2003 Land Rover Freelander recalls and problems

The 2003 Land Rover Freelander has 5 safety recalls and 140 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Land Rover dealer.

Recalls
5
Complaints
140
Crashes / fires
1 / 6
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2003 Land Rover Freelander vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2003 Land Rover Freelander recalls

Recall 07V-041: Exterior Lighting

Reported Feb 9, 2007 · 33,247 vehicles affected · LAND ROVER

Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, the brake lights may remain illuminated even when the brake pedal is not depressed. Hill descent control (Hdc), traction control (Tc) and cruise control warning lights may also be illuminated.

Risk: Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the brake lamp operation and where required, adjust and/or replace the brake light switches with new switches of the same design until a newly designed brake lamp switch is available in may 2007. Owners will then be re-notified to bring their vehicles in for the new brake light switch. An interim letter for the initial inspection was mailed on march 26, 2007. The second letter for replacement of the switches was mailed beginning july 30, 2007. Owners may contact land rover at 1-80-637-6837.

Recall 05V-300: Latches/Locks/Linkages

Reported Jun 28, 2005 · 1,941 vehicles affected · LAND ROVER

Problem: On certain five door sport utility vehicles, it is possible to operate the interior door handle to open the door when the child safety lever is in the "on" position.

Risk: The occupant may open the door inadvertently while the vehicle is in motion and fall out into the traffic, personal injuries could occur.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the latch assembly. The recall began on september 8, 2005. Owners should contact land rover at 1-800-637-6837.

Recall 04V-489: Structure

Reported Oct 7, 2004 · 4 vehicles affected · LAND ROVER

Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, an incorrect weld nut was installed. Lack of this bolt could eventually cause the subframe to crack or become deformed.

Risk: A cracked or deformed subframe could potentially lead to instability of the vehicle, which could result in a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicle to see if the subframe fixing is correctly fitted and clamped up. If necessary, the subframe will be replaced with a new one that has correct weld nuts. The manufacturer has not yet provided an owner notification schedule. Owners should contact land rover at 1-800-637-6837.

Recall 04V-347: Structure

Reported Jul 12, 2004 · 31,049 vehicles affected · LAND ROVER

Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 201, "occupant protection in interior impact." during testing, the free motion head form registered a measurement marginally above the permitted 1000 head impact criteria. At the left and right hand a-pillar trim area.

Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, personal injury to occupants may occur.

Fix: Dealers will replace the a-pillar trim with a revised component that enables the vehicle to fully meet the requirements of FMVSS 201. The recall began on december 6, 2005. Owners should contact land rover at 1-800-637-6837.

Recall 04V-207: Latches/Locks/Linkages

Reported May 5, 2004 · 3,194 vehicles affected · LAND ROVER

Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles, the child door lock on the left hand rear door can become disengaged.

Risk: This could lead to a child being able to open a rear door while the vehicle is in motion, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the left hand rear latch. The recall began december 4, 2004. Owners should contact land rover at 1-800-637-6837.

2003 Land Rover Freelander problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Engine and Engine Cooling98
Electrical System28
Fuel System, Gasoline28
Power Train27
Visibility13
Exterior Lighting10
Service Brakes, Hydraulic10
Structure5
Fuel System, Other3
Latches/Locks/Linkages3
Air Bags3
Vehicle Speed Control3

Most reported parts

  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 27
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System — 23
  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 18
  • Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump — 9
  • Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery — 4
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System — 4
  • Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch — 3
  • Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls — 3

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 63,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2003 Land Rover Freelander complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Electrical System · reported Jul 31, 2018
Purchased the truck in 2003 from land rover, brand new. Dealt with a few recalls and other issues ( Sun roof was off track, did not work. Leather seats had deformations on seats. Truck need an acid wash for spots that developed on bumper) soon my engine and coolant issues occurred. Why driving id notice my truck start to overheat. This was even after being serviced at land rover. Come to find out my coolant was leaking. The issue continued to the point where I had to get new external parts ( Thermostat, water pipe, expansion tank) this helped but not for long. My truck continued to overheat…
Service Brakes · reported Oct 31, 2016
The contact owns a 2003 land rover freelander. The contact stated that the hill descent control, traction control, and brake indicators remained illuminated when the brake pedal was not depressed. In addition, the vehicle had a strong hesitation and stalled numerous times without warning. The contact notified two different dealers, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The manufacturer indicated that the recall was closed for NHTSA campaign number: 07v041000 (Exterior lighting: brake lights:switch). The VIN was not included in NHTSA action number: ea05016 (Exterior lighting…
Engine · at 62,000 miles · reported Feb 24, 2016
1.coolant system:strong antifreeze odor in vehicle cabin - replaced coolant reservoir;replaced coolant reservoir cap; thermostat housing failure; replaced all coolant lines and hoses as preventative measure; heater core failure - leaked anti freeze into heater chamber 2.transmission system (1 of 3): code f4 appeared on odometer; hill decent fault light illuminated; traction control light illuminated; brake anti block light illuminated; transmission (While in automatic d) will not downshift past 2. Transmission will not upshift beyond 3; manually shifting down to 1, transmission experiences…
Electrical System · reported Feb 24, 2016
On certain sport utility vehicles, the brake lights may remain illuminated even when the brake pedal is not depressed. Hill descent control (Hdc), traction control (Tc) and cruise control warning lights may also be illuminated
Engine · at 86,000 miles · reported Dec 28, 2013
Original owner of land rover freelander 2003. At approximately 60,000 miles, the "service engine soon" light came on and engine had to be replaced due to problems caused by the coolant leaking into the engine. At the time, the car was under an extended warranty so most of the repairs were covered. Now, at approximately 86,000 miles, the "service engine soon" has again appeared. I took the car to a land rover repair facility and was told that the car requires a new manifold intake valve. Total cost of repairs around $3,000. At this point, I AM totally disgusted with land rover and will never…

Other Land Rover Freelander years

Compare all Land Rover Freelander years · All Land Rover models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Land Rover Freelander have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2003 Land Rover Freelander: 07V-041 (exterior lighting), 05V-300 (latches/locks/linkages), 04V-489 (structure), 04V-347 (structure), 04V-207 (latches/locks/linkages). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2003 Land Rover Freelander?

Owners report engine and engine cooling problems most often (98 reports), followed by electrical system (28). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 63,000 miles.

Are Land Rover recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Land Rover dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.