CAUSE OF LAND ROVER FREELANDER ENGINE AND HEAD GASKET FAILURE

 

Expert Report


Below are excerpts from an expert report used to obtain compensation for Land Rover defects.

In researching the head gasket failure and catastrophic engine failure concerns of the 2002 and 2003 model years of the Land Rover Freelander manufactured with the KV6 2.5 liter aluminum V6 engine. I have found information, in my professional opinion, that would indicate a design defect with this engine that is the cause of these concerns.

First, I would like to provide a brief description of this engine. This engine is referred to as an aluminum V6 engine because it is manufactured using an aluminum cylinder block along with aluminum cylinder heads. Many internal components are however made of steel and iron. Most automotive manufacturers today offer aluminum V6 engines that would fall under this description. The KV6 engine shares several technical features with other manufacturer’s aluminum V6 engines of the 2002-2003 period such as double overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder design cylinder heads, and variable intake manifold tuning.
One distinct design feature of the KV6 engine that makes it different from common aluminum V6 engines is the use of slip fit steel cylinder sleeves (or liners) in it's construction. All of the aluminum V6 engines that I have been exposed to (from Chrysler, Ford, GM, Honda, and others) use a press fit cast iron cylinder sleeve. Typically, engines using the cast iron cylinder sleeve design have demonstrated virtually no issues related to the sleeves or their integrity as assembled in the aluminum cylinder block. This is not the case with the KV6 engine design. I discovered an alarming number of reports describing failures (head gaskets and engine seizures) related to the sleeves of the KV6 engine. 

Typically when aluminum cylinder block-iron sleeve engines are manufactured, the cylinder bores of the aluminum block are slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the cast iron sleeves before assembly at room temperature. This difference in sizes is referred to as interference and won’t allow assembly while the block and sleeves are both at room temperature. The block is heated to over 600 degrees F to allow it to fully expand before the cool or room temperature sleeves are pressed (forced) into place within the block and then allowed to cool at a controlled rate as an assembly. The amount of force used to press the sleeves into the block varies with designs and can be from a few hundred pounds to a few thousand pounds. This process assures a permanent, unchanging fitment of the sleeves to the cylinder block. 

 
With the Freelander engine the sleeves are simply slipped into place as the engine is assembled. The sleeves of the Freelander engine have a shoulder machined into them about midway down the outside of the sleeves which rests on a machined land within the cylinder bores of the engine block as the engine is assembled. The sleeves essentially have two outside diameters with the lower end being smaller than the upper. It would be critical that these machined surfaces be of high quality and precision as once assembled, the contact area of the two surfaces would have to provide a seal between the coolant jacket of the cylinder block and the engine crankcase where the engine oil is collected and stored in the engine oil pan. The Freelander engine design relies on the clamping force of the cylinder head and gasket of the assembled engine to maintain a tension against the sleeves from the top to ensure a seal at the two machined surfaces described. The cylinder head gaskets are manufactured with a metal compression seal ring that is mated to the tops of the sleeves and these compression seal rings have a designed, calculated "crush" that upon assembly, ensure a permanent seal between the high temperature and pressure combustion gases, and the separate coolant and oil circulation passages of the assembled cylinder block and heads. It is important to note that the tops of the sleeves of the Freelander engine are designed to be flush with the head gasket surface of the cylinder block when assembled so that the head gasket will perform it's purpose of sealing effectively.

Law Office of Howard A. Gutman

230 Route 206, Suite 307 

Flanders, New Jersey 07836 

(973) 598-1980 (tel) 

(973) 531-4110 (fax) 

New York Office 

315 Madison Avenue, Suite 901 

New York, New York 10017 

howardgutman@aol.com 

www.lemonlawclaims.com

VOLKSWAGEN INJECTOR AND ENGINE PROBLEM

Volkswagen vehicles have experienced engine and injector problems. Here are some typical problems reported to the NHTSA.

Component(s): FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Date of Incident: 07/19/2013
NHTSA ID Number: 10531734
VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2012
Manufacturer: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): 3VWPL7AJ2CM...

SUMMARY:

2013-07-19 - DRIVING AT 25MPH, ENGINE BECOMES UNRESPONSIVE, ERROR LIGHT COMES ON, ENGINE STOPS COMPLETELY, LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKE POWER, WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE STREET. VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK. VW SERVICE TEAM MANAGER ASSERTS METAL SHAVINGS IN FUEL INJECTOR INDICATE CONTAMINATION OF FUEL SYSTEM. DOES NOT INDICATE WHAT DRIVER BEHAVIOR COULD PREVENT THIS, NOR DOES HE DISCLOSE PUBLICIZED TDI HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP PROBLEMS. MOST RECENT FUELING 2013-07-17. FUEL RECEIPT READS: 12.99 GALLON DIESEL 2 PUMP #10 WITH TWO DAYS OF UNEVENTFUL DRIVING PRIOR TO FUEL PUMP FAILURE, SUGGESTS MISFUELING NOT RESPONSIBLE.


