Used 2002 Land Rover Freelander Consumer Reviews
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sad
i bought mine with 87 000 miles on it, i paid 3000.00 and in my first year i spent 4000.00 , head gasket, power windows, etc, and i had two recall. now a think the car has transmission and engine issues, so sad!!!
run away!
do not buy a used land rover.... maintenance nightmare , replacement parts will break you. no one but dealers can work on them, look it up plz... a water pump replacement for this vehicle is approx $3,300.00 dont believe me..? call a dealer and ask. Worst auto mistake I've ever made.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Doesn't Live Up to Land Rover
This car was expected to be an excellent car, but what we got was far from it. This car has had issues from day one. Each window, excluding the windshield, has had to been replaced at least once, for a total of seven times because they would not roll up or down. The car currently only has 60,000 miles on it, but only two years after buying the car, the transmission had to be replaced at a whopping $6000. Roughly four years ago, the engine had overheating problems, and since then, we've only been able to drive it short distances, which kept things at bay. This car wasn't built very well, but hey, it is a nimble little SUV, and is still fun to drive. I just don't touch the manual shifter..
Night mare
I have spent over $12,000 on this car, $7,500 of which at a dealership to fix the engine, with no luck. Then the transmission broke down and that took another $4,000. It has been out for less than 200 miles and the service engine light is on. This car is so lovable but such a nightmare. Are there new model engines and transmissions that can work on this 2002 Freelander?
We love our Landrover Freelander
There's a Landrover club and many other Freelander owners love theirs as we love ours and have had no problems with it other than normal wear items. It seems the only ones writing reviews are ones that have had problems but most Freelander owners I know have a good and reliable experience with theirs.
nothing but troubles
I have had NOTHING but problems with my Rover. It has overheated 4X. Been in the dealership for overheating 3X. They tell me the overheating is due to something different each time. so this time it is in a different shop, since it is now not under warranty. I searched for mechanics - no one wants to touch it. I finally found a place to fix it.. & they are charging me $900.00. They say it needs a new water pump and they have to take apart 1/2 the engine to get to it. I owe the dealership that I bought it from $1000.00 for its MANY other repairs. I am a single mom.. & my credit is awful, so I can't trade it in. I am working to pay for my work transportation. ERGH ! frustrating !
landrover freelander
very expensive to service and maintain. axles are gone @ 75,000 miles, have replaced radio three times, replaced the entire fan unit and sensors at 72 K miles ($1100.00) rotors and pads will be replaced every 20 K miles, but they won't tell you that at the dealership. Service maintenance is time consuming and expensive.
Highly Recommend - Superb features, unbeatable value!
I bought this car a few years back, primarily on the fact that I could afford it and it basically met my needs. I had to put a little work into it, but nothing more than you would expect out of a car with 100k miles on it. Minor things have stopped working like the cruise control but nothing that's worth bothering fixing. This CUV has acceptable clearance and can accept tires 4 inches taller than what's stock (my estimate) and give it a lot more capability off road regarding clearance. Now, the best part of this car is the amazing capabilities. Aside from the luxury accessories - heated seats and windshield, etc. The performance of this little guy is absolutely amazing - on & off road!
And it's not one of those me too vehicle
We looked at all the utes and this one fit us the best. Besides, with 3.9% LandRover credit how could you go wrong? Cargo space is small, and there are a few luxury items you cannot have, but the owners manual is worth it. I now have a button (hood) release, and it is on the passenger side.
Best Car I've Every Owned
We've had our "hippo" since 2005 and purchased it with only 12k miles on it. We now have over 110k and we've loved driving every mile with this SUV. We did a lot of research before we made the purchase and knew about the many problems that others have reported with this vehicle, but we have been so pleased with the reliability and fun-ness of the Freelander. We have not experienced any of the frequent problems that are reported. Neither my wife or I take very good care of the mechanics of our cars. We usually go 10-15k between oil changes, we've never changed the transmission fluid, and sparkplugs were replaced for the first time at 95k. It still runs great and is very reliable.
