2003 Land Rover Freelander Consumer Reviews

Agree with the class action suit

Written by: Barb Pentz on 03/27/2009

Vehicle

2003 Land Rover Freelander S 4dr AWD SUV (2.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Had my car for 2 yrs, has 83000 miles on the car. The fuel pump went, upper air intake needed replaced and it too leaked coolant into the oil causing me to need a new engine. All in a 7 month period. The Land Rover dealer told me these cars are unreliable and they have this problem at least once a month. He told me to get rid of it because I will only have more problems. What does that tell you when the dealer thinks it is a piece of junk!!!

Favorite Features

NONE!!!

Suggested Improvements

Recall the products if you know the car is worthless

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Another Bad Review

Written by: Cono on 12/07/2008

Vehicle

2003 Land Rover Freelander S 4dr AWD SUV (2.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Purchased this vehicle as a certified used for my wife to drive. The vehicle was covered under warranty until 03/2008, at which point I knew it's days were limited. We've repaired a door sensor ($400) and coolant leak ($700)within the last 8 months. Luckily, we just traded the unit, but only before the vehicle needed a $700 wheel bearing repair. We were lucky. Read the other consumer reviews.

Favorite Features

The style, heated seats, and uniqueness.

Suggested Improvements

Not comfortable. Vehicle is very much like a Jeep Wrangler. The S model, despite having heated seats and auto everthing, was very bare. Here's my most notable suggestion for the Brit automakers. Design a vehicle with the pride and care that you engineered the Hurricane and Spitfire!

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Worst purchase ever

Written by: cb on 11/25/2008

Vehicle

2003 Land Rover Freelander S 4dr AWD SUV (2.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I bought my LR used with 40000 miles & thank God I bought the extended warranty! It was in the shop 18 times in 16 months-1 time it sat there for 6 months waiting for an engine that cost me 15,000 dollars! Coolant leaks coils going out window motors broken. At 44,000 miles new engine-I waited 6 mos for that one. 5 months later same problem- I needed another new engine! Out of my 18 trips to the dealer 15 were the same engine problems. The dealer bought it back as a lemon. Oh yeah-it was towed 7 of the 18 times because it didn't run. Never again will I buy a LR. Buyer beware-you will have problems!

Favorite Features

I didn't drive it enough to have any

Suggested Improvements

Learn how to make cars that do not need new engines-or have new engines available

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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Wish I knew

Written by: Jholl on 09/05/2008

Vehicle

2003 Land Rover Freelander SE 4dr AWD SUV (2.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I wish I would have seen these reviews before I bought the Freelander in April. I have only driven it about 5 weeks since I bought it. It has been in the shop the rest of the time. The place I bought it from wouldn't even deal with me. Neither would Land Rover. A trailing arm split in half, wish I could post pics, from a pot hole. The new problem is the fuel system. It was replaced a week ago and malfunctioned, leaving me stranded on the highway. I have seen the truck on a flatbed more than I have seen myself behind the wheel. I had to get AAA because I ran out of insurance tows. Oh yeah if an extended warranty is your thought, don't think it because LR nor anyone else will give you one.

Favorite Features

I'll have to get back to you when I have driven it for more than a couple of weeks at a time.

Suggested Improvements

Customer service, reliability, extended warranties

12 out 14 people found this review helpful

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I'm buying American!

Written by: uscarbuyer on 07/02/2008

Vehicle

2003 Land Rover Freelander SE3 2dr AWD SUV (2.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

My Land Rover owned me. I have never owned a vehicle that required so much maintenance. I have never off-roaded in my Land Rover, nor have I had a fender bender or accident. I purely drive on the pavement to and from work, and in town driving to the movies, dinner, etc. My car is a southern car and has only seen snow for two weeks in the almost 5 years it has owned me. I cannot recommend buying any Land Rover! Anything that goes wrong you are told it is the "British design". Brakes and batteries are expected to last 10-20K miles. I cannot remember the number of recall notices, too many to count. At times the windows won't power down. I thought I would enjoy the durability. Nope. All of the cap covers & compartment covers fall off. My drink holder spring fell out for no apparent reason. I am not tough on my car & it is literally falling apart. I will find plastic pieces on the floor & have no idea where they came from. I'm buying American!

Favorite Features

None.

Suggested Improvements

Oh, they stopped making the car. Apparently they realize that it is horrible. Too bad I was stuck with it!

