Hi,

I’ve owned my ex-demo Freelander2 TD4 HSE for 50 days and it is about to go back to the garage for the fifth time!!!! So why should I keep it??

The faults to date:
a) Phone Connection problems: Software Update needed
b) Sunroof: recall work due to possible leak issues
c) Parking Sensors: Not working – not connected after fitting the tow bar and then the software needed updating
d) Lack of Oil – turns out that no PDI done upon sale
e) Dealer damaged the car whilst in their care
f) Child locks not working – rear door locks had to be replaced
g) Spilt Door and boot seals

New faults found over the last 10 days since the car last come back from my dealer, and is also about to go back in for:

a) Rubber creaking noise from gear stick (worst when cold) – needs a replacement rubber and link system at the bottom of the gear leaver – parts have been on order for over 6 days

b) Failure to start / loss of Computer Info: Sometimes when I push the start button nothing happens and the trip info (fuel, range etc) is all lost, Land Rover claim that the car now needs a new start button and also there is a software patch being released, along with two other urgent software updates to solve this problem

My local dealer wants the car for three days next week!!! Land Rover UK are saying that I can hand the car back… what would you do??

Last edited by Tups74 on 2nd Aug 2007 9:04 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Hi Tups74, I know how you feel as i've been there and am still there. Firstly you are doing the right thing by getting the faults reported and giving the dealer the opportunity to rectify. My car was off the road for two weeks in the first eight, that was six and a half months ago. I am now waiting for the new replacement car to be delivered as many of the faults I had were not fixed after the stealers three attempts at trying, and so I gave the dealer a list of the faults, the dates the car was returned for repair, and the list of remaining faults. I then had to choose; hate the car and cash it back in for a FULL refund, or get a replacement........since I love the car....chose the replacement. A little easier for me as I had bought from new so new I was going to get exactly what I wanted fresh off the shelf (eventually). You need to consider if you are that fed up you want your money back never to buy again, or if the dealer has something else you could be tempted by, or take the cash and buy from another dealer with a model and spec you want.

I personally think they are great cars, despite the grief I have had, and I the new one only has half the faults. If it does have faults thats what the warranty is for but if you are experiencing what you believe to be higher than 'reasonable' faults then the bottom line decision is down to you. For you to make a legal standing you must keep the records and keep it polite despite your frustrations.

Personally I'd give the dealer the car for three days, and stae that if it is not fixed, or you get repeat problems you reserve the right for a replacement, or your full refund.

They are good cars, as you have read, we all have problems with them some more than others.....OK, that said, nearly all of us would not change them, bit like the wives!!

Thanks for the feedback, I know the car was an ex demo but it had everything that I wanted and more......

HSE Spec in Stornoway Grey
Alpaca Napoli Leather with the Pixel Metal Finish
Side Steps
Detachable tow bar + electrics
Privacy Glass
Full size spare Alloy
Adaptive Bi-Xenon Headlamps
Front & Mud Flaps

so the £28k price tag was better than paying £34k new, I do really like the car, but I am wondering if it is a "Friday Car" my old Honda CRV diesel in 2 years never went to the garage except for routine servicing!!

Just a shame Land Rover can't follow Honda's lead

If I didn't still have my car that sounds just like mine but I had the DVD screens too.

Do you regret buying the Landy?? What do you think you will do?? If you would rather not say just yet I understand.

Problem 1: Really Really like the car (exactly what we wanted)
Problem 2: Fed up with the hassle
Problem 3: When is enough, enough
Problem 4: Bad Dealers / Customer Care - although Land Rover Head Office has been very good

It is most likely that we will give them one last shot to sort things out and if the car has to have one more repair before its first annual service or at that service there is tons of things to do, then I will want the car changed. I have said to Land Rover's head office who said that this was a fair and reasonable statement

But who knows what the Dealer and Land Rover will say / do when you decide enough is enough and want to return / exchange the car

How much money do you spend to get good customer care, I've had better service from what is basically a back street trader on a £3k car and a £25k car from a main dealer (Honda) that was faultless but offer Land Rover nearly £30k and look what you get......