This SUV made me sad
Land Rover Freelander 2002 was my dream SUV but I had sad news about this car. After 8 months and 60000 miles I had to replace the fuel pump and head gasket. Not mechanics were available to fix this vehicle, not guarantee. I had to pay $4,000.00 to fix this truck and I really was mentally affected for all the problems that this truck gave to me. I not recommend this truck to anybody. I had to give this in trading. Then, I received a letter from Land Rover about a recall part but I didn't have the freelander on my own. But, I had the all receipts, the answer from Land Rover was that if I don't have the truck with me I can not going to receive refund for all that I paid.
Coolant System and Transmission
Transmission had to be replaced. Was still under warranty. Had to have coolant tank replaced, then thermostat replaced because of constant overheat of engine. Vehicle in shop. Dealer says engine needs replacing because of cracked engine. Coolant getting into oil? These are major problems for a vehicle with only 85000 miles and for the cost to purchase this vehicle. Also brake pad need replacing too often.
Don't ever buy a Landrover Freelander
I have never had so many issues with a vehicle. If you are even thinking about buying a Land Rover Freelander STOP! Dont waste your money. Two weeks after I bought it I noticed the engine was over heating and that was the start of my problems. From the motor, to the windows, to the heat, to the sunroof, to the door locks all had to be replaced with NO RECALLS. I know I put at least $6,000 into it. The dealership doesnt exist anymore and the Freelander is a huge lemon. I repeat DO NOT BUY A LANDROVER!
What a nightmare!
Don't be fooled by the Land Rover name or how the truck drives. These things are a nightmare. I had a gasket replaced at 80000 miles and it seems that I was one of the lucky ones to have mine last that long. I have been told that eventually I will need a new motor. The truck drives great in the snow and will turn heads driving down the road. That is if you can keep it out of the shop long enough to enjoy it. Buyer beware!
Freelander - The Best Of The Bunch
The Freelander is truly an incredible machine. It handles like a sports car and handles off-road situations with the best of them including big brother Discovery. With 8700 miles on the odometer it's a pure pleasure to drive city or highway. Totally Satisfied!
Nice little ride
I had a 2002 Freelander for about a year and a half before we had a third child and traded up to a Discovery. In the time I had it I had one problem with the coolant hose popping, but I was just pulling into my driveway when it happened, so no biggy. We made three 1000+ mile roundtrips in the Freelander, and had no problems at all. In a sea of Escapes, Libertys' Rav4s and CRVs the Freelander is a very sweet little alternative. Plus Land Rover dealerships treat everyone so much better than other makes it's amazing.
Junk car
I bought my freelander with around 42,000 miles on it. I didn't have any problems until the car hit 60,000 miles. Since then, this car has been breaking down like I have never seen before. I had to put a new fuel pump, sun roof, drive shaft, window regulator, cam seals, engine . The vehicle has only 80,000 miles on it currently. I maintain my cars and did all the factory recommended service maintenance. Also most of my driving has been on the interstate. I have a second car I do my city driving with. This is the worst vehicle I have ever owned. I will never by another landrover. Do yourself a favor and stay away from landrovers, unless you want a junk car!
It would be nice, if it'd start.
I purchased this vehicle in January of 2007. It ran fine for a few months but then started experiencing every problem you could imagine. Would jolt from 1st to 2nd gear. Electrical issues were vast. Vehicle rarely started. I could get up and drive it to work but then once you turn it off, it wouldn't turn back on - say if you forgot your cell at home, etc. Was temperamental. The air from the vents stunk like pickles.
Worst Car Ever Built
I owned a 2002 HSE Freelander and hope to never own another Land Rover ever again. I have had this vehicle for less than a year and it has been the worst car I have ever owned. The vehicle has been in the shop 7 times in 9 months and the transmission was rebuilt completely. How can a car with 33,000 miles ever have transmission problems. The service engine light comes on pretty much every month and the techs at LandRover never seem to understand why. After my transmission issue...I had the same problem within a week period....isn't it amazing.
