Skip to content

Free public service · Official NHTSA & EPA data

2021 Land Rover Defender

Verified August 31, 2026Sources: NHTSA · EPA · vPIC

Compare
Safety
not rated
Recalls
9
on record
MPG
combined

Heavily recalled

9 safety recalls on record. Confirm with the seller that every campaign has been completed.

Vehicle Summary

2021 Land Rover Defender

9 recalls
0 complaints

Before You Buy

Confirm all 9 recalls were repaired — a dealer checks by VIN, free
No complaint on record reports a crash
Review the 0 owner complaints on record
Get a pre-purchase inspection
Check vehicle history report
Verify title is clean

Safety record at a glance

Recall campaigns
9
Owner complaints
0
Complaints citing a crash
0

These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalized by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.

9 Recalls on Record

These recalls have been issued by the manufacturer. Contact any authorized dealer to verify they have been completed — repairs are free.

Enter your VIN to check if specific recalls apply to your vehicle.

Safety recalls

9 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.

  • 21V435000high

    Lighting issue

    EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS

    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.

    Full campaign record
  • 21V668000high

    Safety restraint issue

    SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

    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.

    Consequence

    An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

    Remedy

    Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed October 20, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N630.

    Full campaign record
  • 21V584000high

    Equipment issue

    EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

    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.

    Full campaign record
  • 21V424000high

    Drivetrain issue

    POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

    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.

    Full campaign record
  • 21V499000high

    Safety restraint issue

    SEATS

    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.

    Consequence

    A seat that is not properly locked into place can move unintentionally during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy

    Dealers will replace the front seat tracks, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 28, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N609.

    Full campaign record
  • 23V044000high

    Engine issue

    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION

    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.

    Full campaign record
  • 24E102000high

    Equipment issue

    EQUIPMENT

    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.

    Consequence

    A detached raised air intake can fall off the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, remove and reinstall the RAI accessory, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed February 20, 2025. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N964.

    Full campaign record
  • 26V248000high

    Electrical issue

    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER

    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.

    Full campaign record
  • 26V389000high

    Airbag system issue

    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

    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.

    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’s air bag connector terminals, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed August 7, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is D120.

    Full campaign record

NHTSA crash-test ratings

NHTSA holds no crash-test rating for this model year.

Not every model year is tested. A missing rating is not a poor rating.

Fuel economy & emissions

The EPA holds no fuel-economy record for this model year.

The EPA does not publish a record for every model year.

Consumer complaints

No owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.

Nothing on file. Newer model years often have few complaints simply because fewer cars are on the road yet.

Safety timeline

Every dated recall and NHTSA investigation for the 2021 Land Rover Defender, newest first.

  1. Recall

    Recall 26V389000

    An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.

  2. Recall

    Recall 26V248000

    A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

  3. Recall

    Recall 24E102000

    A detached raised air intake can fall off the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

  4. Recall

    Recall 23V044000

    An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

  5. Recall

    Recall 21V668000

    An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.

  6. Recall

    Recall 21V584000

    Incorrect child restraint information may result in a child seat being improperly secured, which can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

  7. Recall

    Recall 21V499000

    A seat that is not properly locked into place can move unintentionally during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

  8. Recall

    Recall 21V435000

    Turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights that fail to illuminate can reduce visibility to other drivers and increase the risk of a crash.

  9. Recall

    Recall 21V424000

    An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Dates are the NHTSA report-received date for recalls and the ODI open/close date for investigations. Crash-test ratings are not shown here because the source does not provide a reliable publication date for them.

Specifications & ratings

Specifications

Body class
Unknown
Drive type
Unknown
Engine
0L 0-cyl
Fuel type
Unknown
Transmission
Unknown
Seats
0

Explore related

Safety timeline

Full timeline
  1. Recall

    Recall 26V389000

    An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.

  2. Recall

    Recall 26V248000

    A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

  3. Recall

    Recall 24E102000

    A detached raised air intake can fall off the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

  4. Recall

    Recall 23V044000

    An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

  5. Recall

    Recall 21V668000

    An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.