IllustrationFUEL PUMP DIED AT 56000 MILES ON A LANDROVER FREELANDER 2003 WITHOUT ANY WARNING. HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED 28 MILES TO NEAREST DEALER TO HAVE PUMP REPLACED. *AK
2003 Land Rover Freelander
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Freelander years
Owner complaints for the 2003 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
140–25K
2725–50K
4150–75K
3075–100K
9100–150K
2150K+
123 reports with mileage · 17 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 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. 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.
1 crash reports6 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
140 reportsWHILE DRIVING THE 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER ON THE FREEWAY AND GETTING READY TO EXIT WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED OFF BY ITSELF, BUT THE WHEELS WERE STILL MOVING. IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY BECAUSE I STILL HAD THE RADIO ON AND THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING. IT FELT LIKE IT HAD RUN OUT OF GAS, BUT I HAD A FULL TANK! THANK GOD I WAS MAKIN…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING THE 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER ON THE FREEWAY AND GETTING READY TO EXIT WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY TURNED OFF BY ITSELF, BUT THE WHEELS WERE STILL MOVING. IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY BECAUSE I STILL HAD THE RADIO ON AND THE LIGHTS WERE WORKING. IT FELT LIKE IT HAD RUN OUT OF GAS, BUT I HAD A FULL TANK! THANK GOD I WAS MAKING AN EXIT AT THE TIME, AND IT THE EXIT WAS SLOPING DOWNHILL AND WITH MOMENTUM I MADE IT TO THE FIRST LIGHT. BUT THE WAR WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE LIGHTS WOULD TURN ON, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT. I PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON AND A POLICE CAR PUSHED THE CAR TO THE NEAREST SAFE BLOCK TO PARK MY CAR. THE POLICE VEHICLE DAMAGED THE CAR FROM THE BACK BUMPER BECAUSE OF THE PUSH, BUT AT THAT TIME I WAS JUST HAPPY I WAS OUT OF AN INTERSECTION. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO GET IT CHECKED OUT IT WAS THE FUEL PUMP. IT ENDED UP COSTING ME $500. LAND ROVER DID NOT WANT TO REIMBURSE ME THE $ AT LEAST FOR THE PART BECAUSE THEY SAID THAT I DID NOT USE A CERTIFIED LAND ROVER DEALER.*AK
CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE MANAGER AT AVENEL NEW JERSEY TREATED HER BADLY**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD HER VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER DUE TO THE VEHICLE STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT SHE WANTED TO GET THE RECALL FIXED ON THE CAR FOR THE BACK BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE GAS …
Read full complaint
CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE MANAGER AT AVENEL NEW JERSEY TREATED HER BADLY**CC THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE HAD HER VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER DUE TO THE VEHICLE STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT SHE WANTED TO GET THE RECALL FIXED ON THE CAR FOR THE BACK BRAKE LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE GAS ASSEMBLY WAS CRACKED. *TR
BURNING SMELLS, DASHBOARD LIGHTS ON AND OFF, REAR WINDOW WON'T GO DOWN, STALLS AT STOP LIGHTS, FAN BLOWER WON'T WORK ON SPEEDS 1-3, TOTAL ELECTRICAL MESS.*AK
VEHICLE'S ENGINE HAD HEAD GASKET FAILURE AS SO MANY HAVE. THIS RESULTED IN ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING INTO THE OIL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LOWER BEARINGS FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. LAND ROVER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY WHICH WAS STILL IN EFFECT. THEY CLAIMED A LACK OF PROPER MAINTENANCE EVEN THOUGH WE HAD ALL THE PROPER …
Read full complaint
VEHICLE'S ENGINE HAD HEAD GASKET FAILURE AS SO MANY HAVE. THIS RESULTED IN ANTI-FREEZE LEAKING INTO THE OIL. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LOWER BEARINGS FAILED AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. LAND ROVER REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY WHICH WAS STILL IN EFFECT. THEY CLAIMED A LACK OF PROPER MAINTENANCE EVEN THOUGH WE HAD ALL THE PROPER SERVICE RECORDS. THIS WILL COST $6700.00 TO REPAIR. LAND ROVER EVEN ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE IN A MEMO TO THEIR DEALERS. THE INTERNAL MEMO IS # 0036. A LAWSUIT WILL BE FILED. IT MAY BE A CLASS ACTION AS THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS FOR THE SAME THING POSTED ON THE WEB. *JB
THE LAND ROVER FREELANDER IS NOT A SAFE CAR. I FEEL THIS CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS TO THE CONSUMER WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THIS CAR. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I AM SEEING ON THE INTERNET THAT MY FELLOW FREELANDER OWNERS ARE HAVING SUNROOF PROBLEMS, BRAKES, OIL LEAKS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT LOW MILEAG…
Read full complaint
