Used Land Rover Freelander 1997 - 2006 reliability review

What should I look for in a used Land Rover Freelander?

The Freelander was one of the first 4x4s that was, more or less, as light and easy to drive as a conventional family car, although the passage of time has worn some of that away. Certainly, it’s now less refined to drive than a more modern SUV, but still quite good.

Relatively soft, long travel suspension means that it’s comfier than its more stiffly-sprung rivals, although the price you pay is a lot of body roll in corners.

The 2003 facelift brought better quality interior materials and more technology. Indeed, the Freelander was the first car ever to have an electronic ‘Hill Descent Control’ system, to help you maintain a slow, controlled speed while decending slippery slopes.

One thing you will notice is that the Freelander is considerably more adept off-road than most of its direct rivals. It’s no Defender, but it will get further into the backwoods than any other small SUV. Because of this, you need to check carefully underneath the car for any damage caused by off-roading.

Is a used Land Rover Freelander reliable?

It’s better than you might have been lead to think, but there’s no doubt that the build quality of Freelanders is variable at best. Some owners have reported long years of faultless service, while others have had a list of problems to deal with from day one.

The most serious potential fault is a chassis crack, something to which Freelanders that have been subjected to serious off-roading are prone to. It’s a surprisingly subtle fault to detect, and really only gives itself away with a faint clacking noise when driving over bumps, but obviously it’s a serious issue and you should avoid any car with it.

Petrol models need to be checked very carefully for head gasket issues and water leaks, while the TD4 diesel model can develop problems with the fuel pump (hesitant starting is the giveaway).

Recalls were issued in order to fix faulty rear door locks, passenger airbag problems and cracked rear suspension sub frames.