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2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

fire · 908221 · 2012-03-05

Vehicle

Make
LAND ROVER
Model
FREELANDER
Year
2003
Manufacturer
Land Rover
Component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Miles at failure
88,000
Speed
55 mph

Severity

Deaths
0
Injured
0
Fire
Yes
Crash
No
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

AT 88,000 MILES, MY 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER LOST ~80% OF POWER WHILE GOING UP A HILL ON A MAJOR HIGH WAY AND STARTED TO BILLOW SMOKE. AFTER STEERING THE VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC, I POPPED THE HOOD TO FIND THE MATERIAL ON THE LOWER SIDE OF THE HOOD ON FIRE. UPON PUTTING THIS FIRE OUT, I REALIZED THERE WAS STILL A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE ENGINE COVER AND MY ANTI-FREEZE WAS EMPTY, WHEN SERVED ONLY A COUPLE WEEKS PRIOR. AFTER LETTING THE VEHICLE COOL, I TOOK OFF THE ENGINE COVER TO FIND IT HAD A MIXTURE OF COOLANT AND OIL RESTING ON TOP OF IT; A DARK-MILKY COLORED LIQUID. UPON HAVING IT TOWED AND FURTHER INSPECTED BY A PROFESSIONAL, NOT ONLY IS MY HEAD GASKET GONE, A FITTING ON THE A RADIATOR LINE HAD MELTED ABOVE THE ENGINE, AND A CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS AS WELL. I GOT IT BACK TO MY HOUSE IN THIS CONDITION BECAUSE I STILL OWE $7500 AND HAVE ONLY HAD IT FOR 1 YEAR. MECHANICALLY TOTALED IN MY DRIVEWAY, IT NOW ONLY SOMETIMES WILL SHIFT AND WHEN IT DOES, ONLY HAPPENS WITH FORCE. PRIOR TO THIS ALMOST FATAL DISASTER, I HAD THREE WINDOW ASSEMBLIES BRAKE; RUINING THE MOTORS AND CAUSING THEM TO FALL WHILE DRIVING, AND MY BRAKE LIGHTS DO NOT FUNCTION. I REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LIGHTS STILL PERSISTS. I'VE GIVEN UP HOPE ON THIS SUV AND HAVE GOT NOT ONE REPLY FROM LAND ROVER COSTUMER SERVICE. I AM STUCK MAKING PAYMENTS, AND EVEN IF I COULD AFFORD TO FIX IT, WOULD NEVER PUT MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER IN IT AGAIN. PLEASE GET THESE VEHICLES O

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10450343
Machine
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