Freelander gearbox failure - is this a known fault? | Ask Honest John

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Freelander gearbox failure - is this a known fault?

I was recently stranded after a sudden, catastrophic failure of the gearbox on my diesel automatic Freelander. It is five years old, has done a mere 56,856 miles and has always been serviced by Land Rover dealers. It has never been used to tow anything, nor has it ever been driven off road.

Because the car is out of warranty I have to pay £4000 for a new gearbox. Have I been unlucky or is my experience a common one? I am now disillusioned with Land Rover, so when I can afford to buy a similar replacement 4x4, what options should I be considering?

Asked on 27 October 2012 by DB, Ruislip

Answered by Honest John

If this is a Freelander II then the problem is common: www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/land-rover/freelande.../

In terms of a replacement, consider the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5 or BMW F25 X3 diesel automatics.

Tags: automatics diesel engine faults diesel engines 4x4s

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