Date Complaint Filed: 07/10/2013
Component(s): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Date of Incident: 07/06/2013
NHTSA ID Number: 10524232
VOLKSWAGEN CC2010
Manufacturer: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): WVWHP7AN3AE...


SUMMARY:

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN CC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE AND SMOKE WAS SEEN FROM THE EXHAUST. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A NOTICEABLE ODOR OF GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTOR HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS ALSO GASOLINE ON THE ENGINE, WHICH THE DEALER ADVISED CLEANING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 8/15/13 *CN THE FUEL INJECTORS WERE FAULTY AND WERE STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK IN THE CYLINDER CAUSING AN ENGINE MISFIRE.. UPDATED 8/15/13 *CN


Date Complaint Filed: 07/07/2013
Component(s): FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
Date of Incident: 07/06/2013
NHTSA ID Number: 10523524
Vehicle Make Mode lModel Year(s)
VOLKSWAGENJETTA2012
Manufacturer: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): 3VWLL7AJ9CM...

SUMMARY:

(THIS CAR IS A JETTA TDI DIESEL, TDI OPTION IS NOT AVAILABLE IN PULL-DOWN LIST ABOVE) AFTER EXITING HIGHWAY, I SMELLED DIESEL FUEL. PARKED AT DESTINATION AND OBSERVED FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDER HOOD AND POOLING ON GROUND. TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED & WAS TOLD TO GET FIRE DEPT THERE TO CLEAN UP SPILL. FIRE DEPT SPREAD MATERIAL ON GROUND AND OPENED CAR HOOD. WE COULD SEE SPRAY MARKS OF FUEL FROM INJECTOR OR LINES, SPRAY MARKS DOWN PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR FROM SPLASHING UP ON HIGHWAY DRIVE I WAS TOLD TO NOT START CAR AND KEEP PERSONS AWAY FROM CAR UNTIL TOW TRUCK CAME. WHEN VEHICLE WAS PUT ON TOW TRUCK BED, MORE FUEL GUSHED OUT FROM UNDERBODY OF CAR. CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED ONLY AT VW DEALER, LAST DATE OF 4/12/13. THIS HAPPENED WHEN I WAS APPROX 50 MILES FROM HOME ON A SATURDAY NIGHT, SO THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A VW DEALER IN THAT TOWN (GRAND RAPIDS, MI). UPON CHECKING FUEL GAUGE IN CAR, IT WAS DOWN 1/8 TO 1/4 OF A TANK FURTHER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. *TR



Date Complaint Filed: 05/28/2013
Component(s): FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
Date of Incident: 04/13/2013
NHTSA ID Number: 10513920
VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2009
Manufacturer: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): 3VWPL71K99M...

SUMMARY:

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS ADVISED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE DIESEL FUEL INJECTOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. *TR


Date Complaint Filed: 04/24/2013
Component(s): FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
Date of Incident: 04/23/2013
NHTSA ID Number: 10509432
VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2010
Manufacturer: Volkswagen of America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): 3VWTL7AJ7AM...

SUMMARY:

ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS AT A 4-WAY STOP SIGN. CAR WAS TOWED TO VW SPECIALIST CENTER AND WAS DETERMINED THAT TDI FUEL PUMP AND INJECTOR SYSTEM HAD FAILED. VW SPECIALIST DETERMINED THAT THIS IS A COMMON EVENT WITH TDI FUEL SYSTEMS. FRESH DIESEL FUEL WAS FUELED IN MY VW AND DROVE FOR 6 MILES TO WHEN ENGINE STALLED OCCURRED. VW SPECIALIST INVESTIGATED AND DETERMINED THERE WAS NO CROSS CONTAMINATION OF DIESEL FUEL, WITH WATER OR GASOLINE. DIESEL FUEL WAS 100% DIESEL IN FUEL SYSTEM. *TR

Law Office of Howard A. Gutman

230 Route 206, Suite 307 

Flanders, New Jersey 07836 

(973) 598-1980 (tel) 

(973) 531-4110 (fax) 

New York Office 

315 Madison Avenue, Suite 901 

New York, New York 10017 

howardgutman@aol.com 

www.lemonlawclaims.com 

NEW NISSAN ALTIMA PROBLEMS

OWNERS OF THE NEW NISSAN ALTIMA HAVE EXPERIENCED VARIOUS PROBLEMS. HERE ARE COMPLAINTS REPORTED TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION.

