NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
83 reportsClear category filter39,100 miles · Aug 5, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVisibility
THIS IS ABOUT TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR 2002 LANDROVER/FREELANDER. KEEPING THE CAR IN BEST SHAPE AND MAINTAINING ON SCHEDULE, STILL THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILEAGE. CAR WARRANTY IS FOR 50K OR 4 YEARS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE WARRANTY WAS UP IN JANUARY 2006. ENGINE HAS SPECIAL NOISE AND CAR IS COMING APART. WIND…
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THIS IS ABOUT TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR 2002 LANDROVER/FREELANDER. KEEPING THE CAR IN BEST SHAPE AND MAINTAINING ON SCHEDULE, STILL THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILEAGE. CAR WARRANTY IS FOR 50K OR 4 YEARS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE WARRANTY WAS UP IN JANUARY 2006. ENGINE HAS SPECIAL NOISE AND CAR IS COMING APART. WINDOW DOES NOT ROLL UP AND DOWN, REAR SEAT GOT STUCK AND WOULDN'T GET ITS POSITION. ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER, BUT THE MAIN ONE IS THE TRANSMISSION. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10164615
56,439 miles · May 17, 2006
Power Train
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE SHIFTED FROM FIFTH GEAR TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING AND THE REVERSE FAILED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THEY REPLACED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
NHTSA ODI #10157756
60,548 miles · Jan 13, 2006
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train
ENGINE COOLANT, TRANSMISSION FAILURE OVERHEATED, LEAKING FLUIDS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMISSION WHEN VEHICLE OVERHEATED. PAID 2500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION THEN DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS VEHICLE NEEDED MORE SERVICING UNRELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION FOR ANOTHER 3000.00. DEALER WAS NEGLIGENT WHEN FIXING TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED F…
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ENGINE COOLANT, TRANSMISSION FAILURE OVERHEATED, LEAKING FLUIDS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMISSION WHEN VEHICLE OVERHEATED. PAID 2500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION THEN DEALER INDICATED THAT THIS VEHICLE NEEDED MORE SERVICING UNRELATED TO THE TRANSMISSION FOR ANOTHER 3000.00. DEALER WAS NEGLIGENT WHEN FIXING TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED FURTHER DAMAGE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10147739
3,504 miles · Oct 19, 2005
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER FROM LAND ROVER NEW ORLEANS (PARETTI) ON AUGUST 19, 2002. SINCE THAT TIME, THE VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS. THE POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE (2), IRD UNIT (2), FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, MANIFOLD CHAMBER AND OTHER ITEMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE BRAKE PADS (2) HAVE …
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I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER FROM LAND ROVER NEW ORLEANS (PARETTI) ON AUGUST 19, 2002. SINCE THAT TIME, THE VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS. THE POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE (2), IRD UNIT (2), FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, MANIFOLD CHAMBER AND OTHER ITEMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE BRAKE PADS (2) HAVE HAD TO BE CHANGED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 35,498 MILES. AFTER REVIEWING EDMUNDS.COM AND OTHER CONSUMER RESOURCE SITES, IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT I ENCOUNTERED HAVE ALSO BEEN ENCOUNTERED BY OTHERS PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD 23 WARRANTY CLAIMS ON THIS VEHICLE AND LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS OF JANUARY 2005, HAS PAID IN EXCESS OF $11,994.55 FOR REPAIRS ON A VEHICLE THAT HAD A PURCHASE PRICE OF $30,603.77. THE AFOREMENTIONED AMOUNT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COSTS OF REPLACING THE TRANSFER CASE, IRD UNIT, FRONT DRIVE SHAFT AND MANIFOLD CHAMBER IN APRIL 2005 OR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY IN JUNE 2005. NEITHER THE LOCAL LAND ROVER DEALER NOR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, INC. HAVE BEEN COOPERATIVE IN DEALING WITH ME ON THIS ISSUE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10140266
41,000 miles · Apr 5, 2005
Power Train
