NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
52 reportsClear category filter45,000 miles · Jun 15, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER AND HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ONLY REMEDY WOULD BE TO INSTALL A REBUILT ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS SUCH A COMMON ISSUE THAT THERE WERE…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER AND HAS BEEN THERE EVER SINCE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ONLY REMEDY WOULD BE TO INSTALL A REBUILT ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS SUCH A COMMON ISSUE THAT THERE WERE NO ENGINES AVAILABLE AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO WAIT SIX WEEKS FOR THE REPAIR. THE HEAD GASKET FAILED AND CAUSED ANTIFREEZE TO MIX WITH OIL, WHICH DESTROYED THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER DURING THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CYLINDER LINERS WERE MADE OF STEEL AND THE REST OF THE ENGINE WAS ALUMINUM. WHEN THE ENGINE HEATED, THE PART COLLAPSED INTO THE ALUMINUM PARTS, WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL AND THE POWER TO SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON ONE OCCASION. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER IT STALLED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 45,000. UPDATED 7/14/09 *CN UPDATED 07/17/09.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10273873
45,000 miles · Jun 15, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10273864
64,000 miles · Jun 9, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
I NOTICED THAT MY FAN WAS RUNNING LOUDER THAN NORMAL AFTER I PARKED MY CAR. I CHECK THE ENGINE COOLANT I WAS PRETTY LOW. I FILLED THE COOLANT TO THE MAX AMOUNT. THE NEXT DAY NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A HUMMING SOUND WHEN I PARKED MY VEHICLE FOR THE NIGHT. I NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT WAS ALREADY GONE FROM REPLACING IT THE DAY PRIOR. …
Read full complaint
I NOTICED THAT MY FAN WAS RUNNING LOUDER THAN NORMAL AFTER I PARKED MY CAR. I CHECK THE ENGINE COOLANT I WAS PRETTY LOW. I FILLED THE COOLANT TO THE MAX AMOUNT. THE NEXT DAY NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A HUMMING SOUND WHEN I PARKED MY VEHICLE FOR THE NIGHT. I NOTICED THAT THE COOLANT WAS ALREADY GONE FROM REPLACING IT THE DAY PRIOR. I DIDN'T NOTICE ANY LEAKS OR PUDDLES UNDER THE CAR. WHEN I TRIED TO START THE CAR A DAY LATER IT SOUNDED LIKE A TRACTOR. ONCE I PUT IN GEAR IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WELL. IT WOULD BARELY GO OVER 20. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I DECIDED TO PARK MY CAR AND GET A RENTAL AND HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE LAND ROVER DEALER. I DROPPED THE CAR OFF AND WAS TOLD LATER THAT MY CAR 3 CYLINDERS HAD FAILED. THAT I WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CAN GO TO RUNNING GREAT TO NOT RUNNING AT ALL. I KEPT UP WITH ALL THE REQUIRED MAINTENANCE. NOW I HAVE A CAR THAT DOESN'T RUN. I STILL OWE $15,000 AND IT IS GOING TO COST $10,000 TO REPAIR. I HAVE NO OPTIONS. NOTICING THE PROBLEMS BY OTHER PEOPLE, LAND ROVER IS AWARE OF THE DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE REPLACE THE ENGINES OR COMPONENTS THAT WERE DEFECTIVE. THE IS AFFECTING PEOPLES LIVELIHOOD. WE NEED TO GET A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT STARTED. I AM LIVING NOW OUT OF A RENTAL. THIS ECONOMY RIGHT NOW I CAN JUST AFFORD WHAT I HAVE. I DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO GET ANOTHER CAR BECAUSE THE ONE I'M STILL PAYING OFF IS INOPERABLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10273277
23,318 miles · May 19, 2009
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE DISENGAGED FROM THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL LINE WAS RECONNECTED…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FUEL LINE DISENGAGED FROM THE FUEL PUMP. THE FUEL LINE WAS RECONNECTED. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION CONTROL WOULD SPORADICALLY ENGAGE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY CONNECTION TO THE THROTTLE BODY. ALSO, HE EXPERIENCES DIFFICULTY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SRS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LASTLY, THE HEATER COOLER WAS REPLACED DUE TO A PERSISTENT BURNING ODOR EMANATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED ITS WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 23,318.
