1999 Land Rover Freelander XEI from UK and Ireland - Comments

Head Gasket blew and leaked into cylinder head requiring new cylinder head.

Had a dreadful time with the dealer and Landrover. The car was only weeks out of warranty, had a full dealer service history and Landrover or the dealer would not help with the repairs. I have since found many other owners of this car who have the same problem. LR know about the problem and published a technical document describing the fault and vehicles that it will affect. There are many more cars that will suffer from this problem.

We have a 1998 Freelander, one owner, 74000 miles, which has had the cylinder head gasket go a second time, this time cracking the cylinder head. This is on top of numerous other problems including a leak which lets water into the stowage locker under the luggage compartment floor, and which has never been cured, despite it becoming evident when the car was new.

Land-rover and the dealer seem to think this is quite normal; I think it is disgraceful. I have a BMW of the same age- never any problems, and I am sure that any would be dealt with speedily. No wonder one buys German!

I recently left my T reg Freelander into my local Land Rover dealer for a 70,000 mile service and MOT. Here's what they hit me with. Can you believe a car this old can have so much wrong with it? Suffice to say I won't be buying another Freelander.

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Dealers response

As requested here is a note of all the work that's been done and the repairs that we have reported.

The work that's been carried out already is your 72000 mile service and your mot test.

72000 mile service £422.39

M O T test £40.75.

You reported that the tail door window control wire was snapped, it requires a taildoor window regulator.

Taildoor Regulator £300.63 (supplied and fitted)

You found that your heater was not working efficiently and you were having to top up the coolant quite a bit. The cylinder head is leaking, although it has not failed on this you would be better getting it done sooner rather than later.

Cylinder Head £2353.69 (supplied and fitted)

MOT FAIL ITEMS.

No plate bulbs

N/s/f side light bulb

N/s/f and o/s/f fixed transverse links

N/s/r and o/s/r brake pipes

N/s/r and o/s/r handbrake cable

Rear brake shoes

N/s/r and o/s/r tyres

Re align track rod end

Rear wheel cylinders

Exhaust tail pipe and centre sections

Prop bearings.

It also failed on excess diesel smoke on the emissions test - we are unsure of what it will need until we do some more tests on it, we can't quote a price on that.

REPAIRS SO FAR - £977.58 (Supplied and fitted)

Price for work so far is £4095.04.

I hope you find this clear and helpful

2001 Free lander 39,000 miles. Cylinder head gasket blown. Cost to repair £610 by independent garage. Have written to Land Rover an await their comments.

Don't BUY A FREELANDER!!! I have spoken with 2 other people and we have had a head gasket blow at 100000 kms!! since then I have had other numerous problems, with the petrol filter constantly getting blocked and I keep breaking down.. worst thing I ever did was buy this car.

Took my 2000 freelander for mot test, it has failed on its emissions test. Any ideas or same problems?

I have a T reg Land Rover Freelander. My back window keeps going down. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, could you please let me know what the problem is, and how much it will cost me?