHTSA INVESTIGATION.) SINCE NEW PART DIDN'T WORK, OLD PART WAS REINSTALLED AND NEW ONE RETURNED TO DEALER. THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE 300.00 JUST TO TELL ME WHY BRAKES WON'T WORK AND IS AWARE OF WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN TRIED. BRAKE LIGHTS STILL NOT OPERATIONAL. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10149711
Mileage unknown · May 27, 2003
Exterior Lighting
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 HIGHWA…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10020545
Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2003
Exterior Lighting
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.
NHTSA ODI #10013876
NHTSA investigations
1EA05016 · Brake Light Switch Failure
Opened Oct 14, 2005 · Closed Feb 22, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
ON JUNE 16, 2005, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE05-034) TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED STOP LAMP (BRAKE) SWITCH FAILURES IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SERIES II VEHICLES.ON OCTOBER 14, 2005, THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS AND THE SCOPE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE CERTAIN MY 2002 THROUGH 2005 FREELANDER VEHICLES THAT USE A SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR SELF-ADJUSTING STOP LAMP SWITCH FURNISHED BY THE SAME SUPPLIER, METHODE ELECTRONICS MALTA, LTD. (METHODE).IN SEPTEMBER 2003, METHODE MOVED THE PRODUCTION OF AN INTERNAL SWITCH COMPONENT, KNOWN AS THE SLIDER MECHANISM, FROM A VALIDATED PLASTIC INJECTION-MOLDING TOOL (?CAVITY 1?) TO ANOTHER TOOL (?CAVITY 2?) THAT HAD NOT BEEN USED BEFORE TO PRODUCE PARTS FOR LAND ROVER.SLIDERS FROM CAVITY 2 MAY BE CHARACTERIZED BY POOR FILL, LACK OF DEFINITION IN THE SLIDER TEETH AND DIMENSIONAL INSTABILITY.CONSEQUENTLY, THE SLIDER MAY BE UNABLE TO RESTRAIN IMPROPER MOVEMENT OF THE PLUNGER DURING NORMAL BRAKE PEDAL OPERATION.THIS MAY CAUSE THE SWITCH TO FALL OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, THUS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO ENERGIZE THE SWITCH AND ILLUMINATE THE STOP LAMPS.?CAVITY 2? SWITCHES WERE INSTALLED IN APPROXIMATELY 8,763 DISCOVERY SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT FROM DECEMBER 2003 THROUGH MAY 2004 AND APPROXIMATELY 3,915 FREELANDER SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT FROM OCTOBER 2003 THROUGH MAY 2004.ADDITIONALLY, STOP LAMP SWITCHES IN CERTAIN MY 2002 THROUGH 2005 FREELANDER SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY SLIP OUT OF ADJUSTMENT AS A RESULT OF SWITCH DAMAGE DUE TO AN INCORRECT SETTING PROCEDURE DURING VEHICLE MANUFACTURE OR AS A RESULT OF SWITCH MOUNTING BRACKET FLEX.ANALYSIS OF ALL AVAILABLE DATA INDICATES THE PREDOMINANT FAILURE MODE IS CONSTANT STOP LAMP ILLUMINATION.OTHER REPORTED CONSEQUENCES OF STOP LAMP SWITCH MALADJUSTMENT INCLUDE INOPERATIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTOR/BRAKE PEDAL SHIFT INTERLOCK, INOPERATIVE SPEED (CRUISE) CONTROL, AND TELLTALE ILLUMINATION AS DESCRIBED IN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) NO. LT206-001 DATED OCTOBER 28, 2004 ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO LAND ROVER DEALERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM (UK).TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF 77 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGE STOP LAMP SWITCH