NHTSA Complaint #10140266 — 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER

I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 LAND ROVER FREELANDER FROM LAND ROVER NEW ORLEANS (PARETTI) ON AUGUST 19, 2002. SINCE THAT TIME, THE VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS. THE POWER STEERING, TRANSMISSION, TRANSFER CASE (2), IRD UNIT (2), FRONT DRIVE SHAFT, MANIFOLD CHAMBER AND OTHER ITEMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND THE BRAKE PADS (2) HAVE HAD TO BE CHANGED. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 35,498 MILES. AFTER REVIEWING EDMUNDS.COM AND OTHER CONSUMER RESOURCE SITES, IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEMS THAT I ENCOUNTERED HAVE ALSO BEEN ENCOUNTERED BY OTHERS PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD 23 WARRANTY CLAIMS ON THIS VEHICLE AND LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, INC., AS OF JANUARY 2005, HAS PAID IN EXCESS OF $11,994.55 FOR REPAIRS ON A VEHICLE THAT HAD A PURCHASE PRICE OF $30,603.77. THE AFOREMENTIONED AMOUNT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE COSTS OF REPLACING THE TRANSFER CASE, IRD UNIT, FRONT DRIVE SHAFT AND MANIFOLD CHAMBER IN APRIL 2005 OR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY IN JUNE 2005. NEITHER THE LOCAL LAND ROVER DEALER NOR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, INC. HAVE BEEN COOPERATIVE IN DEALING WITH ME ON THIS ISSUE. *JB