Date Complaint Filed: 09/21/2013
Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , STEERING
Date of Incident: 09/15/2013
NHTSA ID Number: 10544792
NISSAN ALTIMA 2013
Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): 1N4AL3AP6DC...

SUMMARY:

WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 2 TO 25 MPH HEAR LOUD HIGH PITCH WHINING SOUND FROM ENGINE. THIS STARTED AFTER ABOUT 200 MILES ON VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD 51 MILES ON IT WHEN PURCHASED. DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL IT IS THE ELECTRIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM. THE WHINING NOISE IS VERY DISTURBING AND DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING. SUCH NOISE IS NOT NORMAL. NISSAN NEEDS TO COME UP WITH A FIX. JUST PURCHASED FROM DEALER ON 9/13/2013.


Date Complaint Filed: 08/26/2013
Component(s): AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , ENGINE , SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC , STEERING
Date of Incident: 11/26/2012
NHTSA ID Number: 10537310
NISSAN ALTIMA 2013
Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): 1N4AL3AP7DN...

SUMMARY:

SAFETY CONCERN, PROPER OPERATION OF AIR BAGS (SRS LIGHT ON). THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. ONE MONTH AFTER PURCHASING A BRAND NEW NISSAN ALTIMA 2013, A MAJOR LIGHT INDICATOR CAME ON. THIS LIGHT BROUGHT UP CONCERNS. ARE THE AIR BAGS WORKING PROPERLY? WILL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY CORRECTLY UPON IMPACT? ARE THE AIR BAGS WORKING AT ALL? WILL THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING? WILL THE AIR BAGS IMPLODE AND AFFECT THE STEERING PROCESS? IS THIS AN INDICATION THAT THERE IS AN ELECTRONIC OR ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION? AFTER BUYING A BRAND NEW VEHICLE, SHOULD I EVEN HAVE TO DEAL WITH THESE ISSUES, QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS? IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE SAFETY CONCERN, THE LIST OF ELECTRONIC, ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ISSUES CONTINUES FOR THE NEWLY BOUGHT VEHICLE. THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER STEERING, THE BRAKE SYSTEM, BUBBLING PAINT AND CONCERNS WITH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND INTERIOR COMPARTMENT OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED VEHICLE. ALL THIS IS REFLECTED IN EACH OF THE INVOICES SUBMITTED FOR YOUR PERUSAL. IN ADDITION, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT CONTINUOUSLY HAS A ROUGH IDLE, A ROUGH START AT TIMES THE VEHICLE STALLS OUT. HE IS AT A LOSS BECAUSE WHO SHOULD HE TAKE HIS VEHICLE WITH THIS CONCERN? ALL IN ALL, SIR ALL THESE VEHICLE DISCREPANCIES ARE TROUBLING TO HAVE WITH A BRAND NEW NISSAN ALTIMA 2013 AND ALL OF THESE ISSUES WITHIN THE LAST NINE MONTHS. ALSO, THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE POWER STEERING, THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND CONCERNS WITH THE ENGINE AND INTERIOR COMPARTMENTS. IN ADDITION, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT CONTINUOUSLY HAD A ROUGH IDLE, A ROUGH START AT ALL TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL.


Date Complaint Filed: 06/20/2013
Component(s): ENGINE
Date of Incident: 06/18/2013
NHTSA ID Number: 10520891
NISSAN ALTIMA 2013
Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): 1N4AL3AP6DC...

SUMMARY:

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HE HEARD A WINDING NOISE. AFTER OPENING THE HOOD, HE HEARD A LOUD WHISTLING NOISE EMITTING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200.


Date Complaint Filed: 06/09/2013
Component(s): SUSPENSION
Date of Incident: 06/04/2012
NHTSA ID Number: 10515869
NISSAN ALTIMA 2012
Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): 1N4AL2APXCN...

