no report yet
Propulsion system: dc/dc converter
NewRisk. A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
2021 Land Rover DefenderProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 42 owner complaints about the 2021 Land Rover Defender, most often about the exterior lighting. It is covered by 9 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-499 the manufacturer reports only 83% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 28, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: LuvsMG481, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2021 Land Rover Defender has problems
42 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
16Exterior lighting
12Visibility/wiper
5Electrical system
3Structure
1Suspension
1Visibility
1Steering
1Engine
1Fuel system, gasoline
22 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 16 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 12 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 1 | 0 |
| 2 other systems | 2 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
9 recalls
2021 Land Rover Defender recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Air bags: frontal
NewRisk. An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
no report yet
Propulsion system: dc/dc converter
NewRisk. A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2024 Q4
Engine: oil/lubrication
Risk. An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Show 5 more recalls
repaired · 2023 Q3
Front: retractor
Risk. An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Child seat: vehicle latch anchor
Risk. Incorrect child restraint information may result in a child seat being improperly secured, which can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q3
Seats
Risk. A seat that is not properly locked into place can move unintentionally during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Exterior lighting: brake lights
Risk. Turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights that fail to illuminate can reduce visibility to other drivers and increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Electrical system: software
Risk. An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Land Rover.
Best & worst years
2021 vs. every other Defender year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Defender median. How we score
'92'93'94'95'99'01'02'03'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
In owners' words
What Defender owners report
Recent exterior lighting complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The failure of the Daytime running light on Defenders is a known issue caused by a design flaw. It is not covered by warranty and costs over $3000 to replace.
The signature halo LED ring on the front headlight stopped working and has now failed completely, impairing headlight performance. Land Rover previously replaced one of these units when under warranty, but now refuse to fix the second one unless privately paid for (I am now out of warranty). This…
On my 2021 Land Rover Defender 110, the front Daytime Running Light (DRL) halo unit experienced a complete illumination failure due to an internal component defect. Because the LED DRL system is permanently sealed inside the headlamp assembly, replacing the failed light required a complete headlamp…
Own a 2021 Defender?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.