2002 Land Rover FREELANDER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
226 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 179 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 72 of 226 complaints (31.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 89 | 39.4% |
| Braking behavior | 38 | 16.8% |
| Engine operation | 20 | 8.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 7.1% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 3.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 72 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 52 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 35 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 32 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 15 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 72; Engine And Engine Cooling: 52; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 35; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 32; Electrical System: 17; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 15; Power Train: 11; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 39 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 69 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 36 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 39; 50,000 to 74,999: 69; 75,000 to 99,999: 36; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 3
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (69). 47 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 11 |
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 16 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 32 |
| 2008 | 69 |
| 2009 | 25 |
| 2010 | 17 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2002: 11; 2003: 11; 2004: 9; 2005: 16; 2006: 18; 2007: 32; 2008: 69; 2009: 25; 2010: 17; 2011: 4; 2012: 5; 2013: 6; 2014: 2; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 89 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 20 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10043819 · 2003-10-28 (October 28, 2003)
WE OWN A 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES. WHILE ON A TRIP ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD LITE UP AND THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN 4TH GEAR. BECAUSE ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE COULD NOT DIRECT US TO AN OPEN DEALERSHIP, WE HAD TO DRIVE FROM BUFFALO NY TO CHICAGO IL. ONCE BACK IN THE CITY, THE DEALERSHIP TOOK THE CAR AND REPLACED THE COMPUTER, WHICH TOOK MORE THAN TWO WEEKS. ON THE WAY HOME, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. WE BROUGHT THE CAR BACK AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE VEHICLE FOR THE PA…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043819 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044297 · 2003-10-20 (October 20, 2003)
WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT NORMAL CONDITIONS ABS LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND THERE WAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER STATED BRAKING SYSTEM WAS DEFECTIVE BUT THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 33,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044297 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000221 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
I FEEL THE DESIGN OF THE TAIL LIGHTS HAS CAUSED MANY CLOSE-CALL NEAR ACCIDENTS WITH MY FREELANDER. THE DESIGN IS COUNTER-INTUITIVE FOR THE DRIVERS BEHIND ME, WHO EXPECT THE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES ON THE CORNERS OF THE VEHICLE TO ILLUMINATE WHEN BRAKING. THE BRAKE LAMPS ARE IN THE BUMPER, HOWEVER- WHICH DOESN'T SEEM INTUITIVE OR SOMETIMES AREN'T VISIBLE TO A CLOSE-FOLLOWING VEHICLE. WHEN NOT ILLUMINATED, IT'S DIFFICULT TO EVEN SEE THE BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES EXIST, YET THE CORNER MOUNTED ASSEMBLIES ARE AT EYE LEVEL- BUT THEY HAVE NO BLINKERS OR BRAKE L…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000221 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013876 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
BOTH BRAKE LIGHTS AND REAR TURN SIGNALS ARE LOCATED FAR LOW DOWN INTO THE REAR BUMPER; DIFFICULT FOR OTHER DRIVERS TO SEE; COULD EASILY CAUSE REAREND COLLISIION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043123 · 2003-10-17 (October 17, 2003)
ENGINE WILL STALL WHEN VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE, IN DIVE GEAR, AND ALLOWED TO ROLL BACK. ALSO, IF VEHICLE IS ALLOWED TO ROLLBACK AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED, VEHICLE WILL STALL. DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS A "SAFETY FEATURE" AND THAT ALL SAME MODEL VEHICLES DOES THE SAME THING. IF THIS IS INDEED A "SAFETY FEATURE," THEN BRAKES SHOULD HAVE AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS. THIS IS NOT THE CASE, HOWEVER AS THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO ROLLBACK WITH THE STALLED ENGINE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 24,615 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043123 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108797 · 2005-01-25 (January 25, 2005)