SUMMARY:

HEADLINER WAS MADE INCORRECT FOR ALL 2012 MODELS AND NISSAN IS AWARE AND REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL. WE HAVE TWO OF THE SAME YEAR ALTIMA PURCHASED ON THE SAME DATE. ALSO THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE SUSPENSION STILL AND WHEN I TURN TO LEFT IT MAKES A POPPING SOUND. WENT IN TO GET OIL CHANGED AND WAS TOLD I HAD AN OIL LEAK THAT WAS GOING BACK INTO MY ENGINE AND BLEW ONE OF MY CYLINDERS AND TORE AN O-RING SO HAD TO HAVE THAT REPLACED. ALSO SOMETHING WRONG WITH REAR DEFROSTER THAT REQUIRED BACK WINDSHIELD TO BE REPLACED. HORRIBLE CONTROL ISSUES WHEN GOING OVER 50 MPH. ALSO SUNROOF REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO REPEATEDLY BREAKING ON THE TRACK PIECE. THIS CAR AS VERY POORLY MADE AND NISSAN WILL NOT OWN UP TO THEIR MISTAKES. ALSO BREAKS SQUEAK NON STOP AND GRIND AND HAVE SINCE CARS WERE PURCHASED, NISSAN INFORMED US THIS WAS NORMAL SINCE THEY HAVE METAL BREAK PADS ON THE 2012 MODELS. IF I COULD GIVE CARS BACK I WOULD IN A HEARTBEAT. HUGE LEMONS ON THE 2012 HENCE THE ENTIRE REMAKE OF THE 2013'S, THEY KNEW THEY MESSED UP. *TR


Date Complaint Filed: 05/31/2013
Component(s): ENGINE , STEERING
Date of Incident: 03/14/2013
NHTSA ID Number: 10514505
NISSANALTIMA 2013
Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): 1N4AL3AP3DC...

SUMMARY:

SO I HAVE BEEN HEARING A WHINING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY CAR AT LOW SPEEDS. I TOOK IT IN AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS A NORMAL POWER STEERING NOISE. AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, I BROUGHT IT BACK A WEEK LATER AFTER I FOUND OUT THE NEXT DAY THAT THEIR IS A NISSAN TECHNICAL BULLETIN ON THIS. AND THEY HAD IT FOR A FEW DAYS WITH MY OTHER CONCERNS AND RETURNED IT TO ME SAYING THAT MY CAR DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE REPAIR. WHY IS THIS? IT IS MAKING INTOLERABLE NOISES AND YET THEY DO NOT FIX IT? TO THIS DAY I AM STILL GETTING THESE NOISES AND HAVE READ THAT THE STEERING PUMP HAS FAILED ON OTHER 2013 NISSAN ALTIMAS. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL! *TR


Date Complaint Filed: 05/31/2013
Component(s): ENGINE , FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE , POWER TRAIN
Date of Incident: 02/07/2013
NHTSA ID Number: 10514473
NISSANALTIMA2013
Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): 1N4AL3AP3DC...

SUMMARY:

WELL THE MAIN SELLING POINT ON THIS VEHICLE IS THAT THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY WERE TOP IN MPG'S WITH 27 CITY AND 38 HIGHWAY. AFTER A WEEK OR SO I NOTICED THAT MY MPG AVERAGE IS NO MORE THAN 23.1. AND THAT WAS WITH MORE THAN 50% TRAVEL ON HIGHWAYS WITH NO TRAFFIC(NEVER WENT UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT). I FIGURED IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT BEING NEW AND IT WOULD AVERAGE OUT BETTER LATER. SO AFTER 5,000 MILES ON THE CAR I TOOK IT IN AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS IS JUST BECAUSE EVERY DRIVER AVERAGES DIFFERENT AND I KEPT SAYING BUT I AM NOT EVEN GETTING CLOSE TO THE 27 CITY AND I DRIVE MORE HIGHWAY. BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING IS NORMAL AND THEY RESET THE AVERAGE CALCULATOR. AFTER A WEEK IT WAS WORSE THAN IT WAS BEFORE AND I WAS BRINGING IT BACK FOR MY MANY OTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE WITH THIS CAR. THEY HAD MY CAR FOR 4 DAYS AND FINALLY TOLD ME THAT WHILE THEY HAD IT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SAYING THAT MY AIR FUEL RATIO SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THEY REPLACED IT AND TOLD ME THAT WAS THE FIX. I HAVE PUT ABOUT A TANKS WORTH OF MILEAGE ON IT SINCE AND I AM GETTING UNDER 23 MPG STILL. EITHER SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG WITH MY CAR OR NISSAN IS LYING ABOUT THE MPG'S AND YES I GET THAT THEY ARE PRESENTED BY THE EPA BUT NISSAN DOES THE TEST FIRST THEN SENDS IT TO THE EPA AND THEN THE EPA TESTS LATER ON. EITHER WAY THE MPG'S ARE WRONG AND I DRIVE TO TRY TO GET THE BEST MPG'S I DON'T EVEN GO OVER 2,000 RPM'S UNLESS GOING UP HILL. WHICH BRINGS ME TO THE VIBRATION FROM THE TRANS. BUT THAT'S IN ANOTHER COMPLAINT. NISSAN NEEDS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I CHOSE THIS OVER THE HONDA ACCORD JUST FOR THE MPG'S. *TR


Date Complaint Filed: 05/10/2013
Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Date of Incident: 02/01/2013
NHTSA ID Number: 10511359
NISSANALTIMA2012
Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): 1N4AL2AP2CN...

