Model year record
2002 Land Rover Defender recalls & problems
The 2002 Land Rover Defender has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 3 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (3 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2002 Land Rover Defender.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine coolingCooling system | 3 | 54,000 mi |
| Power train | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system
I OWN A 2002 FREELANDER WHICH LEAKED COOLANT AND OVERHEATED BECAUSE OF A DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD GASKET. NOW I HAVE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *TR
- Engine and engine cooling
THE ENGINE IN MY 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER OVERHEATED AT ABOUT 65K MILES AND MADE IT THE 10 MILES OR SO TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER ONLY BECAUSE I KEPT STOPPING, REMOVING THE COOLANT TANK CAP, AND REPLACING THE FLUID EVERY FEW MILES. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED - AT MY EXPENSE, TO THE TUNE OF NEARLY $8K. MIND YOU, I PAID OVER $30K FOR THIS CAR ONLY 5 YEARS AGO AND HAVE KEPT IT WELL-SERVICED. TURNS OUT, THERE IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE (CHECK OUT THE EDMUNDS BLOG, TOWNHALL-TALK) IN THAT THE ENGINE IS RUINED IF IT OVERHEATS. I RECALLED HAVING HAD A MYSTERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE OVERHEATING - IN THE DEAD OF A…
- Engine and engine cooling
IN NOV. 2005 MY 2002 FREELANDER RAN HOT. WHILE CHECKING UNDER HOOD I NOTICED THE WATER RESERVOIR BOTTLE WAS EMPTY. I NOTIFIED HILTON HEAD LAND ROVER AND CARRIED THE VEHICLE TO THE THEM. THEY CHANGED THE RESERVOIR BOTTLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE NEXT MONTH THE VEHICLE RAN HOT AGAIN AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT AND TWO WEEKS LATER IT RAN HOT AGAIN. ON THIS VISIT IN WHICH EVERY VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN AN HOUR FROM MY HOME THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. ONE WEEK LATER THE ENGINE FROZE UP AND WOULD NOT START AND THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THANKFULLY WE PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT WAS COVERED. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER FINDING WATER…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.