My lr Freelander 2003, has an overheating problem, the head gasket is blown and is in need of repair. There are now mechanics that will fix the problem except for the Land Rover dealer and they can not guarantee the work. There is a design defect with the heads in this vehicle know by the manufacturer but they refuse to make this a recall to the consumers and they have stopped making this engine. I need this repair done so I may at least trade the vehicle in for a new vehicle.

- Leland, NC, USA

Poor mechanical design on 2003 Freelander Land Rover with 75,000 miles leading to numerous mechanical failures. Low mileage (40,000 to 70,000) failure of vehicle components including: Brakes (twice), fuel pump, and water pump. Over $5,000 in repairs. Engine now leaking coolant indicating head gasket and eventual engine failure.

- Sequim, WA, USA

My car has endless problems in every aspect!! anyone that owns one are having the same issues and nobody can seem to fix it, nor can I get parts to fix it, and the parts you do get to repair the vehicle break faster than the original parts on the car !! my engine has not failed yet but my transmission has and the dealer ship wont fix it and said there is nothing wrong with it !! iv paid more money fixing the car than I have for the car !! I can't go more than 1000 miles before something else breaks !! I have owned the car for about 18 months and its been in the shop for about 12 of those 18 months !! everyone that has one of these landrover Freelanders has the same issues and nobody can get parts for this car ! nothing works right and nothing runs like it should and even the mechanics at the dealer ship will take you aside and tell you get rid of it while you still can !!! I cant and neither can allot of others like me because of the money they have put into the car just to keep it on the road !! this car has left me and my 20 month old son stranded in the middle of nowhere on more than three or four or five occasions !! I lost track of how many times !! and when something goes wrong with this car your stuck wherever your at !! its not safe to walk down a freeway with a baby at any time during the day or night and that's exactly what iv had to do on many different occasions !! this is not a safe car by any means ! when my fuel pump went out my car just died at 60 miles an hour on the highway and nearly caused an accident with me and many other cars and I thank the good lord nothing happened when the car died and it felt like someone was slamming on the brakes !! this car is a safety hazard in the worst way !! kids should not be allowed too ride in this car do too the fact they might get hit by a car when it dies and leaves you on the freeway or anywhere else your at !! I don't let my son in this car unless its absolutely necessary !! I'll borrow my moms car just to go to the store with him !!

- Beaverton , OR, USA

I am the original owner of a 2003 Land Rover Freelander. I have always followed all of the factory service maintenance intervals and have all of the service records for this well-maintained vehicle. Although the vehicle has only 63,000 miles on it, I recently had to take it in twice for service at the Land Rover of fort lauderdale dealership where I purchased it in December, 2004. I was shocked to learn from my service advisor, jesse robinson, that the vehicle needed a "head gasket and possibly a new engine." He explained to me that coolant was leaking into the engine's cylinders, and that it was only a matter of time before the engine would stop working and be worthless. He told me that changing the head gasket would not solve the problem anyway, that it is the result of a severe engineering flaw that the Land Rover corporation has been aware of for several years. It seems that the engine block, while made of aluminum, has cylinder sleeves that are made of steel. Since metals expand with heat and different metals have major differences in their metallurgic properties, what eventually happens is that the sleeves disjoin from the engine block and begin to slip and slide in place, something no engine should do regardless of the mileage on it. Once the sleeves move, they bend and soon after break the head gasket, which allows coolant to enter the cylinders, which causes the engine to run very erratically until it stops running altogether. Changing the head gasket, therefore, doesn't fix the problem, and even replacing the engine isn't possible. The manufacturer that once built and supplied them for Land Rover went out of business, and what few engines are available are only released to those who bought the factory extended warranty. I have since discovered that there are thousands of very similar cases out there, that anyone with the 2002 to 2005 model experiences the same problems once their vehicles reach 40,000 to 70,000 miles (please see edmunds.com).

- Boca Raton, FL, USA

2003 Land Rover Freelander engine overheating. Consumer has issues with Land Rover fixing the vehicle that is no longer under warranty. The consumer was informed that the engine had seized. It was a known defect in the engine, which caused the coolant to disappear and the engine to overheat. The consumer stated the vehicle never showed any signs of a problem. Updated 03/01/10.