SUMMARY:

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL FAILURES. THE BATTERY FLUID WOULD DISCHARGE AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED ONCE. THE DOORS EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL GRINDING NOISE AND THE DOORS ACTUATOR WAS REPLACED. THE REMOTE ALSO FAILED TO START THE ENGINE AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE TO START WAS CAUSED BY THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE 14,000.


Date Complaint Filed: 04/29/2013
Component(s): POWER TRAIN , STEERING
Date of Incident: 12/14/2012
NHTSA ID Number: 10509854
NISSAN ALTIMA 2013
Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): 1N4AL3AP0DN...

SUMMARY:

THERE IS A SHUTTERING VIBRATION IN DRIVE TRAIN WHEN ENGINE IS AT 1500 RPM AND GOING UP AN INCLINE. EVENTUALLY IT IS GOING TO CAUSE LOOSING OF BOLTS AND CAUSE CRASH. *TR


Date Complaint Filed: 12/16/2012
Component(s): POWER TRAIN
Date of Incident: 11/20/2012
NHTSA ID Number: 10488936
NISSAN ALTIMA 2013
Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): Not Available

SUMMARY:

APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING MY BRAND NEW 2013 ALTIMA 3.5 S THE CAR DEVELOPED A SHUDDER AND VIBRATION WHEN I WOULD ACCELERATE SLIGHTLY. IT ALSO OCCURRED GOING UP SMALL HILLS, AND WHEN I WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP THEN PULL OFF (FOR INSTANCE AT A RED LIGHT). AFTER NOTICING THIS, I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER, AND WE DID A TEST DRIVE IN HOPES OF MIMICKING THE ISSUE. THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR A CVT ENGINE, AND THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I WASN'T QUITE CONVINCED, BUT I WANTED TO TRUST HIS OPINION, SINCE THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME DRIVING A CAR WITH A CVT ENGINE. HOWEVER, A FEW WEEKS PASSED AND THE SHUDDER AND VIBRATION GOT WORSE. THE CAR EVEN JERKED FORWARD ONCE WHEN I WAS PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. THIS PROMPTED ME TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER VISIT WITH THE DEALER. THIS TIME THE SAME MECHANIC FROM THE FIRST VISIT AND THE MANAGER RODE ALONG WITH ME. DURING THIS TEST DRIVE THE MANAGER FELT THE SUDDEN SHUDDER, ONCE WE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND SLIGHTLY ACCELERATED. THIS PROMPTED THEM TO REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION, NOT EVEN 30 DAYS AFTER MY PURCHASE. I PICKED MY CAR UP FROM THE DEALER ON 12/7/12 AFTER THEY CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION AND THE CAR DROVE PERFECTLY FINE. THE BAD NEWS IS THAT NOW THE CAR HAS DEVELOPED THE SAME SHUDDER AND VIBRATION EVEN MORE NOW. I WILL BE CALLING FOR ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TOMORROW, BECAUSE SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND YOU HAVE ANOTHER CAR RIDING DIRECTLY BEHIND YOU. *TR ## VIN

Law Office of Howard A. Gutman 

230 Route 206, Suite 307

Flanders, New Jersey 07836 

(973) 598-1980 (tel) 

(973) 531-4110 (fax) 

New York Office 

315 Madison Avenue, Suite 901 

New York, New York 10017 

howardgutman@aol.com 

www.lemonlawclaims.com 

FREE CONSULTATION ON COMPENSATION FOR 

NISSAN ALTIMA PROBLEMS 

(973) 598-1980

NISSAN TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM

Nissan Owners have experienced problems with tire pressure and monitoring on the Altima and other models. Owners may be entitled to compensation. Here are some typical complaints from government records.

Date Complaint Filed: 08/30/2013 
Component(s): TIRES
Date of Incident: 05/23/2013
NHTSA ID Number: 10538122
NISSAN ALTIMA2012
Tire Brand NameTire Line / Tire Size Production Dates
CONTINENTALCONTI PRO CONTACT -
Manufacturer: Continental Tire the Americas, LLC. , Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): 1N4AL2AP6CC...

