NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
226 reports42,000 miles · Dec 24, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
BOTH HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING COOLANT FROM ALL FOUR CORNERS. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE IN THIS MODEL CAUSED BY THE CYLINDER SLEEVES COMING LOOSE. THE SLEEVES CONTACT THE HEAD GASKETS CAUSING THEM TO LEAK. EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE FAILS. THERE HAVE BEEN CONTINUING COOLANT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE NEW. WHEN IT WAS A MONTH OLD ALL …
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BOTH HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING COOLANT FROM ALL FOUR CORNERS. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE IN THIS MODEL CAUSED BY THE CYLINDER SLEEVES COMING LOOSE. THE SLEEVES CONTACT THE HEAD GASKETS CAUSING THEM TO LEAK. EVENTUALLY THE ENGINE FAILS. THERE HAVE BEEN CONTINUING COOLANT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR SINCE NEW. WHEN IT WAS A MONTH OLD ALL THE COOLANT DISAPPEARED. THE DEALER OFFERED NO EXPLANATION. SINCE THEN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND TEMPERATURE SENSOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED. IT HAS ALWAYS LEAKED COOLANT.
NHTSA ODI #10372888
120,840 miles · Nov 15, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkagesPower Train
1 NUMEROUS PROBLEMS OVER SEVERAL YEARS, INCLUDING (BUT NOT LIMITED TO) SUDDEN LOSS OF COOLANT AND OIL. AND YESTERDAY, A STRONG SMELL OF HOT OIL, AND SUDDEN SQUEALING FROM RIGHT, FRONT WHEEL. 2 COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. VEHICLE IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. 3 CONTACTED LANDROVER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10365663
68,000 miles · Sep 30, 2010
Electrical SystemFireInjury
MY SONS 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER CAUGHT FIRE ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2010 AT 4:00 AM. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED SINCE 11:00 PM THE PREVIOUS EVENING. AT 4:00 AM MY SON HEARD HIS ALARMS IN THE CAR GOING OFF AND RUSHED TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON TO FIND THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. HE TRIED TO SLAP THE FIRE OUT WITH HIS HANDS…
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MY SONS 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER CAUGHT FIRE ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2010 AT 4:00 AM. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED SINCE 11:00 PM THE PREVIOUS EVENING. AT 4:00 AM MY SON HEARD HIS ALARMS IN THE CAR GOING OFF AND RUSHED TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON TO FIND THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. HE TRIED TO SLAP THE FIRE OUT WITH HIS HANDS AND RECEIVED 3RD DEGREE BURNS DUE TO THIS. HE THEN RAN INSIDE AND RETRIEVED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FIRE WAS CONTAINED, BUT THE DAMAGE WAS SO SEVERE, THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE WIRING SYSTEM UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN. WE DO HAVE A CASE OPEN WITH LAND ROVER, BUT THEIR REPRESENTATIVE STATED THIS IS ONLY FOR THEIR INTERNAL USE AND NO COMPENSATION WOULD BE MADE. MY SON ONLY OWNED THE PRE-USED VEHICLE FOR ONE MONTH AND HAD ONLY SECURED "LIABILITY" INSURANCE ONLY ON THE VEHICLE UNTIL HIS NEXT PAYCHECK SO HE COULD AFFORD FULL COVERAGE. WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT A VEHICLE WOULD CATCH ON FIRE BY ITSELF. WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT HE WAS NOT HARMED FURTHER AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PARKED IN THE GARAGE, BUT WE ARE EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THAT A VEHICLE WHICH HE OWNED FOR ONLY ONE MONTH WOULD CATCH FIRE AND LAND ROVER WILL NOT OFFER ANY COMPENSATION FOR OUR LOSS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10358450
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
COOLANT LEAKING, HEAD GASKET FAILURE, THERMOSTAT FAILURE FOR 90,000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10348921
83,000 miles · Jul 29, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE STALED WITHOUT WARNING. THE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE STORE WHERE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTAC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN THE VEHICLE STALED WITHOUT WARNING. THE OIL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE STORE WHERE THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS STILL UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,000. UPDATED 10/20/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ISSUE HAS BEEN SETTLED WITH LANDROVER. UPDATED 10/21/10*JB
NHTSA ODI #10346044
77,000 miles · Jun 21, 2010
Air BagsCrash
INVOLVED IN HEAD ON COLLISIONS AT 30MPH. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10339410
