Land Rover Freelander 2 problems, reliability and years to avoid
If you are considering buying a used Land Rover Freelander 2, these are the common problems worth knowing about first. Our garage database tracks 10 known faults for this model, 3 of them rated high severity. Every one below is a repair bill a seller has good reason not to mention.
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Is the Land Rover Freelander 2 reliable?
The Land Rover Freelander 2 has 10 known faults in our database, 3 of them rated high severity. The most serious are gearbox (the rear differential fails, usually through its pinion bearing, on cars of every age) and gearbox (the six-speed automatic fails outright or throws a transmission fault). None of them makes the car a bad buy on its own; the risk is a seller who knows and says nothing.
That is a count of the faults we hold, not a reliability score. Popular cars get written about more, and a newer generation has had less time to show its faults.
Which Land Rover Freelander 2 years should you avoid?
No year is a write-off on its own. What matters is which serious faults a given year and engine can have, and whether the car in front of you has had them fixed.
Years and engines with a serious known fault
2006 to 2015, All four-wheel-drive versions; reports name the TD4 and SD4 diesels: the rear differential fails, usually through its pinion bearing
2007 to 2015, Six-speed automatic, all engines (one report names the SD4): the six-speed automatic fails outright or throws a transmission fault
2006 to 2008, 2.2 TD4 diesel (Ford/PSA DW12) in cars built before February 2008, when a redesigned camshaft was introduced: the exhaust camshaft fractures next to the high-pressure fuel pump drive
Each one is set out in full below, with the symptoms, the typical mileage and a rough repair cost.
Generation 1 of 110 known faults · 20 owner reports · 2 good notes
Land Rover Freelander 2 L359 (2006 to 2015) problems
Transmission/ClutchMedium severity💬 2 owner reports, 2017 to 2018
The coupling that drives the rear wheels (a Haldex unit on most cars) is worked by an electric pump fed through a filter. Where the coupling oil and filter have never been renewed the filter clogs, the pump struggles and fails, and the car quietly reverts to front-wheel drive with a traction or gearbox warning. One owner of a 2012 Evoque 2.2 SD4 paid £935 for a new pump after an oil leak, and a 2014 car was left in two-wheel drive. Some Evoque and Discovery Sport cars use a GKN rear drive unit rather than a Haldex coupling.
Rough guide
£935
Typical symptoms
'Traction Reduced' or 'Gearbox Fault' warning, sometimes coming and going
two-wheel-drive-only warning on the dash
front wheels spinning easily on wet grass or mud
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All AWD
Typical mileage:
57000 (one owner) miles
3 more owner reports back this up
February 2019A Freelander 2 displayed a "gearbox fault, Traction reduced" warning, which returned after attempting to reset the Haldex clutch sensor.
August 2018The Haldex clutch of a 2013 Freelander II began to malfunction at 73,000 miles.
January 2018A 2010 Land Rover Freelander 2 displayed a "traction reduced" warning at 38,000 miles, requiring an £800 replacement of the 4WD Haldex pump on the rear differential.
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Transmission/DrivetrainHigh severity💬 15 owner reports, 2011 to 2018
The rear differential fails, usually through its pinion bearing, on cars of every age and mileage: 15 owner reports from 2011 to 2018 run from 16,000 miles on a 2011 car (where the failure also damaged the dual mass flywheel) to 108,000 miles, mostly between 38,000 and 76,000 miles, and one 2010 car needed a second new diff at 72,000 miles. A French dealer called it a common problem. Land Rover paid between a third and all of the bill as goodwill in some cases, including a third on a 2006 car at 45,000 miles. Owners were quoted £600 to £700, £1,350 and 2,000 euros for a replacement, one paid £1,035 on a 2007 car, and one whining diff was rebuilt by a local mechanic for £1,000.
Rough guide
£600-2000
Typical symptoms
whine or drone from the rear that rises with road speed
rumble or knock from the rear axle on and off the throttle
oil leak from the rear differential or its pinion seal
vibration through the floor at speed
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All four-wheel-drive versions; reports name the TD4 and SD4 diesels
Typical mileage:
16000-110000 miles
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Engine/EmissionsHigh severity💬 3 owner reports, 2012 to 2013
The exhaust camshaft fractures next to the high-pressure fuel pump drive, which wrecks the engine. Owners reported it on a 2007 (57-plate) car in April 2012, on a 2007 automatic estimated at £9,000 for a new engine in February 2013, and on a 2008 car estimated at £12,000 for a new engine or £2,100 for a new cylinder head in March 2013. An analysis at the time found the failures confined to engines built before February 2008, when the camshaft and its drive boss were redesigned, with most examples from Eastern Europe, where poor fuel lubricity was suspected; outside Eastern Europe misfuelling was thought the likeliest trigger, and the oil specification, since revised, was also questioned.