I expected more from a Land Rover
I drive a lot on the road, and live on a farm. It is a tough little car and I'm not afraid to take it off-road from time to time. It does hold up to the rigors of off roading quite well, but there are too many little squeaks that i can't get rid of. Great stereo and the seats are comfortable. My biggest gripe is that i have to go to the dealer for oil changes. No one else carries the filters.
Great handling but shoddy parts
In spite of problems with acceleration and poor component parts, the car drives very well and I completely trust it in bad weather. It is comfortable and the engine/drive train have been reliable.
2002 Landrover Freelander
It's sad to say I must agree with all the negative reviews written. This by no means was the worst vehicle I had ever owned. Within the first few months the sunroof went 3 times, after the 3rd time landrover replaced it, but the new one had issues too. I stopped using the sunroof. The driver side rear window broke 3 times. After the 4th year of owning this vehicle hugh mechanical disasters, and finally the engine went, transmission started slipping and the diffrentials went. I would never reccommend landrover products to anyone, waste of money and time. Landrover should pay the customers to driver the vehicle.
Nice drive, when not being repaired
Owed it from 2001 to 2011, first 7 years in RI, then NYC. Did not handle the RI snow like the Audi quattro A4 that I had at the same time. But did feel quite solid on the road, almost like a little tank. Handled quite well for a small SUV, was a pleasure to drive. I almost felt that BMW had designed a little race car; that is how it felt driving on dry roads sometimes (BMW owned LR while the Freelander was being designed, I think). But, boy, did it have PROBLEMS. One winter it spent almost the whole winter in the shop getting fixed, while I was driving a rental paid by Land Rover. I think that was for the broken engine ignition, this required all the keys and ignition/fuel cap to be replaced and it took 1-2 months for the replacements to arrive from England. Then the rubber seal of the rear window leaked and had to be replaced when rainwater accumulated in the car. One day the engine lost much of its power and banging was heard, 2/6 cylinders had somehow failed. Drove it slowly and carefully to LR for repairs and it stayed there for a while. I was constantly worried that the rear door window lowering mechanism would fail (it did have hiccups at times), which then basically prevented us from opening the tail door, but it never permanently failed. The fuel gauge seemed to get stuck at half in the beginning, so I would tank up the car every time it approached half, because after that it just stayed at half. This somehow spontaneously fixed itself after about a year. Or maybe LR fixed it w/o telling me in one of my many trips to their shop. I do not think I told them about this relatively tiny problem with all the other more serious ones they were working on. I already felt like a pest. I think the LR service chief was embarrassed every time I came, each time there was some serious issue after another to be addressed. One of there rear brakes was "stuck" after release of the hand brake. They had to replace something. Something was banging in one of the front wheels after about one year and this required some replacement too, but was fine after. Cannot recall all the problems in detail, but I was so many times in that LR dealership in RI, it was ridiculous, I tried out all the loaners, I think, and went through all the Enterprise rental cars they had there, while mine was getting fixed. There was just one problem after another. All repair were under warranty in that period. With that experience I got an extended warranty and put it to good use. The transmission always felt a little "sticky" between 3rd and 4th gear, from the beginning, I mentioned this to LR during one of my frequent visits there, and I think they said something about having it "reprogrammed" (if I recall correctly), but the problem persisted. Some 30-40K miles later it became worse and when they did the transmission fluid change at 60K miles as part of the regular maintenance (the vehicle was at that point out of regular and extended warranty) I picked the vehicle up and drove it home with the transmission basically barely shifting. I called LR at that point to complain to them that they broke something and their response was that I need a new transmission for 7k. I later read that a lot of people had similar problems after such "routine maintenance" with transmission fluid change, and had I known this I would never have taken the Freelander to LR for maintenance out of warrantly. Got the transmission changed when it completely failed 100 miles later for another used transmission