NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Land Rover Freelander Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Land Rover Freelander has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 138 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Land Rover dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Land Rover Freelander. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Land Rover Freelander owner complaints

Owners have filed 138 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Land Rover Freelander, describing incidents dated March 1, 2003 to April 4, 2016.

Most-cited components

  • Engine 89 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 32 complaints
  • Power Train 26 complaints
  • Electrical System 25 complaints
  • Service Brakes 13 complaints
  • Visibility/Wiper 12 complaints

Of the 138 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 6 a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11114925 · Filed

    PURCHASED THE TRUCK IN 2003 FROM LAND ROVER, BRAND NEW. DEALT WITH A FEW RECALLS AND OTHER ISSUES ( SUN ROOF WAS OFF TRACK, DID NOT WORK. LEATHER SEATS HAD DEFORMATIONS ON SEATS. TRUCK NEED AN ACID WASH FOR SPOTS THAT DEVELOPED ON BUMPER) SOON MY ENGINE AND COOLANT ISSUES OCCURRED. WHY DRIVING ID…

  • ODI #11050999 · Filed

    NEED TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY OUTSTANDING WARRANTS, TICKETS, COMPLAINTS ETC.

  • ODI #10920232 · Filed

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HILL DESCENT CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL, AND BRAKE INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS NOT DEPRESSED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE HAD A STRONG HESITATION AND STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE…

Read all 138 complaints

Owner-reported

2003 Land Rover Freelander mileage at failure

119 of the 138 complaints on file for the 2003 Land Rover Freelander give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
EngineMedian 65,000 milesMiddle half 40,000–80,000 milesBased on 79 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2003 Land Rover Freelander in 3 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH

NHTSA #07V041000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported February 9, 2007 · LAND ROVER

Potentially affected: 33,247 vehicles

Land Rover campaign P004 (P002) · Owners notified July 30, 2007 · Vehicles built September 5, 2001 – May 19, 2005 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

LAND ROVER RECALL NO. P004.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

CHILD LOCK INCORRECT OPERATION

NHTSA #05V300000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages — Doors — Latch · NHTSA notice

Reported June 28, 2005 · LAND ROVER

Potentially affected: 1,941 vehicles

Land Rover campaign B011 · Owners notified September 8, 2005 · Vehicles built March 29, 2002 – April 19, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

LAND ROVER RECALL NO.B011.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

LAND ROVER/REAR SUBFRAME

NHTSA #04V489000 · Structure — Frame and Members · NHTSA notice

Reported October 7, 2004 · LAND ROVER

Potentially affected: 4 vehicles

Land Rover campaign B175 · Vehicles built August 20, 2003 – August 28, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

LAND ROVER RECALL NO. B175.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

LAND ROVER/FMVSS 201/A-PILLAR TRIM

NHTSA #04V347000 · Structure — Body — Roof and Pillars · NHTSA notice

Reported July 12, 2004 · LAND ROVER

Potentially affected: 31,049 vehicles

Land Rover campaign B176 · Owners notified December 6, 2004 · Vehicles built September 5, 2001 – June 29, 2004 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

LAND ROVER RECALL NO. B176.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

LAND ROVER/CHILD LOCK DOOR SYSTEM

NHTSA #04V207000 · Latches/Locks/Linkages — Doors — Latch · NHTSA notice

Reported May 5, 2004 · LAND ROVER

Potentially affected: 3,194 vehicles

Land Rover campaign B163 · Owners notified December 4, 2004 · Vehicles built July 12, 2002 – September 27, 2002 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

LAND ROVER RECALL NO. B163. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Other Land Rover Freelander model years

Check your 2003 Land Rover Freelander VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Land Rover Freelander at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Land Rover VIN