Rough guide
£2100-12000
Typical symptoms
sudden engine failure on the move
engine turning over but not firing once the pump drive has gone
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.2 TD4 diesel (Ford/PSA DW12) in cars built before February 2008, when a redesigned camshaft was introduced
Typical mileage:
40000-120000 miles
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SteeringMedium severity💬 4 owner reports, 2011 to 2016
The power steering rack and pump fail, and the failures were described as increasingly common by 2011. Bits of weld from inside the rack or pump break loose and clog the filter, which makes the system noisy; metal fragments were found in the fluid of a 19,000-mile 2013 car. Reports cover 19,000 to 70,000 miles. A rack was quoted at £900 to £1,089; Land Rover contributed a third on cars three to four years old in 2011 but was refusing any liability by 2013.
Rough guide
£600-1100
Typical symptoms
whine or groan from the power steering, worse on full lock
steering heavy or assistance coming and going
metal particles or a dark sheen in the power steering fluid
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All
Typical mileage:
20000-70000 miles
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Transmission/ClutchHigh severity💬 7 owner reports, 2011 to 2018
The six-speed automatic fails outright or throws a transmission fault. Owners reported complete failures at 35,000 miles on a five-year-old car, at 70,000 miles on a four-year-old car, at 59,000 miles at seven years old and another with no mileage given, plus a 2011 car that shuddered changing from first to second in warm weather and was never fixed over repeated dealer visits. Two more showed a 'transmission fault' message: on a 40,000-mile 2011 SD4 a £1,000 part was diagnosed before the message stopped appearing, and on a 2015 car no fault was found and a software update was offered. Land Rover issued service action Q106 in 2010 to reconfigure the transmission and differential control modules on 2007 to 2010 automatics; it expired in August 2012.
Rough guide
£1000-4000
Typical symptoms
shudder or flare changing from first to second, worse when warm
transmission fault or reduced traction message on the dash
harsh or delayed engagement from park
loss of drive
Affected vehicles
Engines:
Six-speed automatic, all engines (one report names the SD4)
Typical mileage:
35000-70000 miles
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Transmission/DrivetrainMedium severity💬 5 owner reports, 2015 to 2019
The Haldex centre coupling that sends drive to the rear axle gives trouble, and its oil and filter service, recommended every three years or 36,000 miles, needs the unit removed and upended to drain properly. Owners reported the Haldex pump failing at 38,000 miles with a 'traction reduced' warning (£800), the coupling playing up at 73,000 miles, a 'gearbox fault, traction reduced' message that unplugging the Haldex sensor did not cure, a 2012 car whose 'gearbox fault' and transmission noise ended with a new Haldex pump and transfer box after repeated dealer visits, and a power take-off unit problem at 70,000 miles quoted at about £1,000.
Rough guide
£150 for a service, 800-1500 for the pump or coupling
Typical symptoms
'traction reduced' or 'gearbox fault' message
front wheels spinning on wet grass or gravel with no drive reaching the rear
shudder or binding on tight turns
whine from under the centre of the car
Affected vehicles
Engines:
All four-wheel-drive models
Typical mileage:
38000-75000 miles
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Engine/EmissionsMedium severity💬 4 owner reports, 2013 to 2018
The EGR valve and cooler on the 2.2 diesel clog with soot, bringing on the engine warning light and loss of power. Owners reported an EGR failure followed by a turbo failure on an 18-month-old car at 29,000 miles, a clogged EGR at 50,000 miles on a 2013 car, and a new EGR at 30,000 miles on a four-year-old 2013 car for £1,700, which its owner put down to short runs. A dealer quoted £1,450 to replace the valve, cooler, hoses and gaskets together, saying the system usually leaks if only the valve is changed; an online mechanic quoted £416 plus one to two hours' labour for the valve alone.
