NHTSA Complaint #10220329 — 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER

I OWN A 03' FREELANDER WITH ONLY 34,000 MILES ON IT. AT THIS STAGE IN A VEHICLE'S LIFE, THERE SHOULD BE VERY LITTLE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. IT HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE FOR ME. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR FOR 1 AND 1/2 YEARS AND PROBLEMS BEGAN OCCURRING 1 YEAR AFTER OWNERSHIP. THERE IS THE SMELL OF BURNT ANTIFREEZE INSIDE THE CAR AND AN EVEN STRONGER SMELL OUTSIDE THE CAR ONCE THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. THE SMELL IS TOXIC AND I'M AFRAID THAT THE FUMES COULD EASILY IMPACT SOMEONE'S DRIVING ABILITY IF NOT HAVE THE DRIVER GO UNCONSCIOUS AFTER A LONG ROAD TRIP. I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM EXISTING ON MANY OTHER FREELANDER VEHICLES ON BLOGS AND CUSTOMER REVIEWS. SOMETHING OUGHT TO BE DONE. ALSO, FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS, I'VE BEEN HEARING A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM MY ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP TO GET CHECKED OUT. THE OWNER OF THE SHOP OPERATED ON MY VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE ENGINE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($970 PART + $240 SERVICE). HE CONTACTED THE LR PARTS DEALER AND THE DEALER NOTIFIED HIM THAT THIS IS A CONSTANT OCCURRENCE. IN FACT, DEALER SAID THAT HE HAD RECEIVED 4 OTHER PHONE CALLS THE SAME DAY FOR THE SAME EXACT PART. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. LR NEEDS TO TAKE PROACTIVE STEPS IN RESOLVING THESE PROBLEMS. THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE AND IMPLIES THAT THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE MANUFACTURING OF THESE VEHICLES. AS OF RIGHT NOW, THESE FRIVOLOUS REPAIRS ARE COSTING FREELANDER OWNERS LOTS OF MONEY, AND IN THE FUTURE, AS THESE CARS BECOME A BIT OLDER, THEY WILL COST PEOPLE LIVES. I URGE YOU TO PLEASE TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION AND HELP IN ORCHESTRATING A RECALL ON THIS PART. THANK YOU, ROBERT GLEYZER *TR