FAILURE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (10 COMPLAINTS ON MY 2004 DISCOVERY, 45 ON MY 2002 FREELANDER, 19 ON MY 2003 FREELANDER, AND 3 ON MY 2004 FREELANDER VEHICLES).ADDITIONALLY, 4,595 DISCOVERY AND 13,370 FREELANDER SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED ONE OR MORE WARRANTY CLAIMS TO REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH.OF THE 5,170 WARRANTY CLAIMS PAID TO REPLACE STOP LAMP SWITCHES ON DISCOVERY SUBJECT VEHICLES, APPROXIMATELY 31% OCCURRED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD NEW AND APPROXIMATELY 88% OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF VEHICLE SERVICE.THE WARRANTY TREND ON DISCOVERY SUBJECT VEHICLES IS IN DECLINE WITH 3,545 CLAIMS PAID IN CALENDAR YEAR (CY) 2004, 1,303 CLAIMS PAID IN CY 2005, AND 322 CLAIMS PAID IN CY 2006 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 (WHICH IS WHEN ODI LAST RECEIVED UPDATED WARRANTY CLAIMS DATA FROM LAND ROVER), AND IT APPEARS THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT ON DISCOVER SUBJECT VEHICLES HAS BEEN REMEDIED THROUGH WARRANTY REPAIRS.HOWEVER, ODI ANALYSIS OF THE MANUFACTURER?S WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT RECORDS INDICATES THE FAILURE TREND ON CERTAIN FREELANDER SUBJECT VEHICLES IS ONGOING.BY LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 2, 2007, LAND ROVER HAS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 07V-041) TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCHES IN APPROXIMATELY 33,247 MY 2002 THROUGH 2005 FREELANDER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE SOLIHULL, UK ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2001 THROUGH MAY 19, 2005. ALTHOUGH ODI HAS CONCERN
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
ON JUNE 16, 2005, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE05-034) TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED STOP LAMP (BRAKE) SWITCH FAILURES IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SERIES II VEHICLES.ON OCTOBER 14, 2005, THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS AND THE SCOPE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE CERTAIN MY 2002 THROUGH 2005 FREELANDER VEHICLES THAT USE A SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR SELF-ADJUSTING STOP LAMP SWITCH FURNISHED BY THE SAME SUPPLIER, METHODE ELECTRONICS MALTA, LTD. (METHODE).IN SEPTEMBER 2003, METHODE MOVED THE PRODUCTION OF AN INTERNAL SWITCH COMPONENT, KNOWN AS THE SLIDER MECHANISM, FROM A VALIDATED PLASTIC INJECTION-MOLDING TOOL (?CAVITY 1?) TO ANOTHER TOOL (?CAVITY 2?) THAT HAD NOT BEEN USED BEFORE TO PRODUCE PARTS FOR LAND ROVER.SLIDERS FROM CAVITY 2 MAY BE CHARACTERIZED BY POOR FILL, LACK OF DEFINITION IN THE SLIDER TEETH AND DIMENSIONAL INSTABILITY.CONSEQUENTLY, THE SLIDER MAY BE UNABLE TO RESTRAIN IMPROPER MOVEMENT OF THE PLUNGER DURING NORMAL BRAKE PEDAL OPERATION.THIS MAY CAUSE THE SWITCH TO FALL OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, THUS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO ENERGIZE THE SWITCH AND ILLUMINATE THE STOP LAMPS.?CAVITY 2? SWITCHES WERE INSTALLED IN APPROXIMATELY 8,763 DISCOVERY SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT FROM DECEMBER 2003 THROUGH MAY 2004 AND APPROXIMATELY 3,915 FREELANDER SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT FROM OCTOBER 2003 THROUGH MAY 2004.ADDITIONALLY, STOP LAMP SWITCHES IN CERTAIN MY 2002 THROUGH 2005 FREELANDER SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY SLIP OUT OF ADJUSTMENT AS A RESULT OF SWITCH DAMAGE DUE TO AN INCORRECT SETTING PROCEDURE DURING VEHICLE MANUFACTURE OR AS A RESULT OF SWITCH MOUNTING BRACKET FLEX.ANALYSIS OF ALL AVAILABLE DATA INDICATES THE PREDOMINANT FAILURE MODE IS CONSTANT STOP LAMP ILLUMINATION.OTHER REPORTED CONSEQUENCES OF STOP LAMP SWITCH MALADJUSTMENT INCLUDE INOPERATIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTOR/BRAKE PEDAL SHIFT INTERLOCK, INOPERATIVE SPEED (CRUISE) CONTROL, AND TELLTALE ILLUMINATION AS DESCRIBED IN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) NO. LT206-001 DATED OCTOBER 28, 2004 ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO LAND ROVER DEALERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM (UK).TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF 77 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGE STOP LAMP SWITCH FAILURE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (10 COMPLAINTS ON MY 2004 DISCOVERY, 45 ON MY 2002 FREELANDER, 19 ON MY 2003 FREELANDER, AND 3 ON MY 2004 FREELANDER VEHICLES).ADDITIONALLY, 4,595 DISCOVERY AND 13,370 FREELANDER SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED ONE OR MORE WARRANTY CLAIMS TO REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH.OF THE 5,170 WARRANTY CLAIMS PAID TO REPLACE STOP LAMP SWITCHES ON DISCOVERY SUBJECT VEHICLES, APPROXIMATELY 31% OCCURRED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD NEW AND APPROXIMATELY 88% OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF VEHICLE SERVICE.THE WARRANTY TREND ON DISCOVERY SUBJECT VEHICLES IS IN DECLINE WITH 3,545 CLAIMS PAID IN CALENDAR YEAR (CY) 2004, 1,303 CLAIMS PAID IN CY 2005, AND 322 CLAIMS PAID IN CY 2006 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 (WHICH IS WHEN ODI LAST RECEIVED UPDATED WARRANTY CLAIMS DATA FROM LAND ROVER), AND IT APPEARS THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT ON DISCOVER SUBJECT VEHICLES HAS BEEN REMEDIED THROUGH WARRANTY REPAIRS.HOWEVER, ODI ANALYSIS OF THE MANUFACTURER?S WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT RECORDS INDICATES THE FAILURE TREND ON CERTAIN FREELANDER SUBJECT VEHICLES IS ONGOING.BY LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 2, 2007, LAND ROVER HAS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 07V-041) TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCHES IN APPROXIMATELY 33,247 MY 2002 THROUGH 2005 FREELANDER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE SOLIHULL, UK ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2001 THROUGH MAY 19, 2005. ALTHOUGH ODI HAS CONCERN
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
ON JUNE 16, 2005, THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION (PE05-034) TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGED STOP LAMP (BRAKE) SWITCH FAILURES IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY SERIES II VEHICLES.ON OCTOBER 14, 2005, THE INVESTIGATION WAS UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS AND THE SCOPE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE CERTAIN MY 2002 THROUGH 2005 FREELANDER VEHICLES THAT USE A SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR SELF-ADJUSTING STOP LAMP SWITCH FURNISHED BY THE SAME SUPPLIER, METHODE ELECTRONICS MALTA, LTD. (METHODE).IN SEPTEMBER 2003, METHODE MOVED THE PRODUCTION OF AN INTERNAL SWITCH COMPONENT, KNOWN AS THE SLIDER MECHANISM, FROM A VALIDATED PLASTIC INJECTION-MOLDING TOOL (?CAVITY 1?) TO ANOTHER TOOL (?CAVITY 2?) THAT HAD NOT BEEN USED BEFORE TO PRODUCE PARTS FOR LAND ROVER.SLIDERS FROM CAVITY 2 MAY BE CHARACTERIZED BY POOR FILL, LACK OF DEFINITION IN THE SLIDER TEETH AND DIMENSIONAL INSTABILITY.CONSEQUENTLY, THE SLIDER MAY BE UNABLE TO RESTRAIN IMPROPER MOVEMENT OF THE PLUNGER DURING NORMAL BRAKE PEDAL OPERATION.THIS MAY CAUSE THE SWITCH TO FALL OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, THUS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING THE EFFORT REQUIRED TO ENERGIZE THE SWITCH AND ILLUMINATE THE STOP LAMPS.?CAVITY 2? SWITCHES WERE INSTALLED IN APPROXIMATELY 8,763 DISCOVERY SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT FROM DECEMBER 2003 THROUGH MAY 2004 AND APPROXIMATELY 3,915 FREELANDER SUBJECT VEHICLES BUILT FROM OCTOBER 2003 THROUGH MAY 2004.ADDITIONALLY, STOP LAMP SWITCHES IN CERTAIN MY 2002 THROUGH 2005 FREELANDER SUBJECT VEHICLES MAY SLIP OUT OF ADJUSTMENT AS A RESULT OF SWITCH DAMAGE DUE TO AN INCORRECT SETTING PROCEDURE DURING VEHICLE MANUFACTURE OR AS A RESULT OF SWITCH MOUNTING BRACKET FLEX.ANALYSIS OF ALL AVAILABLE DATA INDICATES THE PREDOMINANT FAILURE MODE IS CONSTANT STOP LAMP ILLUMINATION.OTHER REPORTED CONSEQUENCES OF STOP LAMP SWITCH MALADJUSTMENT INCLUDE INOPERATIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION GEAR SELECTOR/BRAKE PEDAL SHIFT INTERLOCK, INOPERATIVE SPEED (CRUISE) CONTROL, AND TELLTALE ILLUMINATION AS DESCRIBED IN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB) NO. LT206-001 DATED OCTOBER 28, 2004 ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER TO LAND ROVER DEALERS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM (UK).TO DATE, ODI IS AWARE OF 77 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS THAT ALLEGE STOP LAMP SWITCH FAILURE ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES (10 COMPLAINTS ON MY 2004 DISCOVERY, 45 ON MY 2002 FREELANDER, 19 ON MY 2003 FREELANDER, AND 3 ON MY 2004 FREELANDER VEHICLES).ADDITIONALLY, 4,595 DISCOVERY AND 13,370 FREELANDER SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED ONE OR MORE WARRANTY CLAIMS TO REPLACE THE STOP LAMP SWITCH.OF THE 5,170 WARRANTY CLAIMS PAID TO REPLACE STOP LAMP SWITCHES ON DISCOVERY SUBJECT VEHICLES, APPROXIMATELY 31% OCCURRED BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD NEW AND APPROXIMATELY 88% OCCURRED WITHIN THE FIRST 12 MONTHS OF VEHICLE SERVICE.THE WARRANTY TREND ON DISCOVERY SUBJECT VEHICLES IS IN DECLINE WITH 3,545 CLAIMS PAID IN CALENDAR YEAR (CY) 2004, 1,303 CLAIMS PAID IN CY 2005, AND 322 CLAIMS PAID IN CY 2006 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28, 2006 (WHICH IS WHEN ODI LAST RECEIVED UPDATED WARRANTY CLAIMS DATA FROM LAND ROVER), AND IT APPEARS THAT THE ALLEGED DEFECT ON DISCOVER SUBJECT VEHICLES HAS BEEN REMEDIED THROUGH WARRANTY REPAIRS.HOWEVER, ODI ANALYSIS OF THE MANUFACTURER?S WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT RECORDS INDICATES THE FAILURE TREND ON CERTAIN FREELANDER SUBJECT VEHICLES IS ONGOING.BY LETTER DATED FEBRUARY 2, 2007, LAND ROVER HAS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO. 07V-041) TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCHES IN APPROXIMATELY 33,247 MY 2002 THROUGH 2005 FREELANDER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE SOLIHULL, UK ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2001 THROUGH MAY 19, 2005. ALTHOUGH ODI HAS CONCERN
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