THE CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 20 MILES PER HOUR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND AFTER 3 TIMES OF TESTING, RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10108797 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049537 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2002. WITH ONLY 23,000 MILES, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN OUT OF SERVICE FOR 43 DAYS WITH CATASTROPHIC MECHANICAL FAILURES, INCLUDING: 21 DAYS FOR A NEW WIRING HARNESS; 3 DAYS FOR A NEW GEARSHIFT ASSEMBLY AND 8 DAYS FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND ECU AND FRONT BRAKES. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 8 TIMES FOR WARRANTY REPAIRS; AND BRAKES. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP WHERE IT WAS BEEN FOR THE LAST 11 DAYS WITH THE DEALER ONCE AGAIN TRYING TO RESOLVE WARNING LIGHT AND TRANSMISSION ISSUE. I HAVE HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,151 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049537 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051809 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)
2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER EXPERIENCED A VEHICLE FIRE.*MR THE CONSUMER ADDRESSED DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES, LAND ROVER TOLD HIM THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT MEET THE MEXICO LEMON LAW GUIDELINES AND THEY WERE NOT IN ANY POSITION TO REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SUCH AS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR DID NOT UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE, DRIVERS REAR SEAT DID NOT FOLD, THE REAR WINDOW DID NOT GO UP WHEN IT WAS COLD AND THE DRIVERS SEAT WAS SQUEAKY. THE CONSUMER HAD MADE NUMEROUS …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108406 · 2005-02-01 (February 1, 2005)
2002 FREELANDER. USED 1 QUART OF OIL PER 1000 MI. AT 12000. NEW ENGINE WAS PUT IN. BACK WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP. SUNROOF LEAKS. COOLANT BLEW EVERYWHERE. AND THE WORST, WHILE DRIVING ON A RIGHT CURVE, STEERING WENT OUT AND WAS NEARLY A 3 CAR ACCIDENT. DEALERSHIP WANTS ME TO DRIVE IT WITHOUT KNOWING WHY IT'S HAPPENING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108406 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124930 · 2005-06-10 (June 10, 2005)
MAY 26, 2005 WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET IN ORLANDO FLORIDA, THE STEERING ON MY 2002 FREELANDER S FAILED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER IN ORLANDO. ON MAY 27, 2005 I WAS INFORMED BY THE CHIEF LANDROVER TECHNICIAN THAT THE BOLTS HOLDING THE STEERING COLUMN ON THE LEFT SIDE HAD SHEERED OFF. IN LATER DISCUSSION I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. ON JUNE 7 I WAS INFORMED BY THE SENIOR TECHNICIAN THAT HE COULD NOT SAFELY REPAIR THE VEHICLE. ON JUNE 9 I WAS INFORMED BY THE SUPERVISOR AT CUSTOMER SERVICE LAND ROVER AMERICA THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 28,945 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124930 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088539 · 2004-08-25 (August 25, 2004)
I PURCHASED A 2002 FREELANDER S IN OCTOBER 2003. THE VEHICLE WAS A DEMO MODEL, WITH APPROXIMATELY 8,000 MILES. IN THE 10 MONTHS THAT I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE, I HAVE HAD TO HAVE BRAKE AND ROTOR WORK DONE, AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL PUMP REPLACED. I HAVE COMPLAINED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASSIONS ABOUT THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE HEADLINER REPLACED, ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER SMALL PROBLEMS. THE MOST RECENT CONCERN FOR ME IS THE 3 TIMES IN 20 DAYS THAT THE VEHICLE HAS HAD TO BE TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP. THE FUEL PUMP…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10088539 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10208911 · 2007-11-14 (November 14, 2007)
WATER PUMP FAILED, TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT, GAS PUMP FAILED TOOK IT TO SHOP TO REPLACE IT, GAS TANK LID FAILED, BOTH ONE FROM DEALER TO REPLACE IT, ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED, TRANSMISSION FAILED, TOOK IT TO SHOP THEY REFUSE TO FIX, THEY SAY IS NOT THEIR FAULT AND IS NOT COVER BY WARRANTY ANYMORE, WINDOW MOTOR FAILED, WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH FAILED, HEADLIGHTS FAILED, COOLANT CONTAINER CRACK, REPLACED WITH NEW ONE FROM DEALER. STOP LIGHT RECALLED. AIR FILTERING SYSTEM RETAINS WATER WHICH ALLOWS MOLD TO GROW, AIR FILTERS REPLACED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10208911 at NHTSA ↗