repaired · 2026 Q3
Air bags: frontal
NewRisk. An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
2026 Land Rover DefenderProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 6 owner complaints about the 2026 Land Rover Defender, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 23, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Yu Chu Chin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2026 Land Rover Defender has problems
6 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
2Electrical system
1Air bags
1Power train
1Service brakes
1Exterior lighting
1Engine
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 |
| Power train | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2026 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
Storage: tank assembly
NewRisk. In the event of a crash, an improperly manufactured fuel tank may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Seat belts: critical fasteners
NewRisk. A seat belt assembly with an insufficient weld may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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
2026 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 electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
My instrument cluster will dim to a nearly unreadable level at random times during the day. This appears to be a common and documented issue with Land Rover Defenders. I have seen a multitude of forum posts going back several years about this issue. There are no settings in the system that allow me…
Driving along when electrical warning light came on and car died. Coasted into safe parking space. Would not start. Dash controls would not respond. This is the day after we bought it. It had been on trickle charge at the dealership and drove fine the evening we bought it. It was fine driving in…
Own a 2026 Defender?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.