at an outside shop and if was fine, until I rear-ended another vehicle and decided not to spend 5-7K to repair a vehicle that was worth only 3K before the accident. Donated it and got 500 dollars for tax deduction. All in all, it was fun when it drove. It never left me stranded, probably because I would notice something different about the sound of the engine and had it checked and repaired before anything worse happened. Oh, almost forgot: it did not have an electronic stabilization program and this cost us almost dearly one day in snowy Vermont. I was driving with about an inch of snow on the road, got over a small hill after which there was a bend in the road, and suddenly the rear end was going sideways, but fortunately there was no one else on the road, the rear end hit the pile of snow at the side of the road and the vehicle soon came to a stop. I learned to appreciate the ESP in the Audi A4 quattro when it kicked in a few times in similar situations, you barely felt anything going on, the vehicle just indicated that ESP came on and continued straight as an arrow. I learned to be very careful when on slippery roads in the Freelande!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
dont do it
I have had nothing but headaches with this truck. Always in the repair shop. overheated 4 times, replaced fuel pump, temp gauge, radiator, headlights both went out due to an electrical problem, back window regulator went at $500.00 just for the part, a few recalls, inspection failures and the I replaced brakes 3x and rotors once. and here's the big one. My Tranny went at 65,000 miles. Land Rover said ... oh well it's over warranty. Truck looks good but is a lot of trouble. Not worth it. Stay away from this one.
great car with some quirks
Great car that does not look like every other compact SUV on the market. The seating position makes it easy to see around you and is comfortable for passangers also. I have had the transmission and the sunroof replaced and there have been a number of smaller issues with the car but the dealer is fantastic to work with. I would recommend this car as long as there is a dealer close by. I do love the thing though and I have had other SUVs before and this one is by far my favorite.
Awesome Drive
I just purchased the Land Rover Freelander after looking at all the SUV's in its class (and test driving them). Not only did I find the Freelander the best in its class, but I also found the dealership to be quite impressive. Very up-front. No cheesie sales people here! The nice sales people and no stress atmosphere is what out me over the edge in getting the Freelander. No hassles. I know another satisfied customer as well who has had one longer. I review again after I have driven it a while. But right, now, I am very impressed.
great car with some quirks
Great car that does not look like every other compact SUV on the market. The seating position makes it easy to see around you and is comfortable for passengers also. I have had the transmission and the sunroof replaced and there have been a number of smaller issues with the car but the dealer is fantastic to work with. I would reccomend this car as long as there is a dealer close by. I do love the thing though and I have had other SUVs before and this one is by far my favorite.
Couldn't Be Happier
This is a fantastic vehicle. Do not buy another small SUV without driving one! We drove the Liberty, Escape, Tribute, Xterra and nothing else came close for ride comfort, handling, fit and finish, among others. We've put only 1100 miles on it so far, but they have been trouble-free and an absolute joy.
A Terrible Car
This is a terrible car! One month after I bought it the timing belt breaks and I spend $ 500 getting a new one put in. The next month, the motor needs to be checked again, another $600 bucks spent on it! I was driving it in manual one day and the transmission loses all gears except for park and neutral. And I was on the interstate at rush hour, the car gets towed overnight because the tow truck won't bring it to my house, Land Rover wants me to spend $1000 bucks getting the tranny rebuilt, the Hyundai dealer where I bought it said to just sell it which I did to my brother for $200 because he would fix it someday. Bad SUV for anybody.
A total lemon
Leasing this car has been an absolute nightmare! From the brakes to the electronics, from the sunroof to the stereo, everything on my vehicle has needed to be repaired. LR North America rushed this vehicle to market and consumers have paid the price. Totals lemons! Land Rover could learn a lot from Honda about customer service and customer retention. Would- be Land Rover owners, BEWARE! My warranty just expired and LR refuses to fix my defective sunroof even though this is known to be a common defect.
Run, Don't Walk, Away from This Car!!
