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Land Rover Freelander jerking problems

12 of the 455 owner complaints about the Land Rover Freelander describe jerking or lurching, most of them for the 2002 model year.

owner complaints
12
worst model year
2002
typical mileage
53,000
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.

By model year

  • 2005
    1
  • 2004
    1
  • 2003
    2
  • 2002
    8

What owners say

Filed Jan 5, 2013 · Electrical, Engine · 110,300 miles · MA

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 when I bought it, and mechanic now says it needs 7,000 worth of work!! This is and would have been extremely dangerous, especially if you are on the highway driving the speed limit and the car just suddenly lags to 5 MPH! Please take these vehicles off the road!!

Filed Sep 7, 2011 · Transmission, Visibility · 98,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 land rover freelander. The contact was driving approximately 35 MPH when the transmission began to jerk violently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the shift solenoid sensor was replaced. The mechanic also detected the transmission intake valves were damaged. In addition, the rear passenger automatic window regulator failed to operate and the sun roof motor exhibited faulty wiring. The vehicle had not been repaired for the additional defects. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

Filed Mar 10, 2011 · Transmission · 35,414 miles · HI · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 land rover free lander. The contact stated that in january 2011, the cooling system began to leak abnormally, the radiator hose fractured from the vehicle and the engine caught on fire. The following month, the engine continued to overheat, the ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated and the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where they repaired the cooling thermostat, hoses and power steering pump. The failure persisted and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the intake valves, thermostat and power steering pump were replaced. The ABS failure was not repaired and the warning light remained illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that when driving various speeds, the vehicle would jerk violently and exhibit an abnormally loud noise. The dealer advised the contact that the transmission failed and would need replacing. The vehicle was not further repaired. The current mileage is 46, 854 and the failure mileage was 35,414 updated 5/2/11 *cn the consumer stated he no longer wants to pursue the complaint. Updated 05/11/11

Filed Jan 21, 2010 · Brakes, Locks · 38,000 miles · VI

While driving up a hill, my car jerked forwarded as if it got hit from the back. It happened at least 2 more times before I got it to the mechanic that same day. This is the second time since obtaining the vehicle in january 2003 that the transmission has failed. It was replaced in 2004. In 2009 my freelander is now dead. The transmission is dead and it killed my battery. This vehicle has been a constant problem, transmission, locking devises, brakes.

Filed Feb 27, 2009 · Transmission, Visibility · 72,601 miles · GA

2002 land rover freelander - 72,000 miles: replaced 3 window regulators last year. On my way to work one morning & hill descent light came on, f / 4 light flashes, and it is jerky / jumpy while driving. No one can figure out the problem - 3 land rover dealerships in 5 weeks. My car is now 100 miles away, I was told it was fixed, but when I got there it was still doing the same thing. They looked at it again & I was told I need a new transmission for $4800. For some reason, no one could pick up the problem with the testers. I loved my car but after reading about all the chronic problems I don't know what to do with it. Plus, I owe about the same amount as the transmission! I will never buy a land rover again & they should be held responsible for all of these defective vehicles!

Filed Nov 23, 2008 · Engine, Fuel system · 60,000 miles · TN

Multiple problems expensive and hard to find parts, fuel pump, thermostat and transmission. Suv stalls in traffic, thermostat leaks constantly and transmission jerks violently in second gear.

Filed Oct 14, 2008 · Brakes, Engine · 53,000 miles · KY

I purchased the 2004 land rover, freelander in 2006. It has only 28000 miles on it. About a month after the purchase, I had to take it in to replace the window regulator. A few months later, I heard knocking noises under the hood. I took it back in (lr dealership) and they said there is loose washer somewhere. They were not able to replace the part, thus they only repaired the problem. I could still hear the noise, especially from a coldstart. I also had took it in for them to look at an AC problem. It sprays water out through the air vent. I report the problem at least 4 times. Everytime, they said they have fixed the problems. However, as of now, we still have that problem. Recently, we have a thermostat leak at 52000 miles. The SUV maintenance schedules are up to date. The SUV is 5 months and 3000 miles pass the warranty period. I have to pay $800 to repair the leak. Two days ago, will on the freeway (going 70mph), the service engine light came on. Then the engine stalled for a second and jerk forward violently. The service engine light went off and the tc (traction control) light turns on and the 'down hill' car symbol on the dashboard illuminates. The car was unable to start when I turned it off. I then let it sit overnight and was able to start. After the car has started, I notice the 'service engine soon' light illuminate. The SUV has only 53000 miles on it as of now. I feel that this car is poorly designed. Not only it put my life in danger, but it also put the lives of my wife and my 1 year old daughter. When we bought the SUV, we thought that it a safe SUV for our family. However, the incident two days ago almost put our lives in harm ways.

Filed Aug 23, 2006 · Brakes, Engine · 37,100 miles · DC

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. I picked up the "fixed" car and 4 hours later the dangerous jumping/shuddering happened again. While attempting to drive the car back to the dealership, the problem grew worse and several warning lights lit up on the dash. I pulled over and the car was then flatbedded to the dealership. The next diagnosis was that an electronic computer chip (ecc) for the transmission needed to be replaced. The part was ordered and installed - but this did not fix the problem. The dealership now states that the entire transmission needs to be replaced for $5000. The car currently has 37,000 miles (highway and city miles only - no off-roading) and has been serviced on time and only at lr dealerships for routine maintenance. I find this entire situation unacceptable.

Filed Feb 23, 2004 · Engine · 45,000 miles · MI

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. However, they did state, "we have been having problems with this model." I was told to drive the vehicle home and bring it back if it happened again. One week later, it happened again on the highway. Again' I let it cool down, and I was able to get it home. I made contact with the dearlership and land rover of north america, and not once have they asked to see the vehicle, offer to fix it, look at it. All the have attempted to do is for me to trade up to a discovery. The vehicle sits in my driveway because it is too dangerous to drive and land rover refuses to take the vehicle back, or even offer to fix it.

Filed Jan 16, 2004 · Acceleration, Body · MA

Heater doesn't provide powerful heat and right foot gets so hot and left foot freezes while driving. Car shakes and rumbles often, sounding like there is no oil. Had severe water leak from missing seals around rear cargo door. Seals, headliner and rug had to be replaced. Gas cap can only be removed with key in it. If key is removed while gas cap is off, makes for extremely difficult time to replace (about 5-10 minutes to work the key back in). Dashboard lights come on frequently to warn of a failure when there is no such failure. Engine doesn't start on first try a lot of times. Once driving for a while then parking for, car sometimes doesn't start on first try. Shifting is difficult, rpms rev pretty high. Car has lurched forward when speed decreases (I.e. Going down hill).

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Questions about the Land Rover Freelander jerking

Which Land Rover Freelander years have jerking or lurching problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2002 (8 complaints), 2003 (2 complaints) and 2004 (1 complaints).

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