Most common 2004 Land Rover Freelander problems
Share of the 69 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 →
2004 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 2004 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 2004 Land Rover Freelander owners say
Engine & cooling all 55 →
Engine failure due to the use of varying alloys with different expansion properties used in engine manufacture. The design of engine includes metal sleeves that line the cylinder walls that when heated to normal operating temperature allow the sleeves to slide into the engine resulting in catastrophic engine failure. Lrna is been ware of this problem. The defect has been known since 2002 but it could range back to the 1990's and continued to manufacture the faulty engines. This defect is an accident waiting to happen. This failure leads to total power loss that in a snowy or icy conditions or heavy traffic at highway speeds inevitably cause serious accident resulting in an injury or death.
Engine breather valve froze up , the engine start leaking oil , possible fire or destroy the engine. Stranded. The service bulletin out on the issue but the dealer isn't honoring the responsibility.
Windows, wipers & sunroof
I own a used 2004 Land Rover Freelander. While driving back from illinois during a snow storm the lr's window wipers stopped working. The windshield wipers stopped halfway during wiping and I was forced to click them on and off to get them to work. I am also experiencing coolant problems do to the faulty engine design the Land Rover is well aware of and refuses to fix. This problem will eventually lead to a required engine replacement that Land Rover is well aware of and refuses to accept responsibility for. The vehicle is maintained regularly as required by the owner's manual so its definitely a engine design problem. Consumers cannot be responsible for vehicle problems that result from matters out of their control. …
Like the myriad of other complaints about this vehicle, (http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/webx?14@@.f142477/93#msg93, http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.eea90db, http://www.businessweek.com/the_thread/blogspotting/archives/2005/07/blogger_takes_o.html for a tiny example) I too began experiencing the exact same overheating problems not too far past the warranty expiration. It is very, very well documented that there is a complete failure in the cooling system in the freelanders. Can you please, please, please do something about it? I have also had problems with the automatic windows, including one actually stuck partially down currently because I'm past warranty. But that's small potatoes compared to the overheating issue.
Transmission & drivetrain
Im an owner of a '04 Freelander Land Rover hse. The car is properly maintained, has 63K in the odometer. I bought the car last oct 07 with 49K on it. A few weeks after the 50K warranty ran out, the front axle broke down with out any reason at all. The car was 3 yr old, never driven off road, all highway miles on florida flat terrain. Then a two week ago, the car just suddenly stopped with an f4 warning on the dash. Brought it to Land Rover orlando and was diagnosed with a failed transmission, which will cost me $5700 to replace. Im now stuck with a broken car, with an upside down bank debt, and an almost value less "kelly blue book" car. For someone that has only been a year and a half in this country, and still building my credit record, I feel that this car was a real rip off. The manufacturer of the car should be able to help me out in the deep hole that im in now.
During high speeds (55-70 MPH) car would down shift into low gear for no reason. Check engine light would come on shortly after and car ran rough. On one occasion while pulling out onto a highway the car would not accelerate. Brakes replaced at approx. 11K miles. All recommended service was done on time according to the passport schedule. Stopped to get gas and car would not start. Had to get car towed 40 miles and take a taxi home. I went to arbitration with lrna and I got a 2005 replacement. See my 2nd post about this truck - engine is shot- head gasket broken, thermostat shot, breaks at 25K miles, cracked manifold, cracked engine hoses.
2004 Land Rover Freelander engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 16 / 19 / 17 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Land Rover Freelander a good car?
Based on 69 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Freelander rates better than average: 48% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Freelander at the same age. It is one of the best Freelander years by this measure. 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 2004 Land Rover Freelander?
The engine & cooling — 55 complaints, 80% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (9) and transmission & drivetrain (9).
How many recalls does the 2004 Land Rover Freelander have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2004 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 2004 Land Rover Freelander problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 55,000 miles; 32% 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.