THE LAND ROVER FREELANDER IS NOT A SAFE CAR. I FEEL THIS CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS TO THE CONSUMER WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS PEOPLE ARE HAVING WITH THIS CAR. I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THAT I AM SEEING ON THE INTERNET THAT MY FELLOW FREELANDER OWNERS ARE HAVING SUNROOF PROBLEMS, BRAKES, OIL LEAKS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT LOW MILEAGE, HEATER CORE LEAK THAT CAUSE WINDOWS TO MIST AT 30,000-40,000 MILES THAT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR CONSUMERS AND I FEEL THE NHTSA NEEDS TO CHECK INTO THESE MANY DEFECTS AND HAVE LAND ROVER PAY THESE CONSUMERS THERE MONEY BACK AND SAVE LIVES. I HAVE HAD MY SUNROOF FIXED TWICE WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES, I HAVE HAD A OIL LEAK WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES, PRESENTLY I AM DEALING WITH A HEATER CORE LEAK AT 50.400 JUST WHEN MY WARRANTY IS UP AND THIS IS GOING TO COST ME 1,000 DOLLARS AND ALL LAND ROVER HAD TO SAY WAS I AM SORRY. I EXPECT A CAR LIKE LAND ROVER TO BE MORE DEPENDABLE THAN THAT, WITH LOW MILEAGE AND ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS. I FEEL THIS IS TO MANY PROBLEMS FOR A CAR THAT LAND ROVER CLAIMS TO BE RUGGED, TOUGH AND DEPENDABLE. I TRULY HOPE THAT NHTSA CAN HELP MYSELF AND MY FELLOW CONSUMERS WITH THE DEFECTS WE ARE HAVING WITH THIS CAR AND PROVIDE CONSUMER SAFETY THAT WE ALL NEED DURING THESE TOUGH TIMES. THANK YOU. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE CAM BOLT BACKED OUT CAUSING THE MOTOR TO BLOW. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THIS WAS A VEHICLE DEFECT AND WAS LOOKING FOR A RECALL. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SECOND FAILURE AT 29000 MILES, THE THIRD FA…
Read full complaint
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE CAM BOLT BACKED OUT CAUSING THE MOTOR TO BLOW. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THIS WAS A VEHICLE DEFECT AND WAS LOOKING FOR A RECALL. UPDATED 10/17/2006 - THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SECOND FAILURE AT 29000 MILES, THE THIRD FAILURE AT 37000. A FOURTH FAILURE AT 49000. THE FINAL FAILURE OCCURRED AT 64000 AND THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY LAND ROVER THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND THAT A REMANUFACTURED ON COULD BE INSTALLED. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH DOWN THE STREET, THE ENGINE STALLED AND OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ACCELERATOR WAS FIRMLY DEPRESSED AND A SMELL OF GASOLINE FILLED THE VEHICLE, YET THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS TO…
Read full complaint
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH DOWN THE STREET, THE ENGINE STALLED AND OPERATED AT A REDUCED SPEED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ACCELERATOR WAS FIRMLY DEPRESSED AND A SMELL OF GASOLINE FILLED THE VEHICLE, YET THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OPERATE AT A REDUCED SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE FUEL LINE CLIPS FRACTURED RESULTING IN FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE. THE FRACTURED FUEL RAIL AND CLIPS WERE REPLACED WHICH STOPPED THE FUEL LEAKAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 9/20/2006 - THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. *NM
2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND LOST POWER. VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE UPPER CAM STARTED TO BACK OUT. *KB THE ENGINE BLEW AT 56869 MILES. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONSUMER REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEREFORE TH…
Read full complaint
2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND LOST POWER. VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE UPPER CAM STARTED TO BACK OUT. *KB THE ENGINE BLEW AT 56869 MILES. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONSUMER REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEREFORE THE CONSUMER WAS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. *NM
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN HER VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND SHE PULLED ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER WHERE THEY FOUND THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED. BEFORE THIS THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING NORMALLY WITH ONLY ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. *JB
Official recalls
507V041000 · 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.
04V489000 · Structure:frame And Members
Oct 7, 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AN INCORRECT WELD NUT WAS INSTALLED. LACK OF THIS BOLT COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE SUBFRAME TO CRACK OR BECOME DEFORMED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A CRACKED OR DEFORMED SUBFRAME COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO INSTABILITY OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THE SUBFRAME FIXING IS CORRECTLY FITTED AND CLAMPED UP. IF NECESSARY, THE SUBFRAME WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE THAT HAS CORRECT WELD NUTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. 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.