Good Luck Tups74 and keep us posted

Hi Tups,

Sorry no doubt in my mind the car goes back. Sounds like you've been more than patient and reasonable already. Get you money back and go find another FL2 at a different dealer, tell them about your previous experience and you are looking for better service, see if they step up to the plate. It is unbelieveable and disappointing that that you can spend so much on car and get the worst of both worlds a poor dealer and a lemon of a car. I've had problems with mine but nothing like the list you've explained and I would not have been as patient as you.

The lack of oil from PDI and damage to the car while on the delears premises really speak volumes about the dealer - they shouldn't be in business ... and Land Rover should be intervening because of adverse publicity for the brand ... sorry my blood is boiling just thinking about it

I've had the same experience coming to LR from Japanese cars, my FL2 spent more time back at the dealer in the first three weeks than my Mazda 6 did in 65k miles and two and a hlaf years of ownership

Good luck whatever you choose to do ...

I have previously returned 3 cars in 34 years of motoring ..

I have to agree that your dealer is contributing to the problem and that a different approach by them could have made youor unfortunate experience a lot better. You have bought a very complex mechanical and electrical piece of equipment and no company can produce something so complex, on a mass production scale, without having occasional problems. It is how these problems are dealt with that makes the difference, and unfortunately you are dealing with muppets at some dealerships. Others are excellent. Read the story of the dealer that "forgot" to order my FL2 and then didn`t tell me until 2 weeks before it was due. And the other dealer that pulled out all the stops and delivered on time. I know which I will deal with from now on.
As for other, more reliable makes, my father in law had a Honda which he thought was great - never needed anything doing between services - until I picked it up from the dealer one day and got chatting to one of the mechanics that had worked on it, and he let slip that the cams had been a pain to replace. ?!? The Japanese manufacturers are so jealous of their reputations that they often do work on the quiet and take the cost. I also have a Toyota MR2, but don`t get me going on oval bores and failing catalytic converters. But even they (Toyota) are, unofficially, replacing engines in vehicles up to 7 years old. Land Rover have always been too transparent in telling about their problems -which causes further problems.
Look at the JD Powers survey to see which owners perceive their vehicles to be good.
Sorry about all that - rant now over!!!!!! Don`t drive faster than your angel can fly!

Hi

Out of all your problems the one that concerns me the most is

d) Lack of Oil – turns out that no PDI done upon sale

You have said it was an Ex Demo, how many miles has it done without oil, will that have a detrimental effect upon the new engine that requires oil for a run in period????,

I was told to "check every 200 mile as you don't want to run it with no oil"

Hi,

The car had 6400 miles on the clock when I took ownership, after a fews days I checked the oil and found out that the car was well below the min mark, since it has been topped up with nearly 1.5 liters I have driven a further 1600 miles with no oil loss.

The dealership said that a PDi was done by one of their master mechanic's and he reported that no oil was required on the worksheet, but the dealership can not explain the high usage in just a few hundred miles, bear in mind that this was the same master mechanic that failed to reconnect the rear parking sensors after fitting the towbar!!!!

After my car being in the dealership for the last five days having new suspension parts, driver information system, tow bar housing, B post trim, gear box linkage cables and the car computer completed re-programmed I have called it a day and agred with the delaer to buy the car back off me.

So look out on ebay next week since I will be selling the Sunblinds and the rubber boot tray that I brought (if anyone is interested)

Thank you for all your support and comments

Happy Motoring, Bill

Given that most of us haven't had the same issues that you have, are you not tempted to get another FL2?

No way.... I think it will be a new car same old tricks or maybe I was just plain unlucky

Shame. Hope you get luckier with your next choice.

I would be tempted to have another FL2 from the same dealer but on the understanding that if it has any faults (even just one) then the dealer buys it back without question.

I think you've had more problems with yours more than any one of us but don't give up without a fight, it really is a nice car. ______________________
2011 Full Fat RR 4.4 TDV8
2012 FL2 SD4 Auto HSE
2013 Kawasaki Versys 650