# 2003 LAND ROVER FREELANDER — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
> NHTSA complaint `908221` · 2012-03-05 · Land Rover
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** No
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** LAND ROVER
- **Model:** FREELANDER
- **Year:** 2003
- **Manufacturer:** Land Rover
- **Component:** ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- **Miles at failure:** 88,000
- **Speed:** 55 mph
## 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
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*