Rough guide
£450-1700
Typical symptoms
engine warning light with an EGR flow fault
loss of power or limp mode
rough idle and black smoke
coolant loss if the cooler has failed
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.2 TD4 and SD4 diesel (Ford/PSA DW12)
Typical mileage:
30000-60000 miles
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Engine/EmissionsMedium severity💬 5 owner reports, 2013 to 2019
The hose between the turbocharger and the intercooler splits and drops the engine into limp mode: three reports between 2017 and 2019, two of them at 32,000 and 40,000 miles, repaired for £115 plus VAT and fitting up to £350. An independent dealer called it well known on the 190PS SD4, whose turbo runs hotter than the 150PS TD4's, and one 2013 car first diagnosed with a failed turbo actuator turned out to have the split hose. The turbo itself failed on an 18-month-old car at 29,000 miles after its EGR valve went, and on a 2014 car at 20,000 miles.
Rough guide
£115-350 for the hose, 900-1800 for a turbo
Typical symptoms
limp mode with a sudden loss of power
hiss under load from a split hose, or a whistle from the turbo
engine warning light with a boost pressure fault
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.2 TD4 and SD4 diesel (Ford/PSA DW12)
Typical mileage:
20000-45000 miles
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Engine/EmissionsMedium severity💬 3 owner reports, 2015 to 2018
The crankshaft rear main oil seal leaks, a cheap seal in an awkward place between the engine and gearbox. A 2011 car was quoted £1,190, a 2007 car at 37,000 miles was fixed by a Land Rover dealer for £526, and a 2013 automatic had a crankshaft oil seal fail.
Rough guide
£500-1200
Typical symptoms
oil drips from the join between engine and gearbox
oil level falling with no leak visible from above
on a manual, clutch slipping or juddering once oil reaches it
Affected vehicles
Engines:
Engine not named in the reports; manual and automatic
Typical mileage:
35000-80000 miles
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Engine/EmissionsMedium severity📝 Editorial
Particulate filter clogging has been reported on Freelander 2 2.2 diesels, above all on cars used for repeated short journeys in very cold weather. No mileage or repair cost is recorded.
Typical symptoms
DPF warning light
Loss of power or limp mode
Affected vehicles
Engines:
2.2 diesel
Typical mileage:
unknown miles
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What owners report on the L359
20 single reports, unconfirmed
One owner each, in their own words rewritten as a line, and not counted in our risk scoring. A fault joins the list above once a second report or an editorial source backs it.
Electrics · November 2019High intensity HB3 9005 headlight bulbs exploded on a Land Rover Freelander II after being fitted, causing a failure.
Electrics · August 2019The satnav, radio, and Bluetooth system failed on a 2011 Freelander 2, with the underseat DVD player also inoperable; a new navigation module was quoted at £3,300 plus VAT.
Electrics · August 2019A 2014 Land Rover Freelander would not move, displaying "Stability control not available," "ABS Fault," and "HDC not available" messages.
Engine · February 2019A 2013 Land Rover Freelander II entered limp home mode at 32,197 miles due to a split hose from the turbo to the intercooler, costing £115.45 plus VAT and fitting.
Gearbox and clutch · January 2019A 2012 Land Rover Freelander II TD4 manual developed a drivetrain judder at 60,000 miles, particularly when accelerating in second gear, despite multiple part replacements.
Gearbox and clutch · November 2018A May 2015 Land Rover Freelander 2 DB4 GS automatic displayed an intermittent "Transmission fault, reduced traction" message at 20,000 miles.
Gearbox and clutch · November 2018After a Haldex service at 55,000 miles on a 2011 Land Rover Freelander II, the rear axle developed a whine, requiring a new pinion bearing.
Engine · October 2018A 2013 Land Rover Freelander II automatic experienced a crankshaft oil seal failure.
Engine · August 2018A 2015 Land Rover Freelander II suffered a distinct lack of power after a service, traced to a bent mass airflow sensor during air filter replacement.
Electrics · November 2017After a battery replacement, a 2012 Land Rover Freelander 2 developed electronic problems, including satnav issues, lost performance data, and non-folding door mirrors.
Engine · September 2017A 2014 Land Rover Freelander suffered a turbocharger failure when the vehicle had covered 20,000 miles.
Electrics · February 2017A 65,000-mile 2011 Land Rover Freelander II had its windows open unexpectedly three times, possibly due to moisture in the driver's door ECU.
Gearbox and clutch · July 2016A 2014 Land Rover Discovery II exhibited a slight judder when changing from first to second gear.
