Defender (L663)
Data covers 9 NHTSA model names
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
AJ120
3.0L 6-cyl / 395 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
Show 4 additional engine variants with limited data
AJ133 S/C
5.0L 8-cyl / 518 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
AJ120 i4
2.0L 4-cyl / 296 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
Land Rover Defender Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
NC11-P8S
4.4L 8-cyl / 626 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
Battery & Propulsion Reliability
Mild Hybrid
Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender
That's about 1.9x the typical rate for mild hybrids in this dataset (median 3.0 per year). Above peer average — but high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints, so check the issue mix below before drawing conclusions.
What kind of battery complaint?
Among the 34 battery-related complaints, here's the type mix. These percentages describe what the complaints are about — not how reliable the vehicle is overall.
Loss of power, drive unit, inverter, traction motor, DC-DC converter.
Propulsion battery defects, capacity loss, BMS faults, replacement claims.
Low-voltage battery deaths, common on EVs and hybrids that use a 12V for accessories.
Hybrid system warnings, eCVT, motor-generator, hybrid transaxle.
Charge port, cable, mobile connector, or session failures.
Battery & propulsion recalls (2)
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). Insufficient electrical load balancing during times of high demand can lead to a current overload condition and malfunction of the DCDC converter. 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.
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Land Rover Range Rover, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Land Rover Defender, 2021-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar, Jaguar E-Pace, F-Pace, and Land Rover Discovery vehicles. The DC-DC converter may malfunction due to an electrical overload that can occur during high power demand. Additionally, a software error can cause the DC-DC converter to stop functioning at vehicle start-up under certain circumstances. Failure of the DC-DC converter will result in the 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.
Sample complaint excerpts
Electric Propulsion
- [2022] DC to DC converter failure that displays a RED warning indicator that says "Stop Safely Electrical Fault Detected" with a red battery indicator symbol displayed simultaneously. I called the dealer as this is the 3rd time I have experienced similar electrical issues that have left me stranded since my purchase of this truck new Jan '22. The dealer brushed me off the first time telling me I didn't
- [2022] Electrical fault detected - pull over safely error message appeared while driving, and when vehicle was shut off, low battery warning appeared. Started vehicle and attempted to put in drive and failed with drivetrain error, then suspension error and power steering error. Replaced 12V battery next morning and still received electrical fault error. Towed to dealer and diagnosed with DC-DC converter
- [2022] On January 25, 2026, while driving my 2022 Land Rover Defender 110 in Colorado on Interstate 70, the vehicle suddenly and completely lost power with no warning. There were no dashboard alerts, warning lights, or messages prior to the failure. The vehicle abruptly became disabled while traveling at highway speed, creating an immediate and serious risk of a crash, severe injury, or death to myself a
High-Voltage Battery
- [2022] Electrical fault detected - pull over safely error message appeared while driving, and when vehicle was shut off, low battery warning appeared. Started vehicle and attempted to put in drive and failed with drivetrain error, then suspension error and power steering error. Replaced 12V battery next morning and still received electrical fault error. Towed to dealer and diagnosed with DC-DC converter
- [2022] 8/25/2023 18,118 miles, vehicle purchased. Warranty 48 months or 50,000 miles. Factory warranty remaining 31 months or 31,905 miles. 1/8/2024 26,536 miles, L Headlight failure, electric door lock malfunction, air suspension failure. Headlight = warranty replacement. Service Department = no solution, diagnostic code or replication of electric lock or suspension issue. 3/26/2024 30,285 miles,
- [2022] On [XXX], while driving approximately 30 mph, my vehicle displayed the warning “STOP SAFELY – ELECTRICAL FAULT DETECTED.” I immediately pulled over and restarted the vehicle, but the warning reappeared. Due to safety concerns and proximity to my home, I cautiously continued driving. Two blocks from my residence, I stopped briefly and received a message stating “BATTERY LOW – PLEASE START ENGINE.”
