IllustrationCOOLANT SYSTEM LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE AND CRACKED THE BLOCK. MILEAGE 51,175. *TR
2002 Land Rover Freelander
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Freelander years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Land Rover Freelander are substantially higher than the model-year median of 42.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Freelander years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
190–25K
3925–50K
6950–75K
3675–100K
13100–150K
3150K+
179 reports with mileage · 47 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 121 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports4 fire reports4 injury reports
What owners actually said
226 reportsI HAVE A LANDROVER FREELANDER 2002. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR. 2 MONTHS AFTER GETTING THE CAR IT NEEDED A HEAD GASKET WITH ONLY 87,000 MILES ON IT. FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD MINE LASTED LONGER THAN MOST. I HAD TO PUT 2000,00 INTO IT RIGHT AFTER PUTTING 4000,00 AS A DOWN PAYMENT. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT LANDROVER RECOMMENDED IT …
Read full complaint
I HAVE A LANDROVER FREELANDER 2002. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR A YEAR. 2 MONTHS AFTER GETTING THE CAR IT NEEDED A HEAD GASKET WITH ONLY 87,000 MILES ON IT. FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD MINE LASTED LONGER THAN MOST. I HAD TO PUT 2000,00 INTO IT RIGHT AFTER PUTTING 4000,00 AS A DOWN PAYMENT. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT LANDROVER RECOMMENDED IT GET A NEW MOTOR BUT THE WARRANTY COMP. WOULDN'T COVER IT. A NEW MOTOR COST ABOUT 7000,00. THIS IS GOING ON WITH HUNDREDS OF LANDROVERS, BECAUSE OF THE MATERIAL THE MOTOR IS MADE OUT OF. I CANT THINK OF ONE GOOD REASON WHY THERE SHOULD NOT BE A RECALL ON THIS CAR. PEOPLE ARE MAKING PAYMENTS ON CARS THEY CANT EVEN DRIVE. WE MAY BE FORCED TO DO A VOLUNTARY REPO SO WE CAN GET ANOTHER CAR. PEOPLES LIVES ARE BEING DESTROYED BECAUSE OF THIS CAR. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. *TR
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
WE WERE HEARING A LOUD NOISE AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS. AS IT TURNS OUT WE WERE FIRST TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE, HOWEVER AFTER CAREFUL DIAGNOSTICS WE WERE FINALLY TOLD THAT IT NEEDS A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS IS ABOUT $2200. THAT INCLUDES LABOR COSTS AND PART. I HAVE NO MONEY AND THE CAR JUST SITS IN THE FRONT OF MY…
Read full complaint
WE WERE HEARING A LOUD NOISE AND HAD NO IDEA WHAT IT WAS. AS IT TURNS OUT WE WERE FIRST TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A NEW ENGINE, HOWEVER AFTER CAREFUL DIAGNOSTICS WE WERE FINALLY TOLD THAT IT NEEDS A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD. THIS IS ABOUT $2200. THAT INCLUDES LABOR COSTS AND PART. I HAVE NO MONEY AND THE CAR JUST SITS IN THE FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND IS NOT DRIVABLE AT ALL. I STILL OWE SO MUCH ON THIS CAR AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO.... *TR
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 2002 LANDROVER FREELANDER. LAST MONTH THE GASOLINE BROKE WHILE DRIVING, SPEWING OUT A FULL TANK OF GAS. THIS MONTH, ON MY WAY FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, ALMOST 200 MILES AWAY, THE TRANSMISSION WENT. I HAD IT TOWED (FOR THE FOURTH TIME) TO LANDROVER SPOKANE WHO QUOTED ME A PRICE OF 7100 DOLLARS…
Read full complaint
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 2002 LANDROVER FREELANDER. LAST MONTH THE GASOLINE BROKE WHILE DRIVING, SPEWING OUT A FULL TANK OF GAS. THIS MONTH, ON MY WAY FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, ALMOST 200 MILES AWAY, THE TRANSMISSION WENT. I HAD IT TOWED (FOR THE FOURTH TIME) TO LANDROVER SPOKANE WHO QUOTED ME A PRICE OF 7100 DOLLARS TO FIX MY TRANSMISSION. THIS CAR IS JUST COMING UP TO 55,000 MILES. *TR
WE BOUGHT THE FREELANDER 2002 IN APRIL OF 2002. BRAND NEW. STARTED TO HAVE BREAK PROBLEMS AND ALARM SYSTEM PROBLEMS, ALONG WITH CONSTANT AIR COOLANT/BROKEN AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEMS THAT WE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS. THE TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN IN 2006 AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES. THE DEALER HAGGLED WITH US BECAUSE…
Read full complaint
WE BOUGHT THE FREELANDER 2002 IN APRIL OF 2002. BRAND NEW. STARTED TO HAVE BREAK PROBLEMS AND ALARM SYSTEM PROBLEMS, ALONG WITH CONSTANT AIR COOLANT/BROKEN AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEMS THAT WE HAD TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR REPAIRS. THE TRANSMISSION BROKE DOWN IN 2006 AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES. THE DEALER HAGGLED WITH US BECAUSE THE WARRANTY HAD JUST EXPIRED TWO MONTHS EARLIER! WE ENDED UP PAYING APPROXIMATELY $2,000 TOWARDS A NEW TRANSMISSION THAT WE NOW DISCOVER HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR LAND ROVER FREELANDERS. THEN, AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR A FEW DAYS AGO TO BE SERVICED, THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WE ARE NOW TOLD THAT THE ENGINE HAS BROKEN DOWN AND THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PAY SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED. WE TOLD THE DEALER THAT THE ENGINE HAS HAD WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT ISSUES FROM MANUFACTURE AND THAT THE INNOCENT CONSUMER SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. OUR CAR IS NOW UNDRIVABLE AND ONLY HAS 37,000 MILES ON IT. WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT. *TR
