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2003 Land Rover Freelander recalls, complaints and safety ratings

There are 5 US recalls for the 2003 Land Rover Freelander, and 3 in Canada. Owners filed 140 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and engine cooling.

5US recalls
0urgent recalls
140owner complaints
–overall crash rating

Is your car affected?

Check by VIN to confirm the exact model and see every recall for it.

Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.

US recalls (5)

Exterior lighting: brake lights, switch

2007-02-09 · campaign 07V041000 · 33,247 vehicles

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LIGHTS MAY REMAIN ILLUMINATED EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT DEPRESSED. HILL DESCENT CONTROL (HDC), TRACTION CONTROL (TC) AND CRUISE CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS MAY ALSO BE ILLUMINATED.

Risk and remedy

Risk: FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LAMP OPERATION AND WHERE REQUIRED, ADJUST AND/OR REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHES WITH NEW SWITCHES OF THE SAME DESIGN UNTIL A NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LAMP SWITCH IS AVAILABLE IN MAY 2007. OWNERS WILL THEN BE RE-NOTIFIED TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR THE NEW BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. AN INTERIM LETTER FOR THE INITIAL INSPECTION WAS MAILED ON MARCH 26, 2007. THE SECOND LETTER FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCHES WAS MAILED BEGINNING JULY 30, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-80-637-6837.

Latches/locks/linkages: doors, latch

2005-06-28 · campaign 05V300000 · 1,941 vehicles

ON CERTAIN FIVE DOOR SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IT IS POSSIBLE TO OPERATE THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR WHEN THE CHILD SAFETY LEVER IS IN THE "ON" POSITION.

Risk and remedy

Risk: THE OCCUPANT MAY OPEN THE DOOR INADVERTENTLY WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND FALL OUT INTO THE TRAFFIC, PERSONAL INJURIES COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE LATCH ASSEMBLY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.

Structure: frame and members

2004-10-07 · campaign 04V489000 · 4 vehicles

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AN INCORRECT WELD NUT WAS INSTALLED. LACK OF THIS BOLT COULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE SUBFRAME TO CRACK OR BECOME DEFORMED.

Risk and remedy

Risk: A CRACKED OR DEFORMED SUBFRAME COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO INSTABILITY OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO SEE IF THE SUBFRAME FIXING IS CORRECTLY FITTED AND CLAMPED UP. IF NECESSARY, THE SUBFRAME WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE THAT HAS CORRECT WELD NUTS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.

Structure: body, roof and pillars

2004-07-12 · campaign 04V347000 · 31,049 vehicles

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." DURING TESTING, THE FREE MOTION HEAD FORM REGISTERED A MEASUREMENT MARGINALLY ABOVE THE PERMITTED 1000 HEAD IMPACT CRITERIA. AT THE LEFT AND RIGHT HAND A-PILLAR TRIM AREA.

Risk and remedy

Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY TO OCCUPANTS MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE A-PILLAR TRIM WITH A REVISED COMPONENT THAT ENABLES THE VEHICLE TO FULLY MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 201. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.

Latches/locks/linkages: doors, latch

2004-05-05 · campaign 04V207000 · 3,194 vehicles

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE CHILD DOOR LOCK ON THE LEFT HAND REAR DOOR CAN BECOME DISENGAGED.

Risk and remedy

Risk: THIS COULD LEAD TO A CHILD BEING ABLE TO OPEN A REAR DOOR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT HAND REAR LATCH. THE RECALL BEGAN DECEMBER 4, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LAND ROVER AT 1-800-637-6837.

Canadian recalls (3)

Show 3 Canadian recalls

Electrical

2007-02-07 · campaign 2007-031

On certain vehicles, the brake lamp switch may become maladjusted as a result of incorrect setting procedure during vehicle assembly or as a result of switch mounting bracket flex. A maladjusted switch may allow the contacts to remain permanently connected as the switch has reached the extent of its travel, which may result in the brake lamps remaining permanently illuminated. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, where required, adjust and/or replace the brake lamp switch.

Other

2005-06-29 · campaign 2005-193 · 241 vehicles

On certain vehicles, the Child Safety Lever, incorporated into the rear door latch assembly fitted to the left rear door, when engaged, may permit the door to be opened by the interior door handle (when the Child Safety Lever is still in the ON position). Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the latch assembly.

Other

2004-05-07 · campaign 2004-159 · 357 vehicles

On certain vehicles, after extended use or repeated cycling of the left rear door latch with the child lock engaged, two interfacing components could jam, disengaging the child lock. Correction: Dealers will replace the left rear latch.

Owner complaints (140)

Owners filed 140 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Land Rover Freelander (1 crashes, 6 fires reported). Among 6 model years of this model, it ranks #2 for the most complaints (median 69).

Most-reported problemComplaints
Engine and engine cooling88
Fuel system, gasoline28
Power train27
Electrical system25
Visibility12
Exterior lighting10
Service brakes, hydraulic9
Structure5

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Land Rover Freelander.

VersionOverallFrontalSideRollover
2003 Land Rover Roverover Freelander––––

Fuel economy

EPA ratings for each 2003 Land Rover Freelander version.

VersionCity MPGHighway MPGCombinedYearly fuel cost
Freelander 3 Door 2.5 L Automatic 5-spd151917$3,950
Freelander 5 Door 2.5 L Automatic 5-spd151917$3,950
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Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada). Recalls updated 2026-10-30.