12V Auxiliary Battery
- [2022] On 4/2/2026, my DC to DC converter failed in my 2022 Landrover Defender (owned 3 months, purchased pre-owned from dealer), which short-circuited both my 12V battery and my telemetric safety battery (location services, and emergency calls). The vehicle lost all power, completely malfunctioned electrically losing ability to accelerate, power steering, and everything went dark in the vehicle while dr
- [2022] Electrical fault detected - pull over safely error message appeared while driving, and when vehicle was shut off, low battery warning appeared. Started vehicle and attempted to put in drive and failed with drivetrain error, then suspension error and power steering error. Replaced 12V battery next morning and still received electrical fault error. Towed to dealer and diagnosed with DC-DC converter
- [2022] 8/25/2023 18,118 miles, vehicle purchased. Warranty 48 months or 50,000 miles. Factory warranty remaining 31 months or 31,905 miles. 1/8/2024 26,536 miles, L Headlight failure, electric door lock malfunction, air suspension failure. Headlight = warranty replacement. Service Department = no solution, diagnostic code or replication of electric lock or suspension issue. 3/26/2024 30,285 miles,
Hybrid Drivetrain
- [2023] The DC to DC converter Failed. It is part of the mild hybrid system. Multiple cars in my state and globally have reported the same failure around the same time. Supposedly these failures are due to the cold weather. At the 1st start up of the day a warning message displayed "Stop safely Electrical fault detected" the it disappeared after 1minute. After the 2nd start up the message reappeared and s
- [2023] DC Converter for Hybrid system malfunction with complete battery discharge rendering the vehicle inoperable while utilizing. Lucky that the occurrence occurred in low traffic area! Unable to move vehicle onto flat bed truck because of electrical controlled gears. Unable to secure vehicle because of electrical controlled door locks. Replacement product on back order -estimate at least 6 weeks.
- [2023] The vehicle experienced an electrical fault and shortly after receiving the warning on the dash, the vehicle completely lost power in the middle of traffic. The dealership has told me that the hybrid battery and DC converter both need to be replaced, but the DC converter is on indefinite back order. Based on information I’ve learned from others and I’ve heard from the dealership, Land Rover has be
Charging System
- [2023] Three days before leaving for a trip from [XXX] to [XXX] my Land Rover Defender gave me a Low Battery warning. There was no time to take it to the dealership so I bought a new battery and put it in myself, then drove the 700 miles to [XXX]. My family and I were traveling in a remote area 6 miles from our vacation rental, with no cellular service, when our Defender suddenly threw an electrical fau
- [2023] An electrical component called the DC DC converter failed in my 2023 Land Rover Defender. I discovered the failure after starting the car after work. A warning that the battery was not charging presented itself. I didn't think it was a major issue and could be something reset easily. I was able to get the car home safely but shortly after the car was completely non functional and could have po
- [2024] Repeated failures of the 48v to 12v DC to DC converter. Failure to charge the 12v system results in an complete drain of the 12v battery in under 30 mins while operating the vehicle. The result is an immediate shut down of the vehicle. In my case, while in the middle of a travel lane. Without 12v power the vehicle cannot be shifted into neutral and cannot be moved creating a very unsafe situation.
Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. Rates are absolute counts, not normalized per-VIN — high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints than low-volume ones. Self-reported death and injury counts are capped per complaint to limit form abuse.
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Land Rover Defender, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
What to check on a used 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender
On a used 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the electrical system (100), the exterior lighting (58) and the engine (34). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 100 owner complaints on the 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender about the electrical system.
- Check every exterior light, the wipers, the washers, the mirrors and the glass.Safety. NHTSA has 58 owner complaints on the 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender about the exterior lighting.
- Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 34 owner complaints on the 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender about the engine.
- Turn the wheel from lock to lock while parked, then drive straight on a level road with a light grip.Safety. NHTSA has 26 owner complaints on the 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender about the steering.
- Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 25 owner complaints on the 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
Recalls (17)
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2024 Land Rover Defender vehicles. The second-row seat belt may be improperly stitched.
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Land Rover Range Rover, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Land Rover Defender, 2021-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar, Jaguar E-Pace, F-Pace, and Land Rover Discovery vehicles. The DC-DC converter may malfunction due to an electrical overload that can occur during high power demand. Additionally, a software error can cause the DC-DC converter to stop functioning at vehicle start-up under certain circumstances. Failure of the DC-DC converter will result in the loss of 12-Volt system charging and can lead to complete loss of drive power and exterior lighting.
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.
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). Insufficient electrical load balancing during times of high demand can lead to a current overload condition and malfunction of the DCDC converter. 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.
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."
Show 12 older recalls
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.
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2024 Defender, Discovery Sport, Range Rover, Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Velar, and Range Rover Sport vehicles. The Near Field Sensing Module (NFSM) may overheat and cause the 3D surround camera images, including the rearview camera image, not to display.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2021 Range Rover, 2022 Range Rover Sport, 2020-2021 Range Rover Velar, Discovery Sport, 2020-2022 Discovery, and Defender vehicles. The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly.
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."
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2021 Defender 90 vehicles equipped with manually-adjustable front seats. The front seat track end-stop bracket may become deformed, which could prevent the seat from locking into place.
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.
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.
Alternatives in Off-Road SUV
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender complaints?
Owners have filed 293 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender. The systems they name most often are the electrical system, the exterior and the engine.
Is the 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 293 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender have?
NHTSA has 293 owner complaints on file for the 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender?
NHTSA lists 17 recalls covering some 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Land Rover Defender?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the electrical system, the exterior and the engine, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.
Does the Defender have NHTSA crash test ratings?
NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 293 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.