NHTSA Complaint #10281260 — 2005 LAND ROVER FREELANDER

IN MID JULY 2009, TEMPERATURE GAUGE ON 2005 LAND ROVER FREELANDER BEGAN ACTING ERRATICALLY. BROUGHT IT TO DEALER IN SAN ANTONIO, TX. WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON FREELANDERS, NEVER MENTIONING WHAT "HAPPENS NEXT." THEY REPLACED THE GAUGE AND A "LEAKING" HOSE. AT A COST OF $700. THREE WEEKS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. (TEMPERATURE GAUGE BEGAN ACTING ERRATICALLY.) DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS MASSIVE OVERHEATING, AND THE HEAD GASKET "SLIPPED" ALL COOLANT AND FLUID DRAINED INTO THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED AND UNREPAIRABLE. NEED TO REPLACE ENGINE AT A COST OF $10,000+. WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH FREELANDERS AT THE 50,000-60,000 MILE MARK. I WAS AT 60,000 MILES JUST 10,000 MILES AND 2 MONTHS PAST WARRANTY. *TR