I HAVE ONLY HAD MY 02 LANDROVER FREELANDER FOR 3 MONTHS IT HAS 90,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE AND NEEDS REPAIRED. OF COURSE THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T CARE CAUSE THERE WAS NO WARRANTY BUT I SEE THIS IS COMMON IN THESE VEHICLES AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE. *TR
SERVICE HISTORY AT PLAZA MOTORS OVERVIEW DATE ISSUEREPAIRS DATE RETURNED 6/7/06VEHICLE STALLED, WON'T STARTBATTERY REPLACED6/8/2006 6/16/2006VEHICLE STALLED, WON'T STARTREPLACED IGNITION SWITCH, KEY READER7/17/2006 8/15/2006VEHICLE STALLED, WON'T START, INTERMITTENT STARTREPLACED FUEL PUMP8/18/2006 6/5/2007VEHICLE STALLE…
Read full complaint
SERVICE HISTORY AT PLAZA MOTORS OVERVIEW DATE ISSUEREPAIRS DATE RETURNED 6/7/06VEHICLE STALLED, WON'T STARTBATTERY REPLACED6/8/2006 6/16/2006VEHICLE STALLED, WON'T STARTREPLACED IGNITION SWITCH, KEY READER7/17/2006 8/15/2006VEHICLE STALLED, WON'T START, INTERMITTENT STARTREPLACED FUEL PUMP8/18/2006 6/5/2007VEHICLE STALLED, WON'T STARTSECURED STARTED WIRE6/6/2007 6/7/2007VEHICLE STALLED, WON'T START, INTERMITTENT STARTREPLACED IMMOBILIZER 2 TIMES8/20/2007 11/16/2007VEHICLE WON'T ACCELERATEREPLACED INTAKE MANIFOLD, ENGINE, HEATER CORE3/5/2008 5/16/2008VEHICLE WON'T ACCELERATEWANT TO REPLACE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION5/19/2008 NOTES: FREELANDER WAS PURCHASED ON JUNE 3, 2006. FREELANDER BROKE DOWN 3 DAYS AFTER PURCHASED. *TR
LAND ROVER FREELANDER 2002. 62 THOUSAND MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THIS IS GOING TO COST ME AROUND $4,000 TO FIX. APPARENTLY THIS VEHICLE IS KNOWN TO BE A COMPLETE PIECE OF CRAP. *TR
I HAVE A 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER SE WITH 65,032 MILES, AND I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT AT A COST BETWEEN $3500, TO $4500. I BOUGHT THE SUV IN 2004 WITH 6,300 MILES, AND SINS THEN AT ABOUT 12,000 TO 13,000 MILES THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER HAD TO …
Read full complaint
I HAVE A 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER SE WITH 65,032 MILES, AND I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED OR REBUILT AT A COST BETWEEN $3500, TO $4500. I BOUGHT THE SUV IN 2004 WITH 6,300 MILES, AND SINS THEN AT ABOUT 12,000 TO 13,000 MILES THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WILL AT ABOUT 33,000 MILES. I CALLED COSTUMER SERVICE AT LAND ROVER AND THEY TOLLED ME THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. I ASKED THEM IF IT WAS NORMAL FOR THIS SUV?S TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT AT 65,000 MILES, THEY WOULD NOT ANSWER MY QUESTION. *TR
Official recalls
307V041000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Feb 9, 2007
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY REMAIN ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT DEPRESSED. HILL DESCENT CONTROL (HDC), TRACTION CONTROL (TC) AND CRUISE CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS MAY ALSO BE ILLUMINATED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LAMP OPERATION AND WHERE REQUIRED, ADJUST AND/OR REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHES WITH NEW SWITCHES OF THE SAME DESIGN UNTIL A NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LAMP SWITCH IS AVAILABLE IN MAY 2007. OWNERS WILL THEN BE RE-NOTIFIED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR THE NEW BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. AN INTERIM LETTER FOR THE INITIAL INSPECTION WAS MAILED ON MARCH 26, 2007. THE SECOND LETTER FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCHES WAS MAILED BEGINNING JULY 30, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-80-637-6837.
05V300000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Jun 28, 2005
ON CERTAIN FIVE DOOR SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IT IS POSSIBLE TO OPERATE THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR WHEN THE CHILD SAFETY LEVER IS IN THE "ON" POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE OCCUPANT MAY OPEN THE DOOR INADVERTENTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND FALL OUT INTO THE TRAFFIC, PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE LATCH ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.
04V347000 · Structure:body:roof And Pillars
Jul 12, 2004
CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." DURING TESTING, THE FREE MOTION HEAD FORM REGISTERED A MEASUREMENT MARGINALLY ABOVE THE PERMITTED 1000 HEAD IMPACT CRITERIA. AT THE LEFT AND RIGHT HAND A-PILLAR TRIM AREA.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS MAY OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE A-PILLAR TRIM WITH A REVISED COMPONENT THAT ENABLES THE VEHICLE TO FULLY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 201. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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