101,000 miles · Apr 30, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentLatches/locks/linkages
I TOOK MY 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER INTO LAND ROVER TO BE SERVICE BECAUSE MY TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID IT WASN'T THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT WAS THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, THE VACUUM HOSES, AND SENSOR THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. SO WE HAD THEM REPLACE THE MANIFOLD, HOSES AND SENSORS. …
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I TOOK MY 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER INTO LAND ROVER TO BE SERVICE BECAUSE MY TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. THEY SAID IT WASN'T THE TRANSMISSION BUT IT WAS THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD, THE VACUUM HOSES, AND SENSOR THAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. SO WE HAD THEM REPLACE THE MANIFOLD, HOSES AND SENSORS. THE SERVICE MANAGER KEEP NARRATING THAT IT WASN'T THE TRANSMISSION. WE PICKED UP THE CAR THE NEXT DAY AGAIN THE SERVICE MANAGER ASSIST IT WASN'T THE TRANSMISSION AND THE CAR IS RUNNING PERFECTLY. AS SOON AS I WENT ABOUT 2 MILES MY TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO LAND ROVER THE NEXT DAY IRRITATED. THE CAR SPENT 5 DAYS AT THE SHOP TRYING TO FIND OUT THE PROBLEM. WHICH WAS INDEED THE TRANSMISSION, THEY DIDN'T OFFER TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION BUT TO REFUND THE MONEY AND PUT THE OLD PARTS BACK IN. WHICH WE AGREE TO UNLESS THEY GUARANTEE IT WOULD BE IN THE SAME CONDITION. IT WAS MAKING MORE NOISE THEN BEFORE, 2 WEEKS LATER THE TIMING BELT BROKE. THIS CAR IS A LEMON. ITS DOESN'T MAKE SINCE HOW THE ENGINE, THE TIMING BELT, THE TRANSMISSION, AND THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD ALL FELL AT ONCE. THE CAR IS NOT RUNNING AND STUCK IN MY DRIVE WAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10328210
37,583 miles · Apr 13, 2010
Power Train
MY 2002 LANDROVER FREELANDER IS NOW DEAD. FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN 8 YEARS THE CAR HAVE EXPERIENCE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AFTER ONLY 8 MONTHS OF OWING A BRAND NEW OUT OF FACTORY VEHICLE. NOW ABOUT 5 YEARS LATER THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN AND THE MECHANIC CLAIMS I NEED ANOT…
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MY 2002 LANDROVER FREELANDER IS NOW DEAD. FOR THE SECOND TIME IN LESS THAN 8 YEARS THE CAR HAVE EXPERIENCE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AFTER ONLY 8 MONTHS OF OWING A BRAND NEW OUT OF FACTORY VEHICLE. NOW ABOUT 5 YEARS LATER THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN AND THE MECHANIC CLAIMS I NEED ANOTHER NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN %50,000 MILES. THE COMPANY NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE LEMONS. I HAVE REPLACE ALL THE WINDOW REGULATORS EXCEPT THE REAR DOOR WHICH NEEDS TO BE REPLACE BUT BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT PROBLEM I HAVEN'T BOTHER. THE COOLING SYSTEM IS ALWAYS HAVING PROBLEMS. MY GOODNESS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10325418
90,000 miles · Apr 10, 2010
Power Train
2002 FREELANDER SE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT 90,000 MILES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10324841
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER DEFECTIVE ENGINE REPLACEMENT *CW AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE HAD A DESIGN FLAW. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED IT WOULD COST$5,800, BUT THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE ALSO HAD A DESIGN FLAW. THE VEHICLE HAD A COOLANT LEAK. THE FIRST COOLANT LEAK WAS FOUND D…
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2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER DEFECTIVE ENGINE REPLACEMENT *CW AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE HAD A DESIGN FLAW. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED IT WOULD COST$5,800, BUT THE REPLACEMENT ENGINE ALSO HAD A DESIGN FLAW. THE VEHICLE HAD A COOLANT LEAK. THE FIRST COOLANT LEAK WAS FOUND DURING AN INSPECTION. THE COOLANT OVERFLOW RESERVOIR WAS REPLACED DUE TO A CRACK IN THE PLASTIC CONTAINER. THE SECOND LEAK HAD TO BE PERFORMED DUE TO THE THERMOSTAT LEAKING. UPON COMPLETION OF THE COOLANT LEAK REPAIR, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THERE WAS A KNOCKING TYPE NOISE IN THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE NOISE HAD BECOME LOUDER. AFTER LISTENING TO THE MOTOR AND ISOLATING THE KNOCKING NOISE, IT WAS DETERMINED THE NOISE WAS IN THE AREA OF THE #2 CYLINDER CONNECTING ROD DEEP INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. A CAUSE WAS NEVER DETERMINED FOR THE FAILURE OF THE ENGINE.
NHTSA ODI #10313143
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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