- Glastonbury, CT, USA

My 2003 Land Rover Freelander broke down on the highway. Took it to scott motors of reno (the Land Rover dealer in reno), found out that it needs a new engine. I have an extended warranty through fidelity warranty, they are refusing to pay for it, saying that there is sludge in the engine. I have given them my maintenance records, the car was maintained regularly. Land Rover of reno has had my car for 5 months while I have been trying to get someone to honor my warranty. I bought the car from internet auto of reno they are willing to reimburse me for my warranty of $2540. The cost to fix replace the engine is $7250, for the same engine. I have been told that there is no way to prevent this from happening again. I have been making payments on this car and still owe more on it than it is worth. So far no one is willing to pay for the repairs, the cost to replace the engine is as much as the car is worth, land rove knows of this problem, and fidelity warranty is not honoring their contract.

- Zephyr Cove, NV, USA

Incident: Engine failure/engine block leak in 2003 Land Rover Freelander SE3.

- Barnstead, NH, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Land Rover Freelander. While driving at any speed, the vehicle completely shut down on at least four occasions. The vehicle was towed to the dealer each time. The dealer has never repaired the failure; therefore, the vehicle continues to shut off and get towed. The vehicle has been to the dealer at least seventeen times for the heating and cooling system. The passenger compartment smelled as if something were burning. A couple of times after shutting the vehicle down, the contact could hear the reservoir boiling. On several occasions, he noticed smoke coming from beneath the engine like steam. The vehicle has been taken to the dealer at least nine times regarding the thermostat and heating core. The vehicle has been to the dealer at least eleven times for the window motors. The vehicle is currently with the dealer after shutting off again. The contact has the repair invoices. The current mileage was 65,000 and failure mileage was 24,379.

- Berkley, CA, USA

Vehicle was brought into the dealership multiple times for overheating. After the 4th time the car overheated and I lost all power as it caught on fire. I had to make a dangerous lane change across 4 lanes of highway while losing power. The engine was replaced in 2006 but the dealership said it was just over warranty. The vehicle still is having problems starting and is being towed to the mechanic again today.

- Provincetown, MA, USA

Check engine light on, vehicle stalled & woud not start.

- Holladay, UT, USA

Cruise control is not working, parking brake light stays on, vehicle stalled out while driving at highway speeds, heater core leaking. Took vehicle into dealership they replaced the leaking heater core, hose camshaft, anti freeze hose.

- Holladay, UT, USA

2003 Freelander, will stall or come to a complete stop. Nothing works, no brakes, steering, everything locks up. I was on the freeway going about 75 mph and my vehicle just stalled, this has happened on multiple occasions.

- Holladay, UT, USA

Check engine light on. Engine wont start.

- Holladay, UT, USA

Vehicle loses power, check engine light is on & stays on. Traction control light comes on & stays on.

- Holladay, UT, USA

Vehicle shuts down while driving, dies when slowing down 1. 10/26/06-reset throttle 2. 10/29/06-replace wiring assembly, replace throttle body electrical connector. 3. 10/26/07-replace fuel pump gasket, replaced LH/front bank ignition coil, replaced spark plug.

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

Service engine soon light illuminated 1. 08/07/06-internal failure of intake chamber, linkage motor no good replaced upper intake chamber 2. 10/26/07-fuel pump leaking from gasket, cylinder 3 misfires replaced gasket, replaced cylinder 3 coil and spark plug 3. 02/29/08-topped off coolant.

- Pompano Beach, FL, USA

Engine began overheating, took it to dealer. Dealer replaced hoses and checked seals, etc.. problem continued. Now it is in the dealers shop because it began spewing smoke and lost power on the highway. It appears to be end of the engine problem.

- White Hall, MD, USA

A sensor shut down the motor while I was driving on I-55. It required me to coast to the side of the road. (this happened in the summer of 2006.) last month, the water resevoir in the engine busted (despite dutiful maintenance) requiring a completely new engine to be installed. The radio has also malfunctioned twice, being replaced last time. No one was injured in either case, but it could have easily resulted in deaths when the vehicle quit in 70 mile per hour traffic!

- Sarah, MS, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Land Rover Freelander. After driving 25 mph, the contact noticed smoke under the passenger side of the hood. She allowed the vehicle to cool down and drove to purchase antifreeze to replace what leaked out. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the vehicle was fine. When she returned to the dealer, they stated that a new engine would be needed. When the heat is activated, toxic fumes of burning antifreeze enter into the vehicle. The current mileage was 77,600 and failure mileage was 58,494. Updated 01-14-08. Updated 12/12/07

- Warwick, RI, USA

1. in the shop three times for cooling system problem. Repair covered by warranty. Note the repairs did not fix the water loss problem. Last repair 52,000 miles 2. 9-23-07 engine fails without warning on I-77. 56,000 miles now out of warranty 3. car towed 260 miles to Land Rover dayton. Told engine would need replaced at a cost of $4,000.

- Kettering, OH, USA