NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
226 reports3,504 miles · Oct 19, 2005
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER FROM LAND ROVER NEW ORLEANS (PARETTI) ON AUGUST 19, 2002. SINCE THAT TIME, THE VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS. THE POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE (2), IRD UNIT (2), FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, MANIFOLD CHAMBER AND OTHER ITEMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE BRAKE PADS (2) HAVE …
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I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER FROM LAND ROVER NEW ORLEANS (PARETTI) ON AUGUST 19, 2002. SINCE THAT TIME, THE VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS. THE POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE (2), IRD UNIT (2), FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, MANIFOLD CHAMBER AND OTHER ITEMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE BRAKE PADS (2) HAVE HAD TO BE CHANGED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 35,498 MILES. AFTER REVIEWING EDMUNDS.COM AND OTHER CONSUMER RESOURCE SITES, IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT I ENCOUNTERED HAVE ALSO BEEN ENCOUNTERED BY OTHERS PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD 23 WARRANTY CLAIMS ON THIS VEHICLE AND LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS OF JANUARY 2005, HAS PAID IN EXCESS OF $11,994.55 FOR REPAIRS ON A VEHICLE THAT HAD A PURCHASE PRICE OF $30,603.77. THE AFOREMENTIONED AMOUNT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COSTS OF REPLACING THE TRANSFER CASE, IRD UNIT, FRONT DRIVE SHAFT AND MANIFOLD CHAMBER IN APRIL 2005 OR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY IN JUNE 2005. NEITHER THE LOCAL LAND ROVER DEALER NOR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, INC. HAVE BEEN COOPERATIVE IN DEALING WITH ME ON THIS ISSUE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10140266
4,000 miles · Sep 16, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility
MY LAND ROVER FREELANDER HAS HAD 2 ENGINE FAILURES UNDER 50K MI., THE FIRST AT 26K AND THE SECOND 24K LATER. 2 SUNROOF REPLACEMENTS, 2 SIDE WINDOW REPAIRS, 1 OVERHEATING INCIDENT, AND THE CAR JUST RUNS HOT ALL THE TIME, WITH HOT COOLANT SMELL. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10136771
41,580 miles · Aug 31, 2005
Visibility
POWER SUN ROOF MOTOR FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME WITHIN 2 YEARS. SERVICE GUY AT DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THEY ARE REPLACING THESE MOTORS EVERY YEAR OR SO. MY WARRANTY RUNS OUT IN LESS THAN 6,000 MILES. SHOULDN'T THIS BE COVERED EVEN AFTER WARRANTY IS UP. I THOUGHT MAYBE THERE MIGHT A RECALL, IF THIS IS HAPPENING SO OFTEN. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10134886
36,000 miles · Jul 26, 2005
Electrical SystemInjury
THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FROM WORK TO A RELATIVES HOUSE WERE IT FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SETTING FOR 15 MINUTES. THE HAD TO BE PUSH OUT OF THE WAY, ONE OF THE PUSHERS INJURED THEIR BACK, WHO WAS TREATED AND RELEASE FROM HENRY FORD HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT OVER NIGHT AND WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE STARTED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE ST…
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THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FROM WORK TO A RELATIVES HOUSE WERE IT FAILED TO RESTART AFTER SETTING FOR 15 MINUTES. THE HAD TO BE PUSH OUT OF THE WAY, ONE OF THE PUSHERS INJURED THEIR BACK, WHO WAS TREATED AND RELEASE FROM HENRY FORD HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT OVER NIGHT AND WAS ATTEMPTED TO BE STARTED THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE STARTER SELENOID WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH ANOTHER INGNITION KEY CYLINDER AFTER THE FIRST REPLACEMENT HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RETURNED AFTER SEVEN WEEKS OF SERVICE BECAUSE OF DAMAGE DURING SERVICE.WHICH TOOK ANOTHER TWO WEEKS TO COMPLETE.