SUMMARY:

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 NISSAN ALTIMA EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL TIRES, LINE: CONTI PRO CONTACT, SIZE: 215/45/17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE TIRE AFFECTED WAS ALWAYS BOTH REAR TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000. DR


Date Complaint Filed: 08/15/2013
Component(s): WHEELS
Date of Incident: 08/01/2013
NHTSA ID Number: 10535454
NISSAN FRONTIER 2009
Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): 1N6AD06W39C...


SUMMARY:

TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR - STAYED ON AFTER VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT DEALER FOR 75,000 MI CHECK UP WHICH INCLUDED EXTENSIVE REVIEW OF ALL VEHICLE SYSTEMS. AFTER CHECKING COLD PRESSURE SEVERAL TIMES AND DRIVING VEHICLE FOR SEVERAL DAYS TIRE PRESSUE MONITOR WOULD NOT GO OFF. RETURNED TO DEALER AND REQUESTED THE PROBLEM BE FIXED. THEY WERE HELPFUL AND POLITE BUT TRIED TO CHARGE ME $160.75 FOR REPLACING THE MONITOR BECAUSE THE BATTERY WENT OUT IN THE MONITOR. I AM COMPLAINING THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE SPEND $160 FOR EACH TIRE MONITOR BECAUSE IT'S BATTERY EXPIRED. THE BATTERIES SHOULD BE REPLACABLE IN THE TIRE MONITOR. I THINK ITS'S UNFAIR AND POOR DESIGN TO REQUIRE NISSAN OWNERS TO SPEND $640 OVER TIME TO KEEP AN IMPORTANT SAFTEY FEATURE OPERATIONAL. THIS SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REDESIGNED TO REFLECT A MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE(REPLACEABLE BATTERY) REPLACEMENT PART OR REPLACE THE MONITORS FREE OF CHARGE.


Date Complaint Filed: 08/13/2013
Component(s): STEERING
Date of Incident: 08/11/2013
NHTSA ID Number: 10535070
NISSAN ALTIMA 2008
Manufacturer: Nissan North America, Inc.
Vehicle Identification No. (VIN): 1N4AL21E68N...

SUMMARY:

I TOOK MY CAR TO WASH AND SUDDENLY FOR NO REASON I JUST HEARD A NOISE RIGHT AFTER THAT MY RESET TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON, THEN THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND SET WAS FLASHING, I TRIED TO CANCEL IT BUT IT WOULDN'T THEN LUCKILY I SHOULD SAY WHEN I GOT HOME MY AC JUST TURNED OFF AND WOULDN'T TURN BACK ON THEN I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WHEN I TRIED TO START IT IT WOULDN'T START THEN THE YELLOW KEY LIGHT TURNED ON AND I IT WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE THE EITHER KEY. MY PHONE WAS CHARGING AND IT WAS ALSO DAMAGED DUE TO THIS FAILURE. I'VE VERY UPSET. I HAD TO TOW IT IN TO THE DEALER SHIP TO GET IT DIAGNOSED HAD TO PAY 95.00 FOR IT PLUS NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THIS: -----ORIGINAL MESSAGE----- FROM: ROGER KELLEY [MAILTO:ROGER_KELLEY@VIVAAUTOGROUP.COM] SENT: MONDAY, AUGUST 12, 2013 12:20 PM TO: SUBJECT: REPAIR QUOTE THE REPAIRS FOR 2008 ALTIMA ARE LISTED BELOW STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY & SCREWS 834.22 LABOR CHARGES 286.20 TAXES & DISPOSAL FEES -95.89 TOTAL - 1216.31 THIS IS ABSURD, I DID MY RESEARCH AND I SEE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. 

Law Office of Howard A. Gutman 

230 Route 206, Suite 307 

Flanders, New Jersey 07836 

(973) 598-1980 (tel) 

(973) 531-4110 (fax) 

