European crossovers are often practical, well-thought-out and very well-tuned vehicles. But, alas, they also have technical problems, and some models have a whole collection of them. We have compiled a list of the 5 most unreliable SUVs from the EU, produced from 2000 to the mid-2010s.
Land Rover Freelander
There is a reason why the Freelander looks like a real jeep. At one time it was one of the most capable off-road crossovers. But, as befits a “British“, Land Rover has a whole bunch of problems.
Its body is made conscientiously, but Bulgarian roads and winters make their own adjustments. Even a decent-looking Freelander can have rusty front and rear fenders if you look under the plastic trim. It's easy to spot corrosion on the inside of the rear arches, in the recess of the rear license plate and around the door handles - that's where the rust first appears. And if you see a car with roof rails, take a closer look at where they're attached. It's also not uncommon to find sills with holes.
The Freelander's interior is cozy, solid and finished with wear-resistant materials. The whole impression is spoiled by capricious electrical devices. The main problem is poor sealing of the connectors. The unreliable standard Webasto heater causes a lot of problems.
As for the engines, the main thing is not to mess with the two-liter Ford EcoBoost that appeared after restyling. Its problems include oil leaks, a cracking exhaust manifold and piston damage due to detonation, which Land Rover has tried to fix several times with different ECU firmware. But Volvo's inline six-cylinder petrol engine is really hard to break. The 2.2 diesel can cause problems with oil leaks, EGR, injectors and the VCG system, but it can also go up to 500 thousand kilometers without problems.
The transmission is the Freelander's strong point. The Getrag mechanics and Aisin automatic gearbox are practically indestructible. True, the Haldex clutch requires attention, as it does not like dirty oil.
The crossover's suspension also easily withstands even bad roads. The levers and silent blocks easily withstand more than 150,000 kilometers. The only weak point is the steering rack, which can start knocking after 120 thousand.