{"id":"2020_land_rover_defender","make":"Land Rover","make_slug":"land-rover","model":"Defender","model_slug":"defender","year":2020,"url":"/land-rover/defender/2020/","pts":["hev","gas"],"configs":[{"id":42653,"model":"Defender 110 MHEV","pt":"hev","drive":"4-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (S8)","cyl":6,"displ":3.0,"eng":"SIDI; Mild Hybrid","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":17,"hwy":22,"comb":19,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"48V Li-Ion","fuel":"Premium","vclass":"Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":462,"fe_score":3,"ghg_score":3,"fuel_cost":4100,"save_spend":-9250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"JLX","modified":"Fri Jul 10 00:00:00 EDT 2020"},{"id":42655,"model":"Defender 90 MHEV","pt":"hev","drive":"4-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (S8)","cyl":6,"displ":3.0,"eng":"SIDI; Mild Hybrid","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":17,"hwy":22,"comb":19,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"48V Li-Ion","fuel":"Premium","vclass":"Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":462,"fe_score":3,"ghg_score":3,"fuel_cost":4100,"save_spend":-9250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"JLX","modified":"Fri Jul 10 00:00:00 EDT 2020"},{"id":42654,"model":"Defender 90","pt":"gas","drive":"4-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (S8)","cyl":4,"displ":2.0,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":18,"hwy":21,"comb":19,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Premium","vclass":"Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":466,"fe_score":3,"ghg_score":3,"fuel_cost":4100,"save_spend":-9250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"JLX","modified":"Fri Jul 10 00:00:00 EDT 2020"},{"id":42652,"model":"Defender 110","pt":"gas","drive":"4-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (S8)","cyl":4,"displ":2.0,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":true,"city":17,"hwy":20,"comb":18,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Premium","vclass":"Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","co2":492,"fe_score":3,"ghg_score":3,"fuel_cost":4300,"save_spend":-10250,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"JLX","modified":"Fri Jul 10 00:00:00 EDT 2020"}],"vclass":"Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD","segment":"Midsize / large SUV","recalls":[{"campaign":"26V389000","component":"AIR BAGS:FRONTAL","mfr":"Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC","reported":"2026-06-12","owner_notified":"2026-07-31","units":250857,"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 driver\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 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\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s 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.","notes":"","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"D120","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"26V248000","component":"ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER","mfr":"Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC","reported":"2026-04-17","owner_notified":"","units":170169,"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.) 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.","notes":"","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"D126 H575","initiated_by":"ODI","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"23V044000","component":"ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION","mfr":"Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC","reported":"2023-02-02","owner_notified":"2023-03-29","units":6724,"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.","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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"N763","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"critical"},{"campaign":"21V584000","component":"EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL","mfr":"Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC","reported":"2021-07-29","owner_notified":"2021-09-23","units":7027,"summary":"Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Land Rover Defender vehicles.  The owner's manual incorrectly states that the third-row seating is equipped with LATCH child seat restraints with top tethers.  As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, \"Child Restraint Anchorage Systems.\"","consequence":"Incorrect child restraint information may result in a child seat being improperly secured, which can increase the risk of injury in a crash.","remedy":"Land Rover will mail owners the correct information to insert into the owner's manual, free of charge.  Owner notification letters were mailed on September 23, 2021.  Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837.  Land Rover's number for this recall is N601.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"N601","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"21V435000","component":"EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS","mfr":"Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC","reported":"2021-06-08","owner_notified":"2021-09-27","units":2622,"summary":"Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Defender X vehicles equipped with smoked rear light assemblies.  A voltage spike, triggered by a bright light shining on the rear of the vehicle, can cause the turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights to fail.","consequence":"Turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights that fail to illuminate can reduce visibility to other drivers and increase the risk of a crash.","remedy":"Dealers will replace the rear light assemblies, free of charge.  Owner letters were mailed September 27, 2021.  Owners can contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837.  Land Rover's number for this recall is N598.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"N598","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"21V424000","component":"POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)","mfr":"Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC","reported":"2021-06-03","owner_notified":"2021-07-28","units":163,"summary":"Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Land Rover Defender vehicles equipped with 6-cylinder engines.  The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) may unexpectedly switch off while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in an engine stall with no warning.","consequence":"An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.","remedy":"The Connected Diagnostic Services (CDS) and the Over-the-air (OTA) diagnostics functionality will be disabled, either by a dealer or through an OTA update, free of charge.  Owner notification letters were mailed July 28, 2021.  Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837.  Land Rover's number for this recall is N599.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"N599","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"}],"recall_count":6,"critical_count":1,"park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"score":45,"grade":"F","complaints":{"count":53,"crash":1,"fire":1,"injured":1,"deaths":0,"comps":[["Exterior Lighting",19],["Electrical System",10],["Steering",8],["Engine",7],["Visibility/Wiper",6],["Structure",5]],"by_year":{"2020":9,"2021":8,"2022":8,"2023":4,"2024":5,"2025":6,"2026":13},"excerpts":[["2024-01-11","Exterior Lighting","Daytime running lights stopped working with no warning signs or notifications, reducing visibility.. Has been confirmed by independent service center. Circuitry in headlight is known to fail causing the daytime running light to stop without warning"],["2023-07-20","Power Train","Large clunking sound with shuddering of the vehicle during a turn at low speeds. Inspection revealed cracked transfer case and differential damage which could lead to loss of control of vehicle. Had part repaired at Land Rover, again malfunctioned after 1000 miles with shuddering and \"skipping\" of rear tires during tur\u2026"],["2023-05-19","Exterior Lighting","The \"cone of light \"projected forward by the headlights is too narrow. When turning right or left from one dark road onto another dark road, one cannot determine if it is safe to turn. The light cone is blocked by the escutcheon around the headlight, which are set inward too deep. In addition, the light intensity of th\u2026"]]},"investigations":[],"ncap":[],"popularity":127,"headline":{"range":null,"mpg":19,"ncap":null,"complaints":53},"presskit_trims":[],"generated_at":"2026-09-11 05:01 UTC","sources":["EPA fueleconomy.gov","NHTSA recalls","NHTSA complaints","NHTSA NCAP","NHTSA investigations"]}