Model year record

2005 Land Rover Freelander recalls & problems

The 2005 Land Rover Freelander has 3 safety recalls and 16 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (13 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints16filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingFeb 9, 2007

Brake lights › Switch

Recall 07V04100033,247 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

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.

Latches/locks/linkagesJun 28, 2005

Doors › Latch

Recall 05V3000001,941 vehicles

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.

Air bagsJan 28, 2004

Air bags

Recall 04V5100004 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.' THE DEFLECTOR PANEL CONTAINED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN BUILT TO SPECIFICATION.
Risk: DAMAGE TO THE AIR BAG MAY OCCUR THAT COULD ALLOW THE RELEASE OF A FRAGMENT OF THE DEFLECTOR PANEL INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, INJURING THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Fix: DEALERS HAVE REPLACED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULES IN ALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

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.

Crash test ratings

2005 Land Rover Freelander 5-DR

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2005 Land Rover Freelander 3-DR

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Freelander

17mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic (S5) · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingCooling system; Engine	13	55,000 mi
Power train	3	—
Unknown or other	3	—
Engine	2	—
Electrical system	2	—
Service brakes	1	—
Exterior lighting	1	—
Vehicle speed control	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train
HARD SHIFT 1ST AND 2ND GEARS AND MAJOR POWER LOSS CANNOT EXCEED 35MPH DUDLEY WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY IT WOULDN'T EXCEL
Aug 8, 2019
Unknown or other
WE BOUGHT A VEHICLE FROM JUSTIN HARRIS. THE AD ON CRAIGSLIST LIST DIDNT MENTION ANYTHING ABT THE ENGINE IT ONLY SAID IT NEEDED A BATTERY & THE KEY PROGRAMMED. COME TO FIND OUT THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY SEIZED. HE HAS OUR MONEY & THE CAR. HE REFUSES TO RETURN ANY CALLS OR TEXT MESSAGES.
Jul 20, 2018
Engine
I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 2011 FROM A COUNTY AUCTION. I'VE SPENT ALMOST $8,000 ON ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL ISSUES SINCE I'VE BOUGHT IT. HAD A NEW TIMING BELT, SPARK PLUGS AND IGNITION COILS INSTALLED ON 02/02/2015, BUT NOW MY CAR STALLS AND I HAVE GREAT DIFFICULTY PICKING UP SPEED, EVEN WHEN DRIVING ON THE STREET. IF I STOP AT A STOP SIGN, I LITERALLY HAVE TO PUSH THE GAS TO THE FLOOR TO GET MY CAR TO TAKE OFF AND EVEN THEN, IT TAKES FOREVER. THE HIGHEST SPEED MY CAR WILL GO TO NOW IS 30MPH. MY DRIVEWAY IS AT A SLOPE AND I HAD TO PRESS DOWN ON THE GAS TO GET ME CAR TO REVERSE OUT THE DRIVEWAY. *TR
Mar 2, 2015 · 99,800 miles
Service brakes
MY BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T COME ON TOOK MY CAR TO THE LANDROVER DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WHERE NOT GOING TO CHECK MY CAR I EXPLAINED THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL ON BRAKE LIGHTS AND TOM WAS VERY NASTY TELLING IT WAS NOT FOR MY CAR BUT. I HAVE READ THE RECALL AND I TRIED TO GET HIM TOO LOOK IT UP AND HE JUST REFUSE TOLD ME IT WOULD BE 150 TO LOOK AT THE TRUCK. I TOOK IT TO PAUL MILLER LAND ROVER DEALER IN PARSIPPANY NJ HE WAS VERY RUDE..I HAVE A 2005 LANDROVER FREELANDER AND MY BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK I TRIED CHANNING THE BULB AND IT STILL DOESN'T WORK SO IF THEIRS A RECALL WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY 150.00 FOR THEM TO EVEN CHECK IT OUT. AND HE WAS SURPRISE TO DO A COMPLIMENTARY SERVICE CHECK HE DID…
Dec 2, 2013 · 134,000 miles
Engine
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DURING HURRICANE SANDY AND THE CAR SHIFTS (OR LAGS) INTO EXTREMELY LOW GEAR, MAYBE 5-10 MPH. THE SERVICE ENGINE, SERVICE ENGINE SOON, AND OTHER LIGHTS ON DASH CAME ON AND VEHICLE WAS LURCHING. ONCE I ABLE MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I AM ABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, WAIT LESS THAN 5 MINUTES AND TURN BACK ON, STILL DOING SAME THING. LUCKILY FRIENDS HOUSE WAS JUST DOWN THE STREET, AND COP STAYED BEHIND US UNTIL WE GOT THERE. THIS VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 110,000 MILES WHEN WE PURCHASED FROM A PRIVATE PARTY OUT OF STATE - THREE WEEKS AND THREE HUNDRED MILES LATER THE VEHICLE IS NOW DEAD. THESE FREELANDERS ARE NOT DEPENDABLE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO BECAUSE IT WAS FINE…
Oct 29, 2012 · 110,300 miles
Engine and engine cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
Nov 1, 2011 · 65,000 miles
Power train
I AM DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE CAR SHIFTS INTO EXTREMELY LOW GEAR (MAYBE 5 MPH), F4 FLASHES, AND THE SERVICE ENGINE, HILL DESCENT CONTROL, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT UP. ONCE I CAN MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I CAN TURN OFF THE CAR, WAIT LESS THAN 5 MINUTES AND THE CAR STARTS WITHOUT ANY OF THE LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD ABOUT 42,000 MILES WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED - ONE MONTH AFTER THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, I'VE DRIVEN THE VEHICLE LESS THAN 5,000 MILES BECAUSE IT IS NOT DEPENDABLE. THEY CHANGE A SENSOR, IT'S OK FOR ABOUT TWO MONTHS THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENS, THEY CLEAN OFF PARTS AND IT'S GOOD FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF MONTHS THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT…
Jan 19, 2010 · 42,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system
ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ONLY WITHIN ABOUT 2 WEEKS OF PURCHASING VEHICLE, APPROXIMATE 5,000 MILES LATER THE ENGINE BEGINS TO FAULT AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE BECAUSE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING INTO MY ENGINE OR ONE OF MY HEAD GASKETS BLEW AGAIN, NOT TO MENTION THE COOLING SYSTEM FAILED AGAIN AND I NEEDED A NEW O-RING ALREADY. *TR
Oct 31, 2010 · 57,769 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILUREClosedLed to recall 07V041000
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…
EA05016 · opened Oct 14, 2005 · closed Feb 22, 2007