NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
140 reports85,000 miles · Mar 9, 2010
Power Train
I HAVE A LANDROVER FREELANDER 2003 SE, THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR IS VERY HARSH, SHIFTING FROM ONE SPEED TO ANOTHER MAKES VERY BIG NOISE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR LONG TIME. TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP , THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG IN THE OUTSIDE AND ALL LOOK GOOD, BUT AFTER READING IN THE INTERNET I FOUND OUT …
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I HAVE A LANDROVER FREELANDER 2003 SE, THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS CAR IS VERY HARSH, SHIFTING FROM ONE SPEED TO ANOTHER MAKES VERY BIG NOISE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR LONG TIME. TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP , THEY SAID NOTHING IS WRONG IN THE OUTSIDE AND ALL LOOK GOOD, BUT AFTER READING IN THE INTERNET I FOUND OUT THAT THIS TYPE OF CAR HAS AN ISSUE WITH THEIR TRANSMISSION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10318163
40,000 miles · Feb 21, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
2003 FREELANDER LAND ROVER - TRANSMISSION DIED AT 40000 MILES AND COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED 2 WEEKS LATER. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR, CAR IS INCREDIBLY UNRELIABLE AND HENCE UNSAFE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10312582
54,000 miles · Feb 4, 2010
Power Train
I HAVE LAND ROVER FREELANDER 2003 TRAVELING SLIGHT DOWNHILL THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGE. THE CAR HAVE 54,000ML ON CONSEQUENTLY HAVE HAD ROUGH RUN AND COMPLETE REAR GEAR LOSS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10305886
61,000 miles · Jan 12, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
COOLANT IS LEAKING VISIBLY IN COOLANT BOWL. I ADD COOLANT ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND DEALER TELLS ME TO REPLACE THERMOSTAT ($1,000). COOLANT STILL LEAKING VISIBLY SO THEY REPLACE BOWL. COOLANT STILL LEAKING VISIBLY. I HAVE FOGGY WINDOWS AND THE DEALER TELLS ME THIS IS VAPOR FROM THE COOLANT LEAKAGE. SO NOW I AM INHALING COOLANT…
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COOLANT IS LEAKING VISIBLY IN COOLANT BOWL. I ADD COOLANT ON A MONTHLY BASIS AND DEALER TELLS ME TO REPLACE THERMOSTAT ($1,000). COOLANT STILL LEAKING VISIBLY SO THEY REPLACE BOWL. COOLANT STILL LEAKING VISIBLY. I HAVE FOGGY WINDOWS AND THE DEALER TELLS ME THIS IS VAPOR FROM THE COOLANT LEAKAGE. SO NOW I AM INHALING COOLANT (GLYCOL) WHICH IS PROBABLY A TOXIC CHEMICAL. NOW I HAVE TO REPLACE A HEATING SENSOR WHERE THE COOLANT IS LEAKING STILL. COST IS $1100, DEALER TELLS ME AT LEAST I DON'T HAVE THE BIG PROBLEM. I SAY, WHAT IS THAT? HE SAYS THE COOLANT CAN LEAK IN ABOUT 1/3 OF THE FREELANDERS AND IT CAN RUIN THE ENGINE. THE COST OF A REBUILT ENGINE IS $7,000. THIS IS THE SAME ENGINE AND WILL MOST LIKELY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10299084
59,500 miles · Jan 8, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
KNOWN DEFECTIVE METAL USED IN ENGINE WITH THIS MODEL... CAUSES ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND ENGINE FAILURE, COOLANT LOSS... ETC. FIRST OVERHEATING IN MY OWNERSHIP OF THE CAR... BUSTED THERMOSTAT 1500.00 REPAIR ESTIMATE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10298674
Mileage unknown · Dec 4, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED RATE ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF COOLANT INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, SMOKED EXPELLED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A COO…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED RATE ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF COOLANT INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY, SMOKED EXPELLED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAKAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT. THE IDENTICAL FAILURES OCCURRED ON THIRTY SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE COMPONENTS REPLACED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME CONSIST OF THE HEAD GASKET AND REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FAILURES CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10294464
75,000 miles · Nov 25, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHEN I PURCHASE MY CAR JAN 2009 IT HAD ROUGHLY 56,000 MILES ON IT. I DID NOTICE THAT WHEN I STARTED IT IN THE MORNING IT HAD A FUNNY SOUND. I TRIED TO BRING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, EITHER NO ONE WAS THERE TO HELP ME OR THE NOISE WAS GONE SINCE THE CAR WAS WARM. I NOTICE SOME SMOKE A WEEK AGO …