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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My biggest headache

Written by: 2003 Freelander on 06/24/2008

Vehicle

2003 Land Rover Freelander S 4dr AWD SUV (2.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I purchased this vehicle certified December of 2006 and I've had nothing but problems. First, I had to have the ball bearing replaced (under warranty $3,000). Then the engine ran hot 3x's, each time the coolant had run out and had to be replaced. The 4th time I had to take it in due to the coolant again, it turned out that I needed a new engine! Thank God for warranties ($7,000). Now it's in the shop again because the gasket needs replacing. I spoke with a Land Rover mechanic that told me to get rid of it. He also said that there have been several problems with the Freelander in general. Further, he said that I will continue to have problems that are expensive if I keep it.

Favorite Features

Works very well in the snow. I live in Cleveland, Ohio where there are horrible winters and this truck maneuvers very well.

Suggested Improvements

The engine needs some serious, serious work.

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Not much "Free"Lander-ing

Written by: Ms Meliss on 05/29/2008

Vehicle

2003 Land Rover Freelander SE 4dr AWD SUV (2.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

This SUV is beautiful inside & out...looks can be very deceiving! This vehicle is FUN to drive, & being a Mom it has lots of spots to store stuff. My fondness is most relevant in its ease of all vantage points while driving (No blind spots!) The down side has been since my purchase I have had to replace my brakes twice, averaging every 16,000 miles! Although covered under warranty, I had to replace the fuel pump, had the car towed to the dealership, upon pick-up, I was horrified to find that my SUV had sustained body damage while at the dealership! Currently, it has overheated three times! After reading previous reviews, and escalating fuel costs, I'm TOTALLY convinced on a Hybrid!

Favorite Features

Love the interior comforts, height of vehicle above driving surfaces, storage, appointments of controls and overall appearance of vehicle.

Suggested Improvements

QUALITY under the hood and in all the other areas that apply to the everyday DRIVING of the vehicle!

4 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Worst Vehicle I have ever bought

Written by: sripley on 04/16/2008

Vehicle

2003 Land Rover Freelander HSE 4dr AWD SUV (2.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

This SUV has a major design flaw affecting the Head Gasket, causing Coolant to seep into the Oil and Cylinders. The SUV cannot be repaired once this issue occurs. I would not recommend buying this vehicle, as it will only cost you thousands of dollars and in the end result in the SUV's engine seizing.

Favorite Features

None-- worst car

Suggested Improvements

See above Head Gasket Failure

4 out 4 people found this review helpful

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2003 Land Rover FREELANDER 6-Cyl. 2.5 L

Written by: Bellap on 03/02/2008

Vehicle

2003 Land Rover Freelander SE3 2dr AWD SUV (2.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

When I bought this vehicle 3/07. I thought it was sporty and great size. With all the bells and whistles. Soon after buying this found that one of the tires was bad, had to have that replaced. Then found my brake lights had issues. Took back to the dealership advised they never worked properly. All within 1 mo. of buying this. Then recall: Brake Light Switch Replacement Recall Action P004. Which came after 6mos of me owning this. Then 2/19/08 my engine over heated. We thought oh, maybe new thermostat. Nope, the whole engine has to be replaced. Guess what? It can't be found. Currently stuck in a car rental warranty only covers 6 days. So I am SOL. Do not buy this vehicle.

Favorite Features

Looks sporty, heated seats. That's about it.

Suggested Improvements

The back window apparently comes off. But it's far too heavy for me to even try. Defroster on drivers side doesn't work properly. Cup holders, everything spills. No pick up at all. Don't put an AKIA engine in it. Put a real engine in it. Gas hog for such a little vehicle.

5 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Sell before warranty ends!

Written by: alesha1 on 01/09/2008

Vehicle

2003 Land Rover Freelander SE 4dr AWD SUV (2.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I liked my car. But the brakes go out a lot. Antenna definitely not in a good location, was ripped off by a tree. It's kinda loud, when you drive. As soon as the warranty expired at 50,000 within a month I needed a new g filter $500 Landrover would do nothing. And now at 70,000 I was loosing coolant car will not start. Apparantly like everyone else I need an engine. I called Landrover the day it would not start, they acted like they had no clue why. Once I got on here I know they know what's wrong with it they are just trying to get me to tow it there so they can charge me an arm and a leg to fix it.

Favorite Features

I like the way it handles on the road.

Suggested Improvements

Get rid of it before the warranty ends, the only problem I tried no one would give me any money for it. I would have had to roll over half of what I owe.

8 out 8 people found this review helpful

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