Electrics · December 2015A 2012 Freelander 2.2 HSE Luxury had repeated electrical issues, including incorrect steering angle sensor software and reduced traction warnings.
Gearbox and clutch · November 2015A 40,000-mile 2011 Freelander II SD4 XS automatic displayed a "transmission fault" message on starting, with a £1,000 part diagnosed.
Engine · November 2015The mass airflow meter of a 2008 Freelander II failed and was replaced, then failed again ten months later.
Gearbox and clutch · June 2015The rear differential of a 2010 Freelander II failed in France, with a Land Rover dealer quoting 2,000 Euros for replacement.
Gearbox and clutch · June 2015A 2011 Freelander II automatic shuddered when changing from first to second gear in warm temperatures, a problem that remained unresolved despite repeated dealer visits.
Electrics · May 2014A 12-month-old Land Rover Freelander II had a display screen fault where the parking assist screen would not turn off, eventually traced to a software glitch.
Engine · November 2013A Freelander II 2.2 diesel had difficulty starting in cold conditions at high altitudes, which could be resolved by ECU software updates.
What owners like about the L359
2 notes
June 2019A 2009 Land Rover Freelander SE 2.2 Diesel Automatic demonstrated excellent reliability, reaching 300,000 miles.
The Freelander 2 offers good handling characteristics, performing well both on and off-road.
Sellers rarely admit these faults outright
We track 29 specific phrases sellers use in adverts to soft-pedal these exact issues. Paste any Land Rover Freelander 2 advert and we check it in seconds.
On four-wheel-drive Freelander 2s the Haldex centre clutch needs its service filter replaced, the fixed filter cleaned and fresh oil every three years or 36,000 miles; a Shropshire specialist offered to do it for 130 pounds plus VAT in 2016. Owners report the Haldex pump on the rear differential failing at 38,000 miles (800 pounds), the clutch giving trouble at 73,000 miles, and traction-reduced warnings pointing to the unit; one 2011 car's rear axle needed a pinion bearing shortly after a correctly done service at 55,000 miles.
Always confirm against the vehicle handbook. Intervals vary by engine, and several manufacturers revised theirs after failures in service.
Repair costs are typical UK ranges, not quotes. Actual cost depends on condition and garage.Data last verified: November 2026
Land Rover Freelander 2 buying questions
What are the most common Land Rover Freelander 2 problems?
Three stand out. Gearbox: the rear differential fails, usually through its pinion bearing, on cars of every age and mileage (typically 16000 to 110000 miles). Gearbox: the six-speed automatic fails outright or throws a transmission fault (typically 35000 to 70000 miles). Engine: the exhaust camshaft fractures next to the high-pressure fuel pump drive, which wrecks the engine (typically 40000 to 120000 miles). The full list above is grouped by generation, with typical mileage and a rough repair cost for each.
Which Land Rover Freelander 2 years should I avoid?
No Land Rover Freelander 2 year is a write-off, but the L359 (2006 to 2015) carries the most serious faults: gearbox and engine. Year matters less than whether the specific car has had the known fixes, so check the history for them.
What should I check when viewing a used Land Rover Freelander 2?
Ask the seller about the gearbox and engine faults on this page and whether they have been fixed, with invoices. On the test drive watch for whine or drone from the rear that rises with road speed, shudder or flare changing from first to second, worse when warm and sudden engine failure on the move. Read the MOT history for repeat advisories, then paste the advert into the free check, which reads it against all 10 known faults before you travel. Check a Land Rover Freelander 2 advert →
What is the real MPG of a Land Rover Freelander 2?
Owners report 33.3 mpg on average across the Land Rover Freelander 2 engines with data, about 82% of the official combined figure. The gap between official and real-world economy varies a lot by engine, so the Real MPG page lists every engine and generation separately, from 1,374 owner submissions. Land Rover Freelander 2 Real MPG by engine →
Where this Land Rover Freelander 2 fault data comes from
If you used to check the Honest John “Good & Bad” section before the site closed in 2026, this page is where that information now lives. We rebuilt the Land Rover Freelander 2 owner-report history from the archived Honest John dataset, added our own research, specialist and owner-club sources and DVSA recall data, and we keep it free. Each fault above is badged with its source. The same data feeds our free advert check, which reads a listing against every known fault for the exact engine and year.
Knowing what a Land Rover Freelander 2 goes wrong with is half of it. The rest is reading the advert and checking the car's history before you hand any money over.