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WHEN I PURCHASE MY CAR JAN 2009 IT HAD ROUGHLY 56,000 MILES ON IT. I DID NOTICE THAT WHEN I STARTED IT IN THE MORNING IT HAD A FUNNY SOUND. I TRIED TO BRING BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, EITHER NO ONE WAS THERE TO HELP ME OR THE NOISE WAS GONE SINCE THE CAR WAS WARM. I NOTICE SOME SMOKE A WEEK AGO AND FILLED THE ANTIFREEZE FLUID BACK TO MAX LINE, THEN I NOTICE THE ANTIFREEZE WAS DOWN PAST THE MIN LINE AGAIN, WITH NO ANTIFREEZE ON THE GROUND??? TOOK IT IN THE SHOP AND HE GAVE A LIST OF THIS WRONG, INTAKE MANIFOLD VALVES ALWAYS OPEN, BANK 1 & 2 LEAN, HE REPLACE MY "T" CONNECTOR, JUST TO NAME SOME.. OH YEAH AND NOISE COMING FROM THREE DIFFERENT PLACES.. VALVE TRAN, WATER PUMP/TIMING BELT AND THE ALTERNATOR. NO HE TOLD ME IT WILL COST THOUSAND OF DOLLARS TO FIX IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10293618
93,000 miles · Nov 17, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
COOLANT HAS BEEN LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE EVER SINCE I PURCHASED ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO. LANDROVER FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM BUT NOW THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FUNDS ON MY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER A NEW ENGINE. FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST HALF THE TIME. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A BIG COVER UP.…
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COOLANT HAS BEEN LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE EVER SINCE I PURCHASED ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO. LANDROVER FINALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM BUT NOW THERE IS NOT ENOUGH FUNDS ON MY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO COVER A NEW ENGINE. FOR THE PAST 18 MONTHS MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST HALF THE TIME. IT JUST SEEMS LIKE A BIG COVER UP. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10292592
80,000 miles · Nov 4, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
AFTER KNOWING ABOUT THE COOLANT PROBLEMS OF THIS CAR WE TOOK CARE, HAD AN COOLANT FLUSH AND REGULARLY CONTROL THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH COOLANT. WHEN WE NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT WAS RUNNING LOW, WE TOPPED IT OFF, BUT THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN WITHOUT ANY OBVIOUS LEAKING. THE REPAIR FACILITY SAW SOME CRACKS IN THE COOLANT TANK …
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AFTER KNOWING ABOUT THE COOLANT PROBLEMS OF THIS CAR WE TOOK CARE, HAD AN COOLANT FLUSH AND REGULARLY CONTROL THAT THERE WAS ENOUGH COOLANT. WHEN WE NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT WAS RUNNING LOW, WE TOPPED IT OFF, BUT THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN WITHOUT ANY OBVIOUS LEAKING. THE REPAIR FACILITY SAW SOME CRACKS IN THE COOLANT TANK SO WE CHANGED IT, A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR DID NOT WORK AT ALL AND HAND TO BE TOWED. THE WHOLE ENGINE HAD TO BE CHANGE; THE EXPLANATION WAS COOLANT WAS LEAKING AND MIXING WITH OIL. NOW, WITH THE NEW ENGINE THERE ARE AGAIN WARNING LIGHTS BLINKING AND REPAIR FACILITY TOLD US WE COULD NEED A NEW INTAKE MANIFOLD. MEANWHILE THE COOLANT WAS LOW AGAIN AND WE HAD TO CHANGE THE THERMOSTAT BECAUSE THEY FOUND A LEAKING THERE. THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE COOLANT AND ENGINE TO FIND IN THE INTERNET AND EVEN ON THIS PAGE, SO WHEN DO THEY RECALL THE COOLANT SYSTEM AND ENGINE?? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10291010
103,000 miles · Oct 27, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
COOLANT LEAKS INTO THE ENGINE IN THE 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. PROBLEM STARTED AT 25,000 MILES AND WAS DISMISSED BY THE LAND ROVER DEALER (FRANKEL LAND ROVER- HUNT VALLEY) WHO I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. EVENTUALLY AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES THEY TOLD ME I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I …
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COOLANT LEAKS INTO THE ENGINE IN THE 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. PROBLEM STARTED AT 25,000 MILES AND WAS DISMISSED BY THE LAND ROVER DEALER (FRANKEL LAND ROVER- HUNT VALLEY) WHO I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. EVENTUALLY AT ABOUT 60,000 MILES THEY TOLD ME I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. I CONTINUED TO FILL THE COOLANT CHAMBER DAILY AND DROVE IT UNTIL IT COMPLETELY FAILED AT 103,000 MILES WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE BALTIMORE BELTWAY (695) AT 60 MPH. FREELANDER K-SERIES ENGINES HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO DROP THE CYLINDER LINERS INTO THE BLOCK. BECAUSE THE LINERS ARE STEEL AND THE BLOCK IS ALLOY, THE LINERS BEING HARDER, WORK THEIR WAY INTO THE BLOCK. THIS IS DUE TO THE ENGINE BLOCK AND CYLINDER HEAD BEING COMPOSED OF DIFFERENT MATERIALS THAT EXPAND AT DIFFERENT RATES WITH HEAT GENERATED DURING RUNNING OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CAN CAUSE THE HEAD GASKET TO FAIL. THE HEAD GASKET/CYLINDER LINER DESIGN FAULT HAS NOT BEEN CLASSIFIED AS A RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10289998
Official recalls
5Feb 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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