AT 40000 MILES THE VEHICLE STARTED TO BECOME UNSTABLE BECAUSE OF A "WOBBLE" ON THE FRONT WHEELS. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVETRAIN BEARINGS WERE BAD. MY WIFE HAD TROUBLE CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE AND I IMMEDIATLY HAD IT IN FOR SERVICE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10116414
32,000 miles · Mar 30, 2005
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER HAS PROBLEMS WITH FAULTY CAM SENSOR, FAULTY SUNROOF, TRANSMISSION AND BATTERY.*MR THE BATTERY AND STRUTS WERE REPLACED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT CLOSE OR OPEN EASILY, SO THE DEALER REPLACED THE REGULATOR. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DIFFERENT COMPONETS WERE REP…
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2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER HAS PROBLEMS WITH FAULTY CAM SENSOR, FAULTY SUNROOF, TRANSMISSION AND BATTERY.*MR THE BATTERY AND STRUTS WERE REPLACED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT CLOSE OR OPEN EASILY, SO THE DEALER REPLACED THE REGULATOR. THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DIFFERENT COMPONETS WERE REPLACED TO TRY AND RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10117510
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2005
Power Train
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
NHTSA ODI #10108797
5,656 miles · Nov 1, 2004
Power Train
MY 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER LEFT MY FAMILY AND I STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY TWICE AND BOTH EVENTS WERE VERY COSTLY. I OWN THE VEHICLE 16 MONTHS. THE FIRST BREAK DOWN OCCURRED IN HARTFORD, AL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE NEAREST DEALER JAX, FL 300 PLUS MILES. A BATTERY CABLE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE REACHED 48,000 M…
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MY 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER LEFT MY FAMILY AND I STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY TWICE AND BOTH EVENTS WERE VERY COSTLY. I OWN THE VEHICLE 16 MONTHS. THE FIRST BREAK DOWN OCCURRED IN HARTFORD, AL WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE NEAREST DEALER JAX, FL 300 PLUS MILES. A BATTERY CABLE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE REACHED 48,000 MILES WHEN I MADE A FORMAL COMPLAINT OF ENGINE NOISE AND REQUESTED THE DEALERSHIP (MANTHENY JAGUAR AND LAND ROVER) PERFORM THE APPROPRIATE SERVICES TO INCLUDE NOTING ANY PROBLEMS CONSIDERING THE WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 50000 MIL. AFTER 50000 THE VEHICLE LITERALLY BEGAN TO BREAK DOWN MECHANICALLY. ONE NOTED COST OF SEVERAL WAS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $4800.00 TO REPAIR. I BELIEVE ANY VEHICLE THAT HAS A MAJOR BREAK DOWN OF THIS NATURE, THE AMERCIAN CONSUMERS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW. THE FREE LANDER IS COSTLY AND PERFORMS POORLY STACKED UP AGAINST AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10098088
30,000 miles · Mar 19, 2004
Power Train
2002 LANDROVER FREELANDER TRANMISSION FAILURE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10062591
16,151 miles · Dec 10, 2003
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
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…
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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 HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SHIFTING TO LOWER GEARS BY ITSELF AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. IN ADDITION ALL OF THE ON-BOARD FAILURE LIGHTS COMING ON AND STAY ON ROUTINELY. THE CAR CONTINUES TO BE PLAGUED BY ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. AFTER EVERY VISIT THE DEALER I AM ASSURED THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED BY BOTH THE DEALER AND LAND ROVER CUSTOMER SERVICE; ONLY TO FIND MYSELF BRINGING THE VEHICLE BACK LITERALLY DAYS LATER WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. WITHIN 8 MONTHS OF PURCHASING THE NEW VEHICLE, IT REQUIRED THREE SEPARATE VISITS TO THE DEALER FOR A TOTAL OF 15 MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS, BUT THE PURCHASING DEALER COULD NOT FIX ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. IN JUNE 2002, I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WITH IDENTICAL MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS. THOUGH THE CAR CONTINUES TO HAVE HARD SHIFTING AND FAILURE LIGHTS. IN OCTOBER 2003, I STARTED CARING A DIGITAL CAMERA IN THE VEHICLE SO THAT I COULD DOCUMENT THE PROBLEMS. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10049537
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
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