NHTSA Complaint #10243906 — 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER

2003 FREELANDER WITH 76K MILES BEGAN HAVING COOLING SYSTEM LEAKS IMMED. AFTER NEW FUEL PUMP AND AIR CONDITIONING FAN. I FILLED THE SYSTEM, RAN THE CAR FOR 30 MINUTES IN THE DRIVEWAY WITHOUT INCIDENT, AND TOLD MY WIFE THE CAR NEEDED TO R/T TO THE DEALER.(VENTURA) MY WIFE AND 2 KIDS WERE ABRUPTLY GREETED WITH AN EXPLOSION OF THE COOLING SYSTEM LEAVING THEM IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN A LEFT-HAND TURN LANE. THE CAR SHUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY. AFTER A TOW TO THE DEALER ON A SUNDAY AFTERNOON THEY WERE INVITED TO LOOK AT NEW MODELS WHILE THEY WAITED FOR A TAXI TO TAKE THEM FOR A RENTAL. MY FIRST REPORT FROM THE DEALER REP. WAS THAT WE PROBABLY NEEDED A NEW ENGINE AT A COST OF 12K SO WE MIGHT CONSIDER TRADING IT IN FOR A NEW MODEL. I MUST ADD THAT AFTER THE FUEL PUMP AND FAN REPAIR I FOUND THE AIR INTAKE DISCONNECTED AND TOLD THE REP. ABOUT THIS DURING MY VISIT TO HIM REGARDING THIS NEW ISSUE AND HIS RESPONSE WAS "I DON'T SEE HOW BECAUSE THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO LIFT THE HOOD TO MAKE THOSE REPAIRS." AFTER THREE DAYS OF INVESTIGATION WE WERE TOLD OUR THERMOSTAT AND HOUSING WERE REPLACED FOR $600 BUT WE NEEDED TIMING BELTS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOW BE HEARD SLAPPING. I AM FAIRLY MECHANICALLY KNOWLEDGEABLE, AND ALL OF THESE EVENTS POINT STRAIGHT TO POOR PRODUCT AND INEPT SERVICE. COINCIDENTALLY, I ALSO FOUND A RUBBER TUBE ABOUT 4" LONG SITTING ON TOP OF MY ENGINE AFTER JUST COMING FROM THE MECHANIC'S BAY. I HAVE SINCE TRADED THE CAR IN FOR ANOTHER BRAND AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER LAND ROVER ANYTHING EVER AGAIN! *TR