04V207000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
May 5, 2004
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE CHILD DOOR LOCK ON THE LEFT HAND REAR DOOR CAN BECOME DISENGAGED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO A CHILD BEING ABLE TO OPEN A REAR DOOR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT HAND REAR LATCH. THE RECALL BEGAN DECEMBER 4, 2004. 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
3EA07018 · Fuel Pump Failure - Stall
Opened Dec 7, 2007 · Closed Dec 22, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
SUBJECT COMPONENT FAILURES FOUND THAT CAN OCCUR AT ANY SPEED AND GENERALLY RESULT IN A NO RESTART CONDITION.THESE ARE GENERALLY CONSIDERED TO BE FACTORS THAT INCREASE THE POTENTIAL SEVERITY OF STALLING INCIDENTS.HOWEVER, THESE INCIDENTS HAVE OCCURRED AT RELATIVELY LOW RATES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLE POPULATION WHEN COMPARED WITH PRIOR INVESTIGATIONS INVOLVING SIMILAR CATEGORIES OF ENGINE STALL CONSEQUENCES.FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR COMPLAINTS AND OTHER INFORMATION RELATING TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES AND TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED.SEE DOCUMENT FILE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION.
PE07036 · Fuel Pump Failure
Opened Jul 17, 2007 · Closed Dec 10, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE07-036 ON JULY 17, 2007, BASED ON THREE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILURE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER VEHICLES.IN EACH INCIDENT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED FOR REPAIRS. IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER, FORD PROVIDED OWNER COMPLAINT INFORMATION, FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA FOR APPROXIMATELY 9,985 SUBJECT VEHICLES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.THE BASE WARRANTY FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS 48 MONTHS OR 50,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST.FORD CATEGORIZED THE DATA BY ENGINE STALLS THAT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE STALLS WITH AN UNKNOWN DRIVING CONDITION, NO START CONDITIONS AND OTHER DRIVEABILITY CONDITIONS. ODI'S ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED A 6.7% FUEL PUMP WARRANTY CLAIM RATE FOR ALL CONDITIONS AFTER APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 5 YEARS OF SERVICE, INCLUDING 1.4% CATEGORIZED AS A STALL WHILE DRIVING EVENT AND 2.1% CATEGORIZED AS A STALL WITH AN UNKNOWN DRIVING CONDITION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA07-018) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE FREQUENCY AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE07-036 ON JULY 17, 2007, BASED ON THREE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILURE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER VEHICLES.IN EACH INCIDENT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED FOR REPAIRS. IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER, FORD PROVIDED OWNER COMPLAINT INFORMATION, FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA FOR APPROXIMATELY 9,985 SUBJECT VEHICLES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.THE BASE WARRANTY FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS 48 MONTHS OR 50,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST.FORD CATEGORIZED THE DATA BY ENGINE STALLS THAT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE STALLS WITH AN UNKNOWN DRIVING CONDITION, NO START CONDITIONS AND OTHER DRIVEABILITY CONDITIONS. ODI'S ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED A 6.7% FUEL PUMP WARRANTY CLAIM RATE FOR ALL CONDITIONS AFTER APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 5 YEARS OF SERVICE, INCLUDING 1.4% CATEGORIZED AS A STALL WHILE DRIVING EVENT AND 2.1% CATEGORIZED AS A STALL WITH AN UNKNOWN DRIVING CONDITION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA07-018) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE FREQUENCY AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE07-036 ON JULY 17, 2007, BASED ON THREE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGING INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN ENGINE STALL WHILE DRIVING DUE TO FUEL PUMP FAILURE IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER VEHICLES.IN EACH INCIDENT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED AND HAD TO BE TOWED FOR REPAIRS. IN RESPONSE TO ODI'S INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER, FORD PROVIDED OWNER COMPLAINT INFORMATION, FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIM DATA FOR APPROXIMATELY 9,985 SUBJECT VEHICLES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES.THE BASE WARRANTY FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS 48 MONTHS OR 50,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST.FORD CATEGORIZED THE DATA BY ENGINE STALLS THAT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE STALLS WITH AN UNKNOWN DRIVING CONDITION, NO START CONDITIONS AND OTHER DRIVEABILITY CONDITIONS. ODI'S ANALYSIS SHOWED THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE EXPERIENCED A 6.7% FUEL PUMP WARRANTY CLAIM RATE FOR ALL CONDITIONS AFTER APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 5 YEARS OF SERVICE, INCLUDING 1.4% CATEGORIZED AS A STALL WHILE DRIVING EVENT AND 2.1% CATEGORIZED AS A STALL WITH AN UNKNOWN DRIVING CONDITION.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA07-018) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE FREQUENCY AND SAFETY CONSEQUENCES OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT.
EA05016 · 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