NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
226 reports76,600 miles · Mar 23, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE PASSENGER CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE. APPARENT CAUSE IS A BLOWN CAM PLUG. DEALER CLAIMS COLD CLIMATE CAUSES BUILD-UP OF VAPOR PRESURE IN THE ENGINE. THE PLUG BLOWS OUT AND OIL POURS ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM. DEALER CLAIMS THEY HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE, AND THAT A COLD CLIMATE KIT THAT IS USED IN CANADA RESOLVES THE ISSUE. …
Read full complaint
THE PASSENGER CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE. APPARENT CAUSE IS A BLOWN CAM PLUG. DEALER CLAIMS COLD CLIMATE CAUSES BUILD-UP OF VAPOR PRESURE IN THE ENGINE. THE PLUG BLOWS OUT AND OIL POURS ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM. DEALER CLAIMS THEY HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE, AND THAT A COLD CLIMATE KIT THAT IS USED IN CANADA RESOLVES THE ISSUE. BUT LAND ROVER WILL NOT PAY FOR THE MODIFICATION WHICH COST ME $296! THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A FIRE OF AN ACCIDENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10114552
12,000 miles · Feb 1, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingSteeringVisibility
2002 FREELANDER. USED 1 QUART OF OIL PER 1000 MI. AT 12000. NEW ENGINE WAS PUT IN. BACK WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP. SUNROOF LEAKS. COOLANT BLEW EVERYWHERE. AND THE WORST, WHILE DRIVING ON A RIGHT CURVE, STEERING WENT OUT AND WAS NEARLY A 3 CAR ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP WANTS ME TO DRIVE IT WITHOUT KNOWING WHY IT'S HAPPENING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10108406
63,000 miles · Jan 29, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
(1) DEFROST/HEAT NOT WORK;2) ENGINE OVERHEATED;3) REPLACED HEATER VAC AT A COST OF $830, OLD PART KEPT AT DELEAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10108220
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2005
Power Train
THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 20 MILES PER HOUR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND AFTER 3 TIMES OF TESTING, RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10108797
5,000 miles · Jan 5, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. THEN, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM.…
Read full complaint
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE. THEN, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED AND THE VEHICLE HAD ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10103277
5,656 miles · Nov 1, 2004
Power Train
MY 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER LEFT MY FAMILY AND I STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY TWICE AND BOTH EVENTS WERE VERY COSTLY. I OWN THE VEHICLE 16 MONTHS. THE FIRST BREAK DOWN OCCURRED IN HARTFORD, AL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE NEAREST DEALER JAX, FL 300 PLUS MILES. A BATTERY CABLE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE REACHED 48,000 M…
Read full complaint
MY 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER LEFT MY FAMILY AND I STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY TWICE AND BOTH EVENTS WERE VERY COSTLY. I OWN THE VEHICLE 16 MONTHS. THE FIRST BREAK DOWN OCCURRED IN HARTFORD, AL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE NEAREST DEALER JAX, FL 300 PLUS MILES. A BATTERY CABLE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE REACHED 48,000 MILES WHEN I MADE A FORMAL COMPLAINT OF ENGINE NOISE AND REQUESTED THE DEALERSHIP (MANTHENY JAGUAR AND LAND ROVER) PERFORM THE APPROPRIATE SERVICES TO INCLUDE NOTING ANY PROBLEMS CONSIDERING THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 50000 MIL. AFTER 50000 THE VEHICLE LITERALLY BEGAN TO BREAK DOWN MECHANICALLY. ONE NOTED COST OF SEVERAL WAS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $4800.00 TO REPAIR. I BELIEVE ANY VEHICLE THAT HAS A MAJOR BREAK DOWN OF THIS NATURE, THE AMERCIAN CONSUMERS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW. THE FREE LANDER IS COSTLY AND PERFORMS POORLY STACKED UP AGAINST AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10098088
Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2004
Fuel System, Other
I PURCHASED A 2002 FREELANDER S IN OCTOBER 2003. THE VEHICLE WAS A DEMO MODEL, WITH APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES. IN THE 10 MONTHS THAT I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE BRAKE AND ROTOR WORK DONE, AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. I HAVE COMPLAINED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASSIONS ABOUT THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER. …
Read full complaint