We really like the look of this car and interior, but the reliability and service is the worst. This car has been nothing but problems since day 1. Service people not friendly and overcharge you on everything. Dealerships all very far away unless you live in a bigger city. Engine went out at 50,000 miles, right after lease bought out and warranty up conveniently. Brakes suddenly went out with no warning and ruined the rotors right away. Heater never worked right and sunroof broken. NEVER AGAIN will I step foot on a Land Rover lot or recommend them to someone else. I wouldn't want someone else to be stuck like us. Run away fast!!
great car with some quirks
Great car that does not look like every other compact suv on the market. The seating position makes it easy to see around you and is comfortable for passangers also. I have had the transmission and the sunroof replaced and there have been a number of smaller issues with the car but the dealer is fantastic to work with. I would reccomend this car as long as there is a dealer close by. I do love the thing though and I have had other SUVs before and this one is by far my favorite.
The worst SUV on the road
Ive never had a car with this much problems. It has been in ths shop 6 time in less than 2 years. First time the check engine light came on it was still under warranty. Then the cooling system went haywire. It took three times for the dealer figured out what the problem was. After repacing the hoses, cooling fan and then finally the water pump. Then the brakes wear out unusally fast tearing into the rotors, twice in less than 18 months. Then the sunroof clatters. The back door won't open it needed the motor replaced. Then finally with less than 75k the Transmisson went out the whole thing needed to be replaced.
2002 freelander landrover
Hello I purchased my landrover at 45,000 mi,I felt so lucky to have such a beautiful SUV. The problems began as I drove my car out of the dealership. It was at the dealership for the first month of owner ship , I had fuel line problems, coolant leak, heater core replaced, coolant system replaced, transmission replaced, brakes replaced very often, needless to say the car has been great when it runs... I love it.... but too many mechanical problems,and pricey to fix. I am now at 100,000 mi and once again when I turn the heater on there is a burning smell, and the smell of coolant . I cannot afford anymore work, I cannot afford a new engine or head gasket. I took a loss and traded it in...
the best
the best suv on the market so far, considering value, performance and prestige
Great Choice!!!
This is the first car that I have bought myself, and I am very impressed. I was looking at a lot of other SUV's and almost bought a Pathfinder, until I saw the Freelander. The difference in the handeling and smoothness of the ride separates this vehicle from all the others in it's class. And of course, you can't go wrong with a Land Rover, even one that's affordable!! I reccommend that anyone who is interested in buying or leasing an SUV take the Freelander for a ride, you will be very glad you did.
Upside down nightmare!
Bought it used and thought I was buying a quality car. My mechanic told me was engine was ready to go and I've been having coolant leakage. Currently owe 13,000, dealers will only give me $7,000 and I feel to guilty to sell it out right (would only get retail on it which is $10,000) knowing all of the problems these cars have. So, what do I do with this poorly made vehicle? Don't buy!
Worst vehicle
This is by far the worst vehicle I ever owned. Landrover makes it next to impossible to have other shops do work on the vehicle. The price of their timing belt replacement on the freelander is $2000, this is insane. Four people in my family have owned landrover's and realized it was a terrible vehicle and some have gotten rid of them and other's are trying to get rid of them. Take my advice, and never, never buy landrover products. I don't know how their still in business
Not A Good Purchase
This car got "great" reviews by the auto magazines when I was looking to buy this car in 2002. We have had the transmission blow, which apparently Land Rover knew they should have recalled but sat silent and did nothing, then we had the brakes and air conditioning blow several times, then finally, the engine blows as I am driving it to get its annual service! We are now told that because the Freelander is no longer in production, the engine will be 'very difficult' to find and may take a month or so to locate... then Land Rover tells us that they will not pay for a new engine but will give us a $4500 "credit" towards buying a new Land Rover! Unbelievable.
hope you don't wreck
Initail diappointment derived from poor quality interior (some elements did not even match), cheap leather, disturbing heating elements embedded in the windshield (which have become more distracting with time), and an annoying lurch between first and second gear. Catastrophe set in when I was struck by a hit and run driver. Since Feb 27 2002 (today is June 6th), Land Rover has been unable to supply parts to repair the vehicle! Moreover, the national customer service has ranged from disinterested to rude.
What a Lemon!
