2023 Land Rover Defender
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 40 of 81 complaints (49%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 72 in 2022 to 81 in 2023.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | vs. 2023 Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 4,100–4,300 | 4,100–4,850 | 3,900–4,850 | 3,900–4,850 | 4,100–4,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–19 | 16–19 | 16–20 | 16–20 | 16–19 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 17–18 / 20–22 | 14–18 / 19–22 | 14–18 / 19–23 | 14–18 / 18–22 | 14–18 / 18–21 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 462–492 | 462–563 | 444–563 | 453–563 | 465–574 | |
| Complaints filed | 38 | 72 | 81 | 25 | 13 | |
| Recalls issued | 9 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 2 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 11 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2023 Land Rover Defender have?
9 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2023 Land Rover Defender?
Electrical: 40 of 81 NHTSA complaints (49%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Land Rover Defender get?
EPA rates it 16–20 MPG combined across 8 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2023 Land Rover Defender?
EPA estimates $3,900–$4,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (8)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 18 mpg (high) | 21 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 465 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 17 mpg | 20 mpg | 18 mpg | $4,300 | 492 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 18 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | $3,900 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 18 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | $3,900 (low) | 444 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 5.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 15 mpg | 19 mpg (low) | 16 mpg (low) | $4,850 (high) | 545 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 5.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 14 mpg (low) | 19 mpg (low) | 16 mpg (low) | $4,850 (high) | 563 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 17 mpg | 21 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 480 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 17 mpg | 21 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,100 | 480 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (9)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · Campaign 26V389000 · Jun 15, 2026
Defect: 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.
Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will apply a protective lubricant gel to the driver’s 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER · Campaign 26V248000 · Apr 20, 2026
Defect: 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 loss of drive power and exterior lighting.
Consequence: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The remedy for this recall is currently under development. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 17, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the 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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:VIDEO (TOUCH)SCREEN/MONITOR/UNIT · Campaign 25V016000 · Jan 17, 2025
Defect: 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."
Consequence: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS; EQUIPMENT · Campaign 24E102000 · Dec 6, 2024
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A detached raised air intake can fall off the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, remove and reinstall the RAI accessory, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed February 20, 2025. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N964.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:FILTER/SCREEN · Campaign 24V450000 · Jun 18, 2024
Defect: 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.
Consequence: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:CRITICAL FASTENERS · Campaign 23V789000 · Nov 24, 2023
Defect: 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.
Consequence: Detached brake calipers can reduce braking ability and cause structural wheel damage, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY; CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE TETHER ANCHOR · Campaign 23V137000 · Mar 3, 2023
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A child seat with reduced strength may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION · Campaign 23V044000 · Feb 2, 2023
Defect: 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.
Consequence: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER · Campaign 22V523000 · Jul 22, 2022
Defect: 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.
Consequence: Improperly restrained occupants have an increased risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: 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.