New York Office 

315 Madison Avenue, Suite 901 

New York, New York 10017 

howardgutman@aol.com 

www.lemonlawclaims.com 

INCIDENCE OF ENGINE FAILURE IN THE LAND ROVER FREELANDER AND DISCOVERY ENGINES

Many head gasket failures have been reported on the Freelander engine on the vehicle and it has been determined that this has been commonly caused by a condition where a cylinder sleeve (or sleeves) has "dropped" in the engine block (meaning that the top of the sleeve has moved below flush with the head gasket surface of the block). The condition occurred often enough that Land Rover issued a bulletin (Technical Bulletin #0036, dated June 16, 2004) for it's dealership technicians to provide a process for inspection and evaluation when a vehicle came in for repair. Though this bulletin also addresses an overheat condition diagnosis and repair, engine overheating often accompanies head gasket failure. The head gasket would have failed primarily because the tension of the crushed compression seal ring would be compromised as the sleeve moved lower into the block and away from the cylinder head, ultimately allowing coolant intrusion into the combustion chamber and combustion gases into the cooling system. This loss of tension against a cylinder sleeve would also compromise the sealing effectiveness of the aforementioned machined surfaces of the sleeve and cylinder block and allow coolant intrusion into the crankcase and engine oil, and thus causing catastrophic engine failure as the lubricating qualities of the engine oil are severely diminished when antifreeze coolant is mixed with it.

This would explain another common concern with the Freelander engine where the engines have seized (locked up), often times while driving. The reason that the sleeves drop in the block seems to be apparent and easy to understand. There are two basic principles at work in this issue. First, there is a significant difference in the thermal properties of steel and aluminum, and second, the steel cylinder sleeves are substantially harder than the alloy aluminum cylinder block they are fitted to. Aluminum expands and contracts at a greater rate and degree than steel when heated and cooled. In the normal life of an automotive engine there are an incredible number of these heating and cooling cycles- ie: cold start up to normal operating temperature and then cool down when shut off, occasional high work loads from trailer towing, climbing long grades in extreme weather conditions, etc.

After enough of these cycles, the precision machined surfaces of the relatively soft aluminum cylinder block that relate to the fitment of the much harder steel sleeve would understandably be compromised as the aluminum is moving quicker and more than the steel in the process of thermal expansion and contraction. Add to this the fact that as the engine is running, pistons are moving up and down within the sleeves at a high rate of speed with some friction (normal-from the way that they are designed to fit within the sleeve), pushing up on the sleeve as the piston rises and then pulling down on the sleeve as the piston descends. This can effectively cause the hard steel sleeve to "hammer" against the machined surfaces within the bores of the softer aluminum cylinder block. Theses actions could be expected to cause the machined surfaces within the block to deteriorate and/or damaged to a point of failure. This helps to explain why the sleeves drop in the cylinder block, causing head gasket failure and even catastrophic engine failure. If this occurs in traffic, mechanical features such power braking will not function. Stopping and maneuvering the vehicle particularly in traffic become a serious problem, and the condition poses dangers to the driver, occupants, and other vehicles.

Law Office of Howard A. Gutman 

230 Route 206, Suite 307 

Flanders, New Jersey 07836 

(973) 598-1980 (tel) 

(973) 531-4110 (fax) 

New York Office 

315 Madison Avenue, Suite 901 

New York, New York 10017 

howardgutman@aol.com 

www.lemonlawclaims.com 

LAND ROVER FREELANDER ENGINE FAILURE

 

The 2002-2005 Land Rover Freelanders have had problems of head gasket and engine failure. Landrover has frequently refused to cover these claims, but owners still have remedies available. Owners may be entitled to partial compensation for repair costs, diminished value, or loss of use.

Causes of Landrover Engine Failure
"Freelander K-series engines are known to drop the cylinder liners into the block. Because the liners are steel and the block is alloy, the liners being harder, work their way into the block. Because the engine block and cylinder head are composed of different materials they expand at different rates with heat generated during running of the vehicle, causing the head gasket to fail. The bad news is; If the cylinder liners drop too low, the engine needs to be replaced (there is no economically viable repair procedure." home.austarnet.com.au/edwardsonline/freelanderheadgasket/
www.freelanderheadgasket.co.uk


Illustrative Reports

Here is a typical complaint excerpted from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration records.


Make : LAND ROVER Model : FREELANDER Year : 2002
Manufacturer : LAND ROVER
ODI ID Number : 10262923
Date of Failure: March 20, 2009
VIN : Not Available
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Summary:

MANY LAND ROVER FREELANDERS ARE HAVING SERIOUS PROBLEMS DUE TO THE FAULTY CONSTRUCTION OF THE ENGINE. PRIOR TO COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE, THERE MAY BE UNEXPLAINED COOLANT LOSS, OVERHEATING, AND OTHER PROBLEMS RELATED TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE. BECAUSE THE CYLINDER LINERS ARE STEEL AND THE BLOCK IS ALLOY, THE CYLINDER LINERS TEND TO WORK THEIR WAY INTO THE BLOCK. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THERE IS NO WAY TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE SHORT OF ENGINE REPLACEMENT, AND MANY OF THE REPLACEMENT ENGINES HAVE THE SAME CONSTRUCTION DEFECT AS THE ORIGINAL VEHICLE. *TR

