Land Rover bulletin BIG5DEC23_31
What it saysA concern has been identified on US Land Rover Defender 130 vehicles that have been modified as part of the preparations for JLRNA's TReK event. NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Land Rover filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Dec 5, 2023, received Jan 9, 2024, about the service brakes. It names 1 model year (2023). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
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What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationA concern has been identified on US Land Rover Defender 130 vehicles that have been modified as part of the preparations for JLRNA's TReK event. During the vehicle preparation, reinstallation of brake calipers did not follow the published repair procedure. If the brake calipers are not installed correctly, there is a risk the calipers may detach, resulting in degraded braking performance and possible structural damage to the wheel. Vehicles will require the brake caliper bolts, hoses and associated parts to be replaced following TOPIx workshop manual procedures.
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIG5DEC23_31 | Service bulletin | Dec 5, 2023 | 10248407 | not found |
The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. A PDF link is shown only once NHTSA’s own server has been seen to serve that document; the rest are checked over the following nights. Quote the number at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themA vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
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What owners reported
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseOwners of the 1 model year this bulletin names have filed 89 complaints with NHTSA since 2015.
A complaint is one owner’s account, not a defect finding, and a bulletin is not a recall. Nothing here says this bulletin was issued because of these complaints, or that the repair it describes fixed them. Complaint files on this site begin in 2015.
More bulletins about the service brakes
Source: same model, same component group8 other manufacturer communications filed against the Land Rover Defender under the same component group (service brakes), newest first.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| TUCC_AUG2025_37 | Other | Aug 15, 2025 | When pushing the rear brake caliper pistons back during a brake service, the caliper piston dust boot may become twisted or distorted if a t… |
| SSM76375ATT2 - 04AUG25 | Other | Aug 4, 2025 | Rear Brake Caliper Piston Dust Boot Distortion Risk |
| SSM76375ATT1 - 04AUG25 | Other | Aug 4, 2025 | Rear Brake Caliper Piston Dust Boot Distortion Risk |
| SSM76375 - 04AUG25 | Other | Aug 4, 2025 | Rear Brake Caliper Piston Dust Boot Distortion Risk |
| SFCC_MAR2025_20 | Other | Mar 14, 2025 | There have been several FRED submissions for a customer allegation of brake judder/vibration. |
| SFCC_MAR2025_18 | Other | Mar 14, 2025 | There have been several FRED submissions for a customer allegation of a brake noise concern. |
| SFCC_MAR2025_17 | Other | Mar 14, 2025 | There have been several FRED submissions for a customer allegation of a rear brake warning being illuminated on the instrument cluster. |
| SSM76186 | Other | Sep 20, 2024 | Clicking Ticking Noise from Front Axle While Turning Left or Right and Full Lock at Low Speeds |
Quote the number at the service desk. It is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Every manufacturer communication NHTSA holds for Land Rover, by the number printed on the letter.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Land Rover BIG5DEC23_31 a recall?
No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the BIG5DEC23_31 repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way.
Which vehicles does BIG5DEC23_31 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 1 model year: 2023 Land Rover Defender. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.