1998 Land Rover Freelander ixe 1.8 from Greece

Summary:

Needs improvements

Faults:

After a year of use (15.000 Km) the clutch failed. Replacement was VERY expensive and, of course, not covered by the guarantee.

Sunroof open mechanism failed twice, first time after 6 months I first bought the car, it was repaired by the dealer free of charge.

Second time it broke after a year I had to pay for the repair.

At 21.000 km the timing belt broke, due to a faulty pulley on the air conditioning compressor, I had to pay 1/3 of the cost as the rest was covered by the dealer.

General Comments:

Nice design, but poor in reliability.

It could use a higher power engine though as 120 horse power are too little to move the heavy car off road.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 18th May, 2001

8th Jan 2002, 18:41

I have one also and its broke down again this morning. The mechanics are putting in its 3rd engine as we speak. Thank god it is still under warrantee.

1998 Land Rover Freelander 50th Anniversary 1.8 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

An unreliable pile of junk... long live Skoda

Faults:

Steering rack failed.

Propshaft bearings failed (twice)

Leaking sunroof.

Leaking rear-door seal flooding boot.

Interior lights failed (twice)

Front doors drooped scratching paint on the wings.

Air vent broke.

Air-con broken.

Premature tyre wear.

Central locking only works when it feels like it.

Radio code `re-sets` itself.

Immobaliser `fails` occasionally.

Rear centre seat-belt replaced twice.

Continual problems with the brakes.. noisy under braking and jamming on after overnight parking.

Manifold cover came loose (twice)

Rattle from the left hand side of cabin.. unsolved mystery.

General Comments:

Nice when it works; looks good.

Build quality abysmal.

LR HQ not interested.`Tough!` is their attitude. Not our problem.. speak to your dealer.

Dealer sympathetic but limited in their ability to `help`.

Not nearly as good as the Discovery off-road.. no surprises there, then.

My other car is a TDi Disco and has been great.. just about to buy a TD5.

I would not accept a Freelander if I won it in a competition.. too much hassle.

Caveat emptor.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 13th March, 2001

27th Jul 2001, 16:23

I owned a 1999 XEDi Freelander for a year and a half, great car but a lot of problems with condensation due to water ingress from o/s/r door/window seals. Dealer unable to repair to my satisfaction. Land Rover UK I found very helpful.

I now own 2001 TD4 ES, brilliant. Like stepping out of a old hackney cab and into a Rolls Royce. My 1st freelander I put down to a very bad one. TD4 is strongly reccomended.

2nd Apr 2003, 07:32

I own a 1998 Freelander. I have had it from new and could not be happier with it. Nothing at all has gone wrong with the car and I have driven through all conditions from blistering heat to snow covered mountains, through loose sand, that scraped along the belly pan, and down miles of rough roads. If I buy another car a Freelander would be at the top of my list. I love this car.

1998 Land Rover Freelander EXi 1.8 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Nice idea but with East European build quality, although given Skoda maybe that is overstated!

Faults:

New engine.

Air conditioning.

New rear suspension.

New front suspension.

Exhaust shield.

Door locks etc, etc....

Numerous small niggles.

General Comments:

Like the car, but awful build quality.

Dealer response in the early days absolutely abysmal, took intervention from Rover before they would provide even basic customer service.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 5th June, 2000

12th Feb 2001, 12:44

Let us hope that new owners Ford can sort the products out.

19th Sep 2001, 18:01

I'm sorry I disagree with that... my Vauxhall Frountera spent more time in the local repair shop than on my drive!! Not bad for a brand new vehicle that only had less than 10,000 miles on the clock! And my Vauxhall Astra diesel estate!! Well that's another story!!

OK my Freelander has a few problems... but not half as many as my Frontera did!!

26th Jan 2002, 15:05

It's now 4 years and the said same Frontera is still as reliable as ever. OK the plastic bits keep falling off inside, and it feels as heavy on the road as a Class 37 diesel loco - but compare this to new engines, props etc. for these Freelanders. Just bought a 2nd 4x4 a Suzuki 16v. LWB Vitara - which even though it's done 117,000 runs out of this world - another sensible Freelander alternative (although once again not as fashionable outside John Lewis or Sainsbury!) Incidentally my Astra turbo diesel estate was also awful!