I PURCHASED A 2002 FREELANDER S IN OCTOBER 2003. THE VEHICLE WAS A DEMO MODEL, WITH APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES. IN THE 10 MONTHS THAT I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE BRAKE AND ROTOR WORK DONE, AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. I HAVE COMPLAINED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASSIONS ABOUT THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE HEADLINER REPLACED, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER SMALL PROBLEMS. THE MOST RECENT CONCERN FOR ME IS THE 3 TIMES IN 20 DAYS THAT THE VEHICLE HAS HAD TO BE TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THE FUEL PUMP WAS "REPAIRED" A FEW DAYS AGO, YET ONE DAY AFTER PICKING THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALERSHIP, THE CAR BROKE DOWN AND HAD TO BE TOWED IN FOR REPAIRS. I AM NOW TOLD THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL GAUGE. THE HEADACHE OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE IS TOO MUCH. I'VE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS WITH PREVIOUS VEHICLES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10088539
17,900 miles · Aug 11, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
I OWN A 2002 FREELANDER WITH LESS THE 18,000 MILES. BRAKE PADS WENT FROM GOOD TO GRINDING METAL IN ONE DAY WITH NO SIGNS. I BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR $3,000. SINCE THE TRUCK HAS UNDER 50,000 MILES LAND ROVER WILL NOT COVER. WHAT KIND OF SERVICE IS THIS. ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE DID A GREAT JOB PICKING UP MY TRUCK BUT I WAS INFORM…
Read full complaint
I OWN A 2002 FREELANDER WITH LESS THE 18,000 MILES. BRAKE PADS WENT FROM GOOD TO GRINDING METAL IN ONE DAY WITH NO SIGNS. I BOUGHT EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR $3,000. SINCE THE TRUCK HAS UNDER 50,000 MILES LAND ROVER WILL NOT COVER. WHAT KIND OF SERVICE IS THIS. ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE DID A GREAT JOB PICKING UP MY TRUCK BUT I WAS INFORMED THAT MY LOCAL LAND ROVER HAS NO CARS FOR LOANERS DUE TO ANOTHER FACILITY CLOSING IN EDEN PRAIRIE MINNESOTA. SO HERE I SIT WITH NO WHEELS. IF THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE REPAIRED UNDER ANY OF MY WARRANTIES YOU WILL SEE A LAWSUIT BROUGHT AGAINST LAND ROVER. LOOK AT THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS TRUCK FOR BRAKES, THESE ARE FACTORY DEFECTS. YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE BRAKES AND ROTORS EVERY 10,000 MILES. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10086631
7,000 miles · Jun 29, 2004
Visibility
I BOUGHT A FREELANDER IN 2002. IT WAS BRAND NEW. I HAVE HAD SO MANY TROUBLES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE ONE THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING WORKED AS A LEMON LAW CASE IS THE SUN ROOF. I HAVE HAD IT BREAK FOR THE 5TH TIME NOW. THEY HAVE REPLACED IT ONCE AND SWAPPED PARTS THE OTHER 3 TIMES AND STILL NOTHING WILL FIX IT. I AM CURRENTLY WORKING …
Read full complaint
I BOUGHT A FREELANDER IN 2002. IT WAS BRAND NEW. I HAVE HAD SO MANY TROUBLES WITH THE VEHICLE. THE ONE THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING WORKED AS A LEMON LAW CASE IS THE SUN ROOF. I HAVE HAD IT BREAK FOR THE 5TH TIME NOW. THEY HAVE REPLACED IT ONCE AND SWAPPED PARTS THE OTHER 3 TIMES AND STILL NOTHING WILL FIX IT. I AM CURRENTLY WORKING WITH MY LOCAL STATE OFFICE OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO TRY AND REMEDY THIS ISSUE. THEY CURRENTLY ARE WORKING ON THE 5TH BREAKAGE TODAY. NOT SURE WHAT THEY WILL DO TO TRY AND FIX THAT ISSUE. NOT TO THE MENTION THE BREAKING SYSTEM THAT IS A NIGHTMARE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES AT 30000 AFTER THEY DUG INTO THE ROTORS. THE DOWNHILL DECENT LIGHT COMES ON WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT FOR NO REASON. THE BRAIN FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT. THIS CAR IS A CONSTANT HEADACHE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10078996
16,500 miles · Apr 19, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ITS REALLY A 2001 FREELANDER, THERE IS NO 2001 FREELANDER IN THE SEARCH OPTIONS....BUT ANYWAYS I HAVENT HAD ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL WITH MY CAR UNTIL ABOUT 16500 MILES AND MY LEFT ROTOR STARTED GRINDING SO I HAD TO GET BOTH OF MY FRONT PADS REPLACED AND THE DRUMS WERE FINE. I DONT THINK THAT THE PADS SHOULD GO OUT THIS SOON, I STIL…
Read full complaint
ITS REALLY A 2001 FREELANDER, THERE IS NO 2001 FREELANDER IN THE SEARCH OPTIONS....BUT ANYWAYS I HAVENT HAD ANY PROBLEMS AT ALL WITH MY CAR UNTIL ABOUT 16500 MILES AND MY LEFT ROTOR STARTED GRINDING SO I HAD TO GET BOTH OF MY FRONT PADS REPLACED AND THE DRUMS WERE FINE. I DONT THINK THAT THE PADS SHOULD GO OUT THIS SOON, I STILL HAVE THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON, AND THEY WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED IN THE NEXT YEAR, BUT THE PADS WENT OUT SO SOON. EVERYTHING IS FINE NOW....ITS A GREAT CAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10066430
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
Illustration