NHTSA ODI #10269365
50,000 miles · May 13, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentVisibility
2004 LAND ROVER FREELANDER HSE, ENGINE PROBLEMS AT 50K MILES- ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, REAR PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR, VERY COSTLY, BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2007 WITH 38K, HARDLY DRIVE THE CAR CAUSE I TRAVEL FOR WORK AND HAVE RENTAL CARS, BUT WHEN I DO DRIVE THE FREELANDER- IT CAUSES ME MONEY, SOMETHING WILL BREAK EVEN IF I DRIVE IT FOR 5 MIL…
Read full complaint
2004 LAND ROVER FREELANDER HSE, ENGINE PROBLEMS AT 50K MILES- ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, REAR PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR, VERY COSTLY, BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2007 WITH 38K, HARDLY DRIVE THE CAR CAUSE I TRAVEL FOR WORK AND HAVE RENTAL CARS, BUT WHEN I DO DRIVE THE FREELANDER- IT CAUSES ME MONEY, SOMETHING WILL BREAK EVEN IF I DRIVE IT FOR 5 MILES...LAND ROVER SHOULD COMPENSATE FREELANDER OWNERS BECAUSE THESE CARS SHOULDN'T BE SOLD TO US WHEN THE CAR ITSELF IS UNSAFE AND A LEMON IN THE BEGINNING...PLEASE- HELP!! INCIDENTAL DATES ARE TOO MUCH TO LIST!! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10268639
81,399 miles · Apr 24, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
I HAVE HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE'S COOLING SYSTEM ON MY 2004 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THAT AFTER PERFORMING A LENGTHY SYSTEMS CHECK, THEY COULD NOT PINPOINT A SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE COOLANT LEVELS, ADD 50/50 COOLANT AS NEEDED ( WHICH…
Read full complaint
I HAVE HAD ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE'S COOLING SYSTEM ON MY 2004 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THAT AFTER PERFORMING A LENGTHY SYSTEMS CHECK, THEY COULD NOT PINPOINT A SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE COOLANT LEVELS, ADD 50/50 COOLANT AS NEEDED ( WHICH WAS EVERY 5-10DAYS), AND MONITOR MY OIL TO MAKE SURE THAT THE COOLANT DID NOT MIX WITH THE OIL AND CAUSE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE. I KEPT ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHECKS (EVERY 3K MILES) ON THE CAR. MY CAR CURRENTLY HAS 81,400 MILES. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR OVER A YEAR. MY ENGINE HAS FINALLY BLOWN A ROD AND BEARING AND REQUIRES ENGINE REPLACEMENT WHICH COULD COST FROM $5-9,000 USED AND $15,000 NEW. I BELIEVE THAT LAND ROVER IS AWARE OF MANY OF THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE DYSFUNCTIONAL COOLING SYSTEM. I BELIEVE THEY COULD HAVE BEEN MORE PROACTIVE SO THAT SUCH A PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED...ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE DONE EVERYTHING THAT THEY HAVE REQUESTED OF ME. I AM NOT IN THE POSITION TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND MAY HAVE TO TAKE A LOSS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10266573
Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
LAND ROVER FREELANDER HEAD GASKET AND ENGINE FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10258191
54,000 miles · Jan 27, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
2004 LANDROVER FREELANDER/COOLANT PROBLEMS/RESALE VALUE IS 1/2 OF $ OWED AFTER 4 YEARS. DEALERSHIP TELLING ME THEY WON'T EXCEPT THIS CAR AS A TRADE IN, HOWEVER WERE MORE THAN HAPPY TO SELL ME THE VEHICLE. WINDOW MOTORS ALL 4 HAVE FAILED. STILL LEAKING COOLANT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10256544
51,000 miles · Jan 22, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
ENGINE BREATHER VALVE FROZE UP , THE ENGINE START LEAKING OIL , POSSIBLE FIRE OR DESTROY THE ENGINE. STRANDED. THE SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THE ISSUE BUT THE DEALER ISN'T HONORING THE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10256034
62,000 miles · Jan 2, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingCrash
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE USE OF VARYING ALLOYS WITH DIFFERENT EXPANSION PROPERTIES USED IN ENGINE MANUFACTURE. THE DESIGN OF ENGINE INCLUDES METAL SLEEVES THAT LINE THE CYLINDER WALLS THAT WHEN HEATED TO NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE ALLOW THE SLEEVES TO SLIDE INTO THE ENGINE RESULTING IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. LRNA IS BEE…
Read full complaint
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE USE OF VARYING ALLOYS WITH DIFFERENT EXPANSION PROPERTIES USED IN ENGINE MANUFACTURE. THE DESIGN OF ENGINE INCLUDES METAL SLEEVES THAT LINE THE CYLINDER WALLS THAT WHEN HEATED TO NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE ALLOW THE SLEEVES TO SLIDE INTO THE ENGINE RESULTING IN CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. LRNA IS BEEN WARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE DEFECT HAS BEEN KNOWN SINCE 2002 BUT IT COULD RANGE BACK TO THE 1990'S AND CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE THE FAULTY ENGINES. THIS DEFECT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THIS FAILURE LEADS TO TOTAL POWER LOSS THAT IN A SNOWY OR ICY CONDITIONS OR HEAVY TRAFFIC AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS INEVITABLY CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT RESULTING IN AN INJURY OR DEATH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10253582
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