Law Office of Howard A. Gutman 

230 Route 206, Suite 307 

Flanders, New Jersey 07836 

(973) 598-1980 (tel) 

(973) 531-4110 (fax) 

New York Office

315 Madison Avenue, Suite 901 

New York, New York 10017 

howardgutman@aol.com 

www.lemonlawclaims.com 

FREE CONSULTATION ON COMPENSATION FOR  FREELANDER PROBLEMS (973) 598-1980

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY ENGINE FAILURES

The 2002 and 2003 Land Rover Discoverys have had problems of head gasket and engine failure. Land Rrover has sometimes refused to cover these claims, but owners still have remedies available. Owners may be able to obtain compensation for repair costs, loss of use, or diminished value. Here are some typical complaints from the National Highway Traffic Administration records.


Make : LAND ROVER Model : DISCOVERY Year : 2003
Manufacturer : LAND ROVER
ODI ID Number : 10217915 Number of Deaths: 0
Date of Failure: February 9, 2008
VIN : SALTL16463A...
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Summary: 

2003 DISCOVERY W/ 36K MILES. I WAS DRIVING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND THAN OIL LIGHT CAME ON. PUT IN NEUTRAL AND PULLED OVER. HAD IT TOWED TO NEAREST GARAGE. OIL PUMP HAD "EXPLODED" AND RIPPED A WHOLE IN ENGINE "COVER." I SAW THE OIL PUMP GEAR IN PIECES. THERE IS A KNOWN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR DISCO 2003 OIL PUMP FAILURE RESULTING IN NEW ENGINE REPLACEMENT AS ONLY PERMANENT FIX. CURRENTLY MY CAR IS AT LAND ROVER HINSDALE ILLINOIS. WILL NOT COVER B/C WARRANTY IS UP 10MOS AGO. HAVE CONTACTED CUSTOMER CARE AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF DECIDING TO EITHER GIVE ME NOTHING OR A "GOOD WILL GESTURE" W/ UNLEAR MONETARY HELP. HUGE STRESS ON A CAR THAT HAS FEW MILES AND A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED FOR 500 DOLLARS OR SO AND NOW COULD BE UP TO 10,000. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE. THANKS JK *TR


Make : LAND ROVER Model : DISCOVERY Year : 2003
Manufacturer : LAND ROVER
ODI ID Number : 10214097 Number of Deaths: 0
Date of Failure: January 2, 2008
VIN : SALTL164X3A...
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE 

Summary: 

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE OIL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 55,000. UPDATED 01/28/08. *LJ UPDATED 02-25-08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE, SHE DISCOVERED OIL PUMP FAILURE SEEMED TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. UPDATED *JB

Make : LAND ROVER Model : DISCOVERY Year : 2003
Manufacturer : LAND ROVER
ODI ID Number : 10186697 Number of Deaths: 0
Date of Failure: March 12, 2007
VIN : SALTK16413A...
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Summary: 

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY. THE CONTACT DETECTED A FAINT BURNING SMELL WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND OIL SUDDENLY BEGAN ERUPTING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE REAR WINDOW. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE OIL PUMP. WHILE REPLACING THE OIL PUMP THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE BEARING AND CRANK SHAFT WERE RUINED, AND THE ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 50,300.*


Land Rover Discovery Engine Recall

A recall is not expected because the problem however serious, usually does not cause the vehicle to fall during the time period of the warranty and the NHTSA therefore does nto regard the problem as a defect.

Causes of Engine Failure

"Freelander K-series engines are known to drop the cylinder liners into the block. Because the liners are steel and the block is alloy, the liners being harder, work their way into the block. Because the engine block and cylinder head are composed of different materials they expand at different rates with heat generated during running of the vehicle, causing the head gasket to fail. The bad news is; If the cylinder liners drop too low, the engine needs to be replaced (there is no economically viable repair procedure." home.austarnet.com.au/edwardsonline/freelanderheadgasket/
www.freelanderheadgasket.co.uk

Law Office of Howard A. Gutman 

230 Route 206, Suite 307 

Flanders, New Jersey 07836 

(973) 598-1980 (tel) 

(973) 531-4110 (fax) 

New York Office

315 Madison Avenue, Suite 901 

New York, New York 10017 

howardgutman@aol.com 

www.lemonlawclaims.com 

We offer a free initial telephone consultation to discuss your 

 Land Rover Discovery claim. Please feel free to call or e-mail our office.