The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 2 of 6 complaints (33%) mention it.
Complaints filed fell from 13 in 2025 to 6 in 2026.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 6
- Recall campaigns
- 3
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $3,850–$4,850
- Combined MPG
- 16–20
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2027 | vs. 2026 Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,850–4,850 | 4,050–4,850 | 3,850–4,850 | 4,050–4,550 | |
| Combined MPG | 16–20 | 16–19 | 16–20 | 17–19 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 14–18 / 18–22 | 14–18 / 18–21 | 14–18 / 18–23 | 15–18 / 18–22 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 453–563 | 465–574 | 448–574 | 457–534 | |
| Complaints filed | 27 | 13 | 6 | 0 | |
| Recalls issued | 8 | 2 | 3 | 0 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 9 | 11 | 12 | 7 |
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 2026 Land Rover Defender have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2026 Land Rover Defender?
Electrical: 2 of 6 NHTSA complaints (33%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2026 Land Rover Defender get?
EPA rates it 16–20 MPG combined across 12 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2026 Land Rover Defender?
EPA estimates $3,850–$4,850 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (12)
| 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) | 22 mpg | 20 mpg (high) | $3,850 (low) | 452 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 4 | 2.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 18 mpg (high) | 21 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,050 | 465 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 5.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 15 mpg | 19 mpg | 16 mpg (low) | $4,850 (high) | 550 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 5.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 14 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | 16 mpg (low) | $4,850 (high) | 574 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 5.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 14 mpg (low) | 19 mpg | 16 mpg (low) | $4,850 (high) | 567 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S8) | 8 | 4.4L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 15 mpg | 19 mpg | 17 mpg | $4,550 | 534 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 17 mpg | 19 mpg | 18 mpg | $4,300 | 500 g/mi |
| Configuration 8 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 17 mpg | 18 mpg (low) | 17 mpg | $4,550 | 512 g/mi |
| Configuration 9 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 18 mpg (high) | 22 mpg | 20 mpg (high) | $3,850 (low) | 453 g/mi |
| Configuration 10 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 18 mpg (high) | 23 mpg (high) | 20 mpg (high) | $3,850 (low) | 448 g/mi (low) |
Show 2 more configurations
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 11 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 17 mpg | 21 mpg | 19 mpg | $4,050 | 468 g/mi |
| Configuration 12 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.0L | 4-Wheel Drive | Premium | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 16 mpg | 20 mpg | 18 mpg | $4,300 | 491 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 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 (3)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
- 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.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
- Defect
- Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2026 Land Rover Defender vehicles. The fuel tank was improperly manufactured with walls that are too thin.
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash, an improperly manufactured fuel tank may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 19, 2026. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is D127.
SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS
- Defect
- Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2026 Land Rover Defender vehicles. The third-row lower seat belt anchorage bracket may have an insufficient weld stud.
- Consequence
- A seat belt assembly with an insufficient weld may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the third-row lower seat belt anchorage bracket or the weld-stud on the bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 19, 2026. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's numbers for this recall are D098 and D113.