NHTSA ODI #10130124
35,000 miles · Jul 26, 2005
Electrical System
THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP ON FEBRUARY 5TH FROM THE DEALERSHIP, AFTER EBING THERE FOR THREE WEEKS FOR A NO START ISSUE WHERE IT FAILED ON THE WAY HOME. WE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THIS TIME THE IGNITION KEY CYLINDER WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA ODI #10130121
35,000 miles · Jul 26, 2005
Electrical System
JANUARY 15TH, 2005 MY WIFE LEFT WORK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS ~ 20 F. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE WORKING, BUT THE STARTER SELENOID WOULD NOT ENGAGE. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE AND AN ATTEMPT TO RESET THE SECURITY YEILDED NOTHING. THE DIAGNOSED NO FAU…
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JANUARY 15TH, 2005 MY WIFE LEFT WORK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS ~ 20 F. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE WORKING, BUT THE STARTER SELENOID WOULD NOT ENGAGE. SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE AND AN ATTEMPT TO RESET THE SECURITY YEILDED NOTHING. THE DIAGNOSED NO FAULT AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS.
NHTSA ODI #10130117
23,926 miles · Jun 27, 2005
Tires
DRY ROT IN MICHELIN SYNCHRONE TIRES: AT 23926 MILES THE DEALER'S SERVICE ADVISOR EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT DRY ROT IN TIRES THAT WERE DATE-STAMPED AS MADE IN JAN & FEB 2002. BOTH THE DEALER, LAND ROVER INC. (THE CAR IS A 2002 FREELANDER SE WITH 225/55R17 TIRES) AND A LOCAL RETAILER, DISCOUNT TIRE CO., ADVISED REPLACEMENT OF ALL …
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DRY ROT IN MICHELIN SYNCHRONE TIRES: AT 23926 MILES THE DEALER'S SERVICE ADVISOR EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT DRY ROT IN TIRES THAT WERE DATE-STAMPED AS MADE IN JAN & FEB 2002. BOTH THE DEALER, LAND ROVER INC. (THE CAR IS A 2002 FREELANDER SE WITH 225/55R17 TIRES) AND A LOCAL RETAILER, DISCOUNT TIRE CO., ADVISED REPLACEMENT OF ALL FOUR TIRES. A 'DRY ROT' RATING TEST IS NEEDED FOR CONSUMER SAFTEY!
NHTSA ODI #10126628
28,945 miles · Jun 10, 2005
Steering
MAY 26, 2005 WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET IN ORLANDO FLORIDA, THE STEERING ON MY 2002 FREELANDER S FAILED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER IN ORLANDO. ON MAY 27, 2005 I WAS INFORMED BY THE CHIEF LANDROVER TECHNICIAN THAT THE BOLTS HOLDING THE STEERING COLUMN ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD SHEERED OFF. IN LATER DISCUSSION I WAS INFO…
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MAY 26, 2005 WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET IN ORLANDO FLORIDA, THE STEERING ON MY 2002 FREELANDER S FAILED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER IN ORLANDO. ON MAY 27, 2005 I WAS INFORMED BY THE CHIEF LANDROVER TECHNICIAN THAT THE BOLTS HOLDING THE STEERING COLUMN ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD SHEERED OFF. IN LATER DISCUSSION I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. ON JUNE 7 I WAS INFORMED BY THE SENIOR TECHNICIAN THAT HE COULD NOT SAFELY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. ON JUNE 9 I WAS INFORMED BY THE SUPERVISOR AT CUSTOMER SERVICE LAND ROVER AMERICA THAT A REGIONAL TECHINICAL DIRECTOR WOULD HAVE TO DETERMINE IF IT COULD BE REPAIRED. I HAD NO CONTROL ON THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. I HAD BEEN ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE LESS THAN THREE HOURS PRIOR TO THAT IN A RAIN STORM AVOIDING SEMI TRACTOR TRAILERS. HAD THIS OCCURED AT THAT TIME I WOULD NOT BE FILING THIS REPORT.
NHTSA ODI #10124930
41,000 miles · Apr 5, 2005
Power Train
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 ODI #10116414
32,000 miles · Mar 30, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER HAS PROBLEMS WITH FAULTY CAM SENSOR, FAULTY SUNROOF, TRANSMISSION AND BATTERY.*MR THE BATTERY AND STRUTS WERE REPLACED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT CLOSE OR OPEN EASILY, SO THE DEALER REPLACED THE REGULATOR. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DIFFERENT COMPONETS WERE REP…
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2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER HAS PROBLEMS WITH FAULTY CAM SENSOR, FAULTY SUNROOF, TRANSMISSION AND BATTERY.*MR THE BATTERY AND STRUTS WERE REPLACED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT CLOSE OR OPEN EASILY, SO THE DEALER REPLACED THE REGULATOR. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DIFFERENT COMPONETS WERE REPLACED TO TRY AND RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10117510
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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