Car was bought used w/24,000 miles on it. I had the car for three days when the transmission dropped. When I finally got the car back, one of the rear windows wouldn't go up. Driving 3 hrs to the nearest dealership in Grand Rapids, MI, the engine seized. The dealership told me they had to call the factory in Europe to confirm that a head gasket had gone. In the last couple years, I've had the sunroof fixed 3 times, window motors replaced, speakers replaced & the air conditioner has NEVER worked. Now, at 60,000 miles, BOTH head gaskets have gone. The car I bought for reliability turned out to tbe the COMPLETE OPPOSITE. I would love to join a class action lawsuit against Land Rover....
Another nightmare...
Oh, let's see.. I've put 4500 miles on my Freelander since purchase, and have spent MORE in repair bills than I payed for the car. Transmission- Failed.Transfer Case-Failed. Engine- failing.A/c,Sunroof, Power Door locks, failed, failed, failed. 84K on the clock so far, and if I ever see my Rover again, she's getting traded for a Jeep Wrangler, No questions about it no more Land Rover Products are in my future.
on my 3rd engine
I am now on my 3rd engine it this vehicle, and I only have 60,000 miles on this car. Land Rover is offering me 50% off the engine. It's not drivable... please get these cars off the road as they are seizing up on people while driving.
The Only Tank Built Freelander?
I must be very lucky to have gotten the miles out of my Freelander, even though its dying quickly now. Recently the transmission lost 2nd gear (just skips right over it now) and the sunroof won't open, and the AC just died. However this Freelander was the first one sold in my state and has had a heck of a great run. Currently with 224,550 miles on it (not a typo), I refuse to put money into it at this stage in its life, so I guess its time to part. After reading everyone's issues with this Land Rover model, I feel like I should fix it up and sell it to the Land Rover museum.
Nothing but trouble
I bought this SUV with 60k miles and now its got 65K and I had spend over 3k in repairs. The timing belts and all the components on the front of the engine. Now the fuel pump which is going to be over a thousand. It has been nothing but expensive. I wouldn't suggest this vehicle at all. Unless you got the time and money to keep in the shop. I am selling right after the fuel issue is fixed.
Freelander Rocks !!!
My family and I are quite enamored with this car. It is the perfect size for our needs. We looked at other small SUV's and the Freelander was our favorite, HANDS DOWN ! It is great looking and a pleasure to drive. The ride is smooth and it handles superbly.( It is the perfect ski mobile). The sound system is of high quality. The car attracts a lot of attention. In summary, the Freelander is worth the money.
Freeloser
What was Land Rover thinking?! I have replaced the engine, transmission, heater core, thermostat, exhaust plenum, rear window actuator (twice) and have had my car in the shop longer than I've been able to drive it! Land Rover will not take responsibility for this mistake of a vehicle. I was told the engine broke because the valves bent. They built the engine with "Interference valves" meaning they do interfere. If they are slightly off, the pistons will smash into them, causing them to brake- causing you to need a new engine. I only have 60,000 miles on mine and have spen more repairing it than I owe on it. Does anyone know of any class action lawsuits? Because I am on board.
Freelander solved a major problem!
I just brought a freeland and think it rocks! The Nissan Exterra is TOTAL CRAP compared to this! Also, Land Rover solved a major problem that I had! Most 4x'4's you have to shift into 4 wheel drive mode. When you do not use it much the gera get dried out and it stops working right! With this it is full time 4 wheel drive and thus the above problem is sloved!
So far, so very good!
This car is everything I wanted in a min-SUV and more. Only a couple minor complaints. First, watch your head when you get in. I have to remember to duck. Second, the driver's seat is fixed in vertical position. There is not much extra head room once you are in, and the rear-view mirror blocks a large portion of your outside field-of-view. Takes some getting used to. That said, the Freelander's on-road handling is superb. It drives like a sports car, and it seems to have plenty of power for my needs, even fully loaded with the family. It cost a little more than I wanted to spend, but I definitely feel bathed in luxury. Can't wait to try it off road.
Freelander
Just a great car