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2023 Land Rover Defender Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 83 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Land Rover Defender, most often about the electrical (48% of complaints). It is the most complained-about Defender model year since 2000 and has 9 recalls.
Most common 2023 Land Rover Defender problems
Electrical
40 complaints · 48%The contact owns a 2023 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle shut off unintendedly. There was an unknown electrical warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failure with the dc converter part number…
The contact owns a 2023 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 â 60 MPH, the vehicle suddenly shuddered and vibrated with several unknown warning lights illuminated and flashing before the vehicle abruptly stalled and lost power in the middle of the freeway. The vehicle lost…
Visibility and wipers
14 complaints · 17%Engine
13 complaints · 16%The contact owns a 2023 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was white smoke coming from the engine compartment. The message to âadd coolantâ was displayed. The coolant was added to the coolant reservoir; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact was…
Driver assistance
8 complaints · 10%Parts named most often: assist, warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control.
The contact owns a 2023 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH with no other vehicles or objects nearby, the forward collision avoidance system activated with the automictic emergency braking function drastically slowing the vehicle nearly causing a crash. The vehicle was not taken to the…
Lights
8 complaints · 10%Transmission
7 complaints · 8%Steering
7 complaints · 8%Other or unspecified
4 complaints · 5%
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2023 Land Rover Defender recalls
Electrical: dc/dc converter
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed november 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact land rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land rover's number for this recall is e008. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 26v248.
Full defect summary
Jaguar land rover north america, llc (land rover) is recalling certain 2019-2024 land rover range rover sport, 2020-2024 land rover range rover evoque, land rover range rover, land rover discovery sport, land rover defender, 2021-2024 land rover range rover velar, jaguar e-pace, f-pace, and land rover discovery vehicles. The dc-dc converter may malfunction due to an electrical overload that can occur during high power demand. Additionally, a software error can cause the dc-dc converter to stop functioning at vehicle start-up under certain circumstances. Failure of the dc-dc converter will result in the loss of 12-volt system charging and can lead to complete loss of drive power and exterior lighting.
Air bags: frontal
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will apply a protective lubricant gel to the driverâs air bag connector terminals, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed august 3, 2026. Owners may contact land rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land rover's number for this recall is d120.
Full defect summary
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 driverâs air bag clockspring connector may corrode, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended.
Electrical: dc/dc converter
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the central software, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed june 17, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact land rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land rover's numbers for this recall are d126 and h575.
Full defect summary
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). Insufficient electrical load balancing during times of high demand can lead to a current overload condition and malfunction of the dcdc converter. A failure of the dc-dc converter will result in a loss of 12-volt system charging and can lead to complete loss of drive power and exterior lighting.
Backup camera: software
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the touchscreen software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed march 3, 2025. Owners may contact land rover's customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land rover's number for this recall is n972.
Full defect summary
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."
Engine: filter/screen
Risk: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the filter housing, oil filter, and o-rings, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed june 27, 2024. Owners may contact land rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land rover's number for this recall is n908.
Full defect summary
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.
Brakes: critical fasteners
Risk: Detached brake calipers can reduce braking ability and cause structural wheel damage, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reinstall the brake calipers, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed january 18, 2024. Owners may contact land rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land rover's number for this recall is n848.
Full defect summary
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.
Child Seat: vehicle tether anchor
Risk: A child seat with reduced strength may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the third-row seat frame and components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed april 24, 2023. Owners may contact land rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land rover's number for this recall is n768.
Full defect summary
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.
Engine: oil/lubrication
Risk: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the engine cam carrier and related components as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed march 29, 2023. Owners may contact land rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land rover's number for this recall is n763.
Full defect summary
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.
Seat belts: pretensioner
Risk: Improperly restrained occupants have an increased risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed september 16, 2022. Owners may contact land rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land rover's number for this recall is n720.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2023 Land Rover Defender
- What are the most common problems with the 2023 Land Rover Defender?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (40 complaints); visibility and wipers (14 complaints); engine (13 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2023 Land Rover Defender have?
- 9 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from September 17, 2026 (electrical). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2023 a bad year for the Land Rover Defender?
- It is the most complained-about Defender model year since 2000, with 83 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.