NHTSA Complaint #10378655 — 2004 LAND ROVER FREELANDER

I PURCHASED MY FREELANDER BRAND NEW IN JULY 2004. AT APPROXIMATELY 45,000 MILES THE ENGINE SUDDENLY OVERHEATED. I TOOK IT THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. THEY SAID THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE ENGINE BLOCK AND THAT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL LEAKS OIL INTO THE HEAD GASKET CAUSING THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THEY REPLACED MY ENTIRE ENGINE UNDER THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY AT NO CHARGE. THIS WAS JULY 2007. NOW I'M AT 75,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE (ONLY 30,000 MILES ON THIS ENGINE) AND THE DEALERSHIP'S SHOP SAYS TO "GET RIDE OF IT"...I WILL NEED A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE IT IS LEAKING OIL ONTO THE HEAD GASKET. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE FOR MY CAR AND CAN'T IN GOOD CONSCIENCE SELL THE VEHICLE TO SOMEONE ELSE...THIS PUTS ME IN TERRIBLE DILEMMA AND ONE WHICH I FEEL THE MANUFACTURER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURERS DISTRICT OFFICE LAST WEEK AND AM STILL WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. I AM ALSO TRYING TO FIND LEGAL HELP IN THIS SITUATION. ALSO, THERE HAS BEEN ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH A "CACKLING" NOISE IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL. I'VE ADDRESSED IT MANY TIMES WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THEY FIXED IT BUT IT STILL MAKES NOISE. THEY SAID ITS A BUSING PART (I BELIEVE). *TR