LandRover Recalls Early Freelanders

LONDON, Oct 25 Reuters reported that Land Rover, a unit of Ford Motor Co said on Thursday it was recalling all Freelander sport utility vehicles built before March 2001 due to fears their handbrakes might disengage accidentally.

There have been no reported accidents concerning the handbrake fault but the global recall covers more than 68,000 Freelanders built since production began in 1997, the company said in a statement.

Land Rover said there had been isolated examples of handbrakes not engaging fully and releasing due to a sudden jolt such as a slamming door.

Land Rover officials were not immediately available to comment on the financial impact of the recall.

Bought by Ford of the United States last year from Germany's BMW, Land Rover launched the Freelander to fill the growing niche market for smaller offroad vehicles. It currently builds about 19,500 a week.

Additionally, the company said 4,300 three-door Freelanders built towards the end of 2000 had been recalled over a seat-back mechanism fault.

And some 12,300 built around the same time have been recalled due to a possible engine harness fault that could affect electrical circuits, Land Rover said.