NHTSA Complaint #10284079 — 2003 LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER

I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 RANGE ROVER THAT I JUST BOUGHT USED 2 WEEKS EARLIER. AS I WAS DRIVING, THE CAR STARTED MAKING SEVERE GRINDING NOISES AND LOST POWER. I COULD NOT STEER THAT WELL AND WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I MANAGED TO GET BARELY ENOUGH POWER TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PULL INTO A PARKING LOT. THIS EVENT WAS WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND THE CAR MADE THE WORST GRINDING NOISES IN THE WORLD. I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS A RECALL ON IT TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, WHICH IS A FAILED DRIVESHAFT / AXLE / DIFFERENTIAL OPERATION. BECAUSE IT WAS RECALLED, I HAD IT TOWED TO LAND ROVER AND THEY ARE NOW SAYING THAT THEY CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE AXLE IS REPAIRED, WHICH THEY SAY IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I BELIEVE IT IS PART OF THE RECALL AND THEY SHOULD BE COVERING THIS AT NO COST. I HAD MY CHILD IN THE CAR AND I THINK THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. ALSO, WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN COSTA MESA, CA (HOUSE OF LUXURIES), THEY ASSURED ME THE CAR WAS TOTALLY CHECKED OUT AND HAD NO MECHANICAL OR OTHER ISSUES. NOW I AM VERY ANGRY WITH THEM FOR PLACING MY LIFE (AND OTHERS) AND MY CHILD'S LIFE IN DANGER BY NOT DISCLOSING THESE PROBLEMS, OR AT LEAST TELLING ME THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS A RECALL AND TO REPAIR IT BEFORE I DRIVE. I AM HAPPY THAT I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE RECALL LATER BUT FEEL THAT THE BUSINESS I BOUGHT THE CAR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS PRIOR TO THE SELL OF THE CAR AND IT COULD HAVE PLACED OUR LIVES AND OTHERS AT RISK HAD I BEEN GOING DOWN THE FREEWAY, WHICH IS IN LA AND HEAVY TRAFFIC. THANK YOU. *TR