Nice vehicle

[cWadeb]

We purchased a pre-owned 2004 Freelander a few months ago and find it to be quite enjoyable. It's previous service history indicates it has been reliable and aside from a couple of minor issues trouble free. It now has 35k miles.
It does have a noticeable whine at very slow speeds, the rear shade sometimes rattles and it took some time to adjust to the seating position. That's all of note I've discovered so far.
Why do they have such a reputation as unreliable, expensive to maintain vehicles? Am I missing something or about to get a big surprise?
Thanks

[Funrover]

I really don't know much about the freebies, but everyone I talk to about them seems to really enjoy them. The shop I go to doesn't see to many of them in comparison.

[garrycol]

Originally Posted by cWadeb

Why do they have such a reputation as unreliable, expensive to maintain vehicles? Am I missing something or about to get a big surprise?
Thanks

The reputation comes from some design issues with the first cars, the notorious engine problems with the 1.8 petrols and the absolutely shameful way that Landrover dealt with the issues at the time and unfortunately still do.

The issues with these few cars were widely advertised and unfortunately have tainted the reputation of all freelanders and will no doubt carry over to the new model.

You have a great car and while there are certainly no guarantees the odds are you will have a reliable and trouble free vehicle with no greater chances of problems than any other make.

Good luck with it.

Garry

[Roverdude]

I have an 03 FL SE3 and mine's been great. It's been real reliable (knock on wood), relatively economical, and drives brilliantly. Handles the road very well and is far more capable off-road than I would ever ask of it. As a daily driver and light off-roader it really is a perfect little vehicle. I'm also clueless as to why it acquired the reputation that it does, however, most people with any decent depth of automotive knowledge will give it some respect.

[Muddy Oval]

The people who have had problems have typically been very vocal about it. I've had two of them and both have been great. Some minor problems, but that's what warranty is for. Mine now has a long list of little issues at 62K, but nothing bad enough to get me to drive 3 hours to the dealer for more warranty work.
Some have seen engine failures, some have had failed transmissions- but in many cases it's all been mainly because they had a bad dealer. A good dealer can easily deal with them, but a bad dealer can kill it. I've seen dealers put the wrong transmission fluid in them and the wrong engine oil- either of which causes problems. Be careful who you let work on it.

[Rovin4life]

the first two years of the V6 really sucked. they all had bad liners that would put oil into the coolant.

oh and if you overheat a freelander more then once you kill the motor. plus the thermostats, the heater matrix, and the coolant bottle all leak.


other then the motors being a bit better all the parts from an 02 are in an 05.

they never reengineered the parts that went bad. no money. so after a while the same cv joints that begin to vibrate in the gas and the same window regulators and heater cores all break down.

land rover made the wrong decision in getting its engine from its stablemate ROVER mg, but they had to deal with it and thus everyone got stuck with a bad product.

they are great when they run, but when they break down its not cheap. although reman motors are down to three grand now.

oh and the timing belt has to be changed at 72k, its a twelve hour job.

most people that got that far after all the problems dumped the car cause it cost so much.

[Muddy Oval]

They ALL have those problems? ALL have bad liners? Most with coolant in the oil just need a new oil cooler. If you overheat any Rover engine, it kills it- just the same as disco and rangies. Overheat one of those and it's bye bye engine.
Dealers charge 12 hours for timing belts, but they are easily done in 8. The extra $400+ is just to stick it to ya.

The new replacement engines are better than the originals and on the up-side... almost any problem will likely result in a new one under warranty because most places don't know how to fix 'em.

[Rovin4life]

I will leave you with one littel nugget of info.

Rover MG was bought out by the chinese.

for everything.

[Muddy Oval]

Yup, the Chinese bought it including Midland Powertrain. They weren't 'bought out' by them but they were purchased after going under. There's a difference there... Anyway, MG's will be back in production soon in Oklahoma. I'm looking forward to those. The Chinese, although mostly known for cheap labor, are also capable of making top notch products efficiently.
Since the Brits ran it all into the ground, the Chinese will fix it. Look how they dominate high tech consumables now- cars are the next logical step.

[Rovin4life]

lets hope thats the case but its always a gamble with the chinese.

[garrycol]

But I don't believe the MG and Rover name/tradmark whatever you call it went with the purchase by the chinese

[Rovin4life]

ford bought the rights to the rover name for good measure. dont want the good name of Rover being sullied with bad engineering and unreliable parts.

[Muddy Oval]

MG name went with the purchase and they are going to start production in the USA. Thing about the Chinese is they can do crap parts dirt cheap (Britpart is a great source for those) or they can do quality stuff for a reasonable price (like the system boards in your computer). They have too much money riding on their first global car brand to go cheap on it.
What that has to do with the quality of the Freelander, I have no idea. The main problem the Freelander has is that it wasn't well executed (typical Land Rover) because they had to stuff a V6 in it for the US market to accept it. The dealers can't effectively work on them, whether it's a lack of training or just the attitude I don't know.

[garrycol]

Originally Posted by Muddy Oval

because they had to stuff a V6 in it for the US market to accept it. The dealers can't effectively work on them, whether it's a lack of training or just the attitude I don't know.

I agree - because it is a landrover people seem to have problem working on them yet when the same engine (near enough anyway) is fitted to the Kia Carnival (may be called something different elsewhere in the world - the large people mover) no one seems to have a problem working on them even though reliability issues remained.

Back to the original thread - buy a late model freelander and there shouldn't be too many problems.

Garry