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Land Rover Freelander VIN Check

NHTSA holds 343 owner complaints on the Land Rover Freelander from 108 production runs; the worst run has 14, the typical one 3.2.

NHTSA complaint records · 343 complaints · 108 runs · 2002–2005 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported Freelander run is SALNY22202A (2002 builds) with 14 complaints, 4.4× the typical run. Engine and engine cooling problems make up 42% of reports; 2002 is the worst model year at 5 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for Freelander model years 2002–2005.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Land Rover Freelander has 108 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 17% of every Freelander complaint on file.

FIG.01·Land Rover Freelander — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
SALNY22202A••••••2002142—
SALNY22252A••••••200212——
SALNY22262A••••••200211——
SALNM22223A••••••200310——
SALNM22282A••••••200210—1
SALNY22272A••••••20029——
SALNM22242A••••••20029——
SALNM222X2A••••••20027——
SALNY22282A••••••200271—
SALNY22232A••••••20027——
SALNY22212A••••••20027—1
SALNY22222A••••••20027——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 96 Freelander runs has 7 complaints or fewer.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Land Rover Freelander the gap between build years is 3.1×: a 2002 car draws 5 complaints per run, a 2005 one 1.6.

FIG.02·Land Rover Freelander — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20051.6149—
20041.955292
20032.611545—
20025159323
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2002 at 5 complaints per run; lightest is 2005 at 1.6.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 42% of everything Land Rover Freelander owners report: Engine And Engine Cooling, 210 of 343 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Land Rover Freelander — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Engine And Engine Cooling21026
Power Train89—2
Electrical System51—2
Visibility34—2
Fuel System33——
Gasoline31——
Service Brakes29——
Hydraulic22——
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 6 recall campaigns on the Land Rover Freelander; the 6 below cover build years 2002 to 2005. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Land Rover Freelander — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
07V041000Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch2002–2005
05V300000Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch2002–2005
04V347000Structure:body:roof And Pillars2002–2004
04V510000Air Bags2005
04V489000Structure:frame And Members2003
04V207000Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch2003
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

07V041000 was opened in 2007 on cars built from 2002: 5 years on the road before the recall.

The Freelander against its rivals

The Freelander draws 3.2 complaints per production run; the Isuzu Rodeo 3.4, the Suzuki Vitara 1.2 and the Chevrolet Tracker 1.7.

FIG.05·Land Rover Freelander VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
Land Rover Freelander3431083.21.5%
Isuzu Rodeo1,5774633.49.4%
Suzuki Vitara83701.210.8%
Chevrolet Tracker3301951.714.5%
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 343 reports on the Land Rover Freelander, 1.5% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.

FIG.06·Land Rover Freelander — complaint severity
OutcomeLand Rover FreelanderAll vehicles
Complaints filed3431,115,966
Involved a crash5 (1.5%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire9 (2.6%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported458,013
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 74% below the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Land Rover Freelander share of that is 343 complaints over 108 runs, 0.03% of everything on record.

Everything on the Land Rover Freelander
Recalls14 campaignsFuel economy17 mpg bestReliability4.0/5Common problems451 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2002–2005

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Land Rover Freelander VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 343 NHTSA complaints from 108 Freelander runs and 6 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which Freelander production run has the most complaints?

SALNY22202A, a 2002 build, with 14 complaints, 2 of them after a crash. The typical Freelander run has 3.2.

Which Freelander years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2002 is heaviest at 5 complaints per run and 2005 lightest at 1.6.

Does the Freelander get more complaints than the Isuzu Rodeo?

No: 3.2 complaints per production run for the Freelander against 3.4 for the Isuzu Rodeo.

How many Freelander complaints involve a crash?

1.5% of 343 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 9 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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