What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2023 Land Rover Defender

Typical pattern

15.2% of complaints about the 2023 Land Rover Defender came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2023 vehicle — around the middle of the 177 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 3.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (39 complaints), typically at 3.4 yr or about 61,000 miles.

Complaints
105
Median age at failure
3.3 yr
Median mileage
40,000 n=5
Crash / fire / tow
1.9% of reports
Safety recalls
9

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
39 reports · 61,000 mi
3.4 yr
5.1%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

26V389000 2026-06-12
Air bags:frontal

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Land Rover Defender, 2021-2026 Discovery, and 2022-2026 Range Rover vehicles. The driver’s air bag clockspring connector may corrode, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended.

An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.

26V248000 2026-04-17
Electrical system:propulsion system:dc/dc converter

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar and Land Rover Discovery, 2020-2023 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, 2019-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Range Rover, 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Defender, 2021-2024 Jaguar F-Pace, and 2021-2022 Jaguar E-Pace mild-hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs.) The DC-DC converter can fail due to an internal fault in the boost control microchip. A failure of the DC-DC converter will result in a loss of 12-Volt system charging and can lead to complete

A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

25V016000 2025-01-16
Back over prevention:software

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2023 Discovery Sport, 2023-2024 Defender, and 2023 Range Rover Evoque vehicles. The touchscreen in the center console may go blank at vehicle startup, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

24E102000 2024-12-06
Equipment

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender vehicles equipped with Raised Air Intake (RAI) aftermarket accessory equipment, with part number VPLEP0543. The raised air intake may not be secured properly, which can allow the intake to detach from the vehicle.

A detached raised air intake can fall off the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

24V450000 2024-06-17
Engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:filter/screen

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Defender, 2024 Discovery, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and Range Rover Velar vehicles. The oil filter housing can crack and leak oil into the engine compartment.

An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

23V789000 2023-11-22
Service brakes, hydraulic:critical fasteners

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 vehicles modified for the TRek Off-Road Competition. The brake calipers may not be reinstalled properly, allowing the brake calipers to detach.

Detached brake calipers can reduce braking ability and cause structural wheel damage, increasing the risk of a crash.

23V137000 2023-03-02
Child seat:vehicle tether anchor

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The third-row seatback latch may not latch properly, reducing the strength of a child seat installed to the top tether.

A child seat with reduced strength may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

23V044000 2023-02-02
Engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Range Rover Sport, 2020-2023 Range Rover, Defender, 2022-2023 Discovery, and 2023 Range Rover Velar vehicles. The engine cam carrier oil channel may be blocked, which can lead to an oil leak.

An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

22V523000 2022-07-21
Seat belts:pretensioner

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2022-23 Land Rover Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport and 2022 Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Velar vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat belt pretensioners may be damaged, which can cause the seat belts to not properly restrain occupants.

Improperly restrained occupants have an increased risk of injury during a crash.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system mileage not reported 6 mo in service
The media screen will randomly go blank so you can not see your navigation map, radio information or any other data that the screen should show. The dealer told us to press the door lock twice and wait several minutes before restarting. Very unsafe if emergency is occurring and you do not have access to navigation system. This has occurred several times since we purchased the vehicle new on March 18 at Buckhead Range Rover in Atlanta. the phone charger does not work and only heats up your phone after you lay the phone on it for a period of time.
Electrical system mileage not reported 1.1 yr in service
the lighting on the 2023 Defender 110 is not adequate, particularly at dusk and in the evening. The brightness control does not adjust for the brightness needed to see gauges. This is a safety risk.
Electrical system mileage not reported 11 mo in service
Infotainment screen randomly goes black while driving. Does not come back on. This screen displays and controls everything for the vehicle. Maps, system info, music, etc. Instructions to "reset" the system consists of reaching toward the passenger side of the dashboard to hold down a power button for about 30 seconds. I have done this multiple times, it's not safe. You are stretched out across your vehicle, trying to pay attention to indicator lights, while you also need to pay attention to the road.

Other Defender model years

202320222020

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