Most common 2002 Land Rover Freelander problems
Share of the 226 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Land Rover Freelander complaints by model year
Best Freelander years: 2005, 2004. Years to avoid: 2002, 2003. Compare all years →
2002 Land Rover Freelander recalls (3)
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
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.
Remedy: 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.
Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch
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.
Remedy: 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.
Structure › Body › Roof and pillars
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2002 Land Rover Freelander:
Brake light switch failure
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…
What 2002 Land Rover Freelander owners say
Engine & cooling all 130 →
Numerous times the engine of my Freelander loses compression and the vehicle will not travel at a speed faster than 5 MPH. The vehicle lurches and won't maintain a proper speed. The vehicle has been into the dealership several times. I have been told that they aren't sure what is wrong with it. Approximately 8 months ago the replaced the throttle body. The vehicle worked properly for 7 months. A month ago it happened again. This time I was on the expressway in between semi trucks. The vehicle lost speed and I could not tracel faster than 5 MPH. I was able to get the vehicle off to the side of the road. I let it coll down for 20 minutes. When I started the vehicle it was able to drive. I took it to the dealership and they said that they didn't know what the problem was. …
I purchased a new 2002 Freelander from Land Rover fort worth (tx) in January of 2002. While under warranty the car had numerous problems. My warranty expired in February of 2006 (4 years), but due to my low mileage 32,000 miles, I did not purchase an extended warranty. Since February 2006, I have replaced the brakes for the 3rd time ($1000), had the engine overheat due to a faulty temp gauge which in turn blew the intake gasket ($1500), replaced the heater core again (pd. For by dealership), and am now faced with replacing the entire transmission ($5000). My transmission trouble began in early August 2006, when the car began to jerk and shudder unexpectedly. I immediately took the car into the dealership to check out the issue. They replaced the transmission temp sensor and said the care was fixed. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 83 →
I just purchased the vehicle from a gentleman. He had purchased the vehicle two years ago at 88,000 miles, and started having trouble with the transmission about two months ago. About three weeks ago the gentleman had the vehicle towed to his service center who then notified him that his transmission needs replacing. I have bought the vehicle and plan to replace the transmission. It does seem a bit early for a two owner vehicle at 110,000 to need a new transmission. It was well cared for not abused.
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. …
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 26 →
Mechanical problems immediately after purchase required 4-5 trips to dealership before they fixed it. I don't' recall the exact problem. Sunroof motor died & had to be replaced. Left rear window regulator died and had to be replaced. Right rear window regulator died and had to be replaced. Broken latch on hood had to be replaced. Check engine light and excessive cranking 6/1/02 and 8/17/02 dealership cleared codes no repairs. Service engine soon light and excessive cranking 9/17/02, dealership replaced leaking fuel pump. Service engine soon light and shifting problems 3/2006, dealership sent me home no repairs. Service engine soon light and car lost power while driving, throttle body had a short and dealership replaced. Service engine soon light and delay in shifting from 2nd to 3rd 9/1/08. Have not had this diagnosed yet. Suspect bad solenoids or transmission failure.
I bought a Freelander in 2002. It was brand new. I have had so many troubles with the vehicle. The one that is currently being worked as a lemon law case is the sun roof. I have had it break for the 5th time now. They have replaced it once and swapped parts the other 3 times and still nothing will fix it. I am currently working with my local state office of consumer affairs to try and remedy this issue. They currently are working on the 5th breakage today. Not sure what they will do to try and fix that issue. Not to the mention the breaking system that is a nightmare. I had to replace the brakes at 30000 after they dug into the rotors. The downhill decent light comes on with the traction control light for no reason. The brain for the cruise control went out. This car is a constant headache.
2002 Land Rover Freelander engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 15 / 19 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Land Rover Freelander a good car?
Based on 226 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Freelander rates avoid: 3.0× as many complaints as a typical year of the Freelander at the same age. It is one of the Freelander years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Land Rover Freelander?
The engine & cooling — 130 complaints, 58% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (83) and windows, wipers & sunroof (26).
How many recalls does the 2002 Land Rover Freelander have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2002 Land Rover Freelander, the most recent from February 9, 2007 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Land Rover Freelander?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005 and 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2002 and 2003. See the full Land Rover Freelander years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Land Rover Freelander problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 60,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.