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Land Rover · Midsize / large SUV

2023 Land Rover Defender

HybridGas
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
8 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
35 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls2 critical8
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA81
Crash ratingNHTSA overall—
Fuel economybest combined, EPA20 mpg
2026202520242023202220212020

The 2023 Land Rover Defender is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas midsize or large SUV with 8 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Defender 110 MHEV, is EPA-rated at 20 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 81 complaints, most often about the electrical system.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Defender 110 MHEVHybrid4WD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion182320$3,900
Defender 90 MHEVHybrid4WD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion182320$3,900
Defender 130 P300 MHEVHybrid4WD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion172119$4,100
Defender 130 P400 MHEVHybrid4WD3.0L 6-cyl turbo + 48V Li-Ion172119$4,100
Defender 90Gas4WD2.0L 4-cyl turbo182119$4,100
Defender 110Gas4WD2.0L 4-cyl turbo172018$4,300
Defender 110Gas4WD5.0L 8-cyl141916$4,850
Defender 90Gas4WD5.0L 8-cyl151916$4,850

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 45106, 45107, 45641, 45642, 45099, 45105, 45109, 45108.

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Recalls (8)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

D120
250,857 vehicles
ProblemJaguar 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.RiskAn air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 26V389000reported Jun 12, 2026Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC
▲high

Electrical System

D126 H575
170,169 vehicles
ProblemJaguar 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.RiskA loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.FixThe 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.
NHTSA campaign 26V248000reported Apr 17, 2026Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC
○minor

Back Over Prevention

N972
28,370 vehicles
ProblemJaguar 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."RiskA rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 25V016000reported Jan 16, 2025Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC
!critical

Engine And Engine Cooling

N908
2,013 vehicles
ProblemJaguar 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.RiskAn oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 24V450000reported Jun 17, 2024Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

N848
121 vehicles
ProblemJaguar 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.RiskDetached brake calipers can reduce braking ability and cause structural wheel damage, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V789000reported Nov 22, 2023Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC
▲high

Child Seat

N768
812 vehicles
ProblemJaguar 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.RiskA child seat with reduced strength may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V137000reported Mar 2, 2023Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC
!critical

Engine And Engine Cooling

N763
6,724 vehicles
ProblemJaguar 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.RiskAn oil leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 23V044000reported Feb 2, 2023Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC
▲high

Seat Belts

N720
4,927 vehicles
ProblemJaguar 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.RiskImproperly restrained occupants have an increased risk of injury during a crash.FixDealers 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.
NHTSA campaign 22V523000reported Jul 21, 2022Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
81complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2022: 3 · 2023: 21 · 2024: 8 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 44

Most-cited components

Electrical System39
Visibility/Wiper14
Engine12
Power Train7
Steering7
Lane Departure7

What owners describe

“The power steering failed and the car was not drive-able. The warning light for no lane assist available also turned on. The vehicle was in-operable and left us stranded. This would have been a much bigger issue in the winter time, or if I was not at my home. I contacted Land Rover, who had me call LandRover road side …”Nov 14, 2023 · Steering · NHTSA owner report
“Sitting in my car warming it up and the windshield pops and the is a 2 foot crack in the windshield”Nov 4, 2023 · Visibility/Wiper · NHTSA owner report
“Infotainment screen randomly goes black while driving. Does not come back on. This screen displays and controls everything for the vehicle. Maps, system info, music, etc. Instructions to "reset" the system consists of reaching toward the passenger side of the dashboard to hold down a power button for about 30 seconds. …”Nov 4, 2023 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Other Defender model years

D

2026 Land Rover Defender

3 recalls · 4 complaints

A

2025 Land Rover Defender

1 recalls · 12 complaints

F

2024 Land Rover Defender

5 recalls · 25 complaints

F

2022 Land Rover Defender

5 recalls · 72 complaints

F

2021 Land Rover Defender

8 recalls · 38 complaints

F

2020 Land Rover Defender

6 recalls · 53 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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