Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 2020. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 1995.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Defender | 6 | 3 |
| 2025 Defender | 13 | 1 |
| 2024 Defender | 27 | 7 |
| 2023 DefenderMost complaints | 85 | 9 |
| 2022 DefenderMost complaints | 75 | 6 |
| 2021 Defender | 42 | 9 |
| 2020 DefenderMost complaints | 55 | 7 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 Defender | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 Defender | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 Defender | 3 | 0 |
| 2001 Defender | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 Defender | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 Defender | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 Defender | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 Defender | 1 | 2 |
| 1994 Defender | 0 | 1 |
| 1993 Defender | 2 | 1 |
| 1992 Defender | 0 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Electrical system105
- Exterior lighting61
- Visibility/wiper53
- Engine36
- Unknown or other27
- Steering26
- Power train20
- Structure11
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 10 Defender vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 3 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | 4 | 0 |
| 1994 | 1 | 1 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 4 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 12.5–14.9 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Defender 130 P500 · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Premium gasoline | 17.0 | 12.5 | 14.9 |
| 2025 | Defender 130 P400 · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Premium gasoline | 13.3 | 11.5 | 12.5 |
| 2024 | Defender 130 P300 · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Premium gasoline | 14.0 | 11.7 | 12.9 |
| 2023 | Defender 130 P300 · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Premium gasoline | 14.0 | 11.0 | 12.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
3,564 Defender cars are on the New Zealand register; 19% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 421 | 420 | 1 |
| 2025 | 401 | 392 | 9 |
| 2024 | 343 | 311 | 31 |
| 2023 | 480 | 402 | 76 |
| 2022 | 448 | 397 | 48 |
| 2021 | 486 | 401 | 81 |
| 2020 | 259 | 229 | 28 |
| 2016 | 39 | 2 | 33 |
| 2015 | 55 | 4 | 49 |
| 2014 | 31 | 3 | 28 |
| 2013 | 33 | 2 | 29 |
| 2012 | 18 | 2 | 15 |
| 2011 | 23 | 5 | 16 |
| 2010 | 17 | 2 | 14 |
| 2009 | 22 | 4 | 17 |
| 2008 | 30 | 10 | 17 |
| 2007 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| 2006 | 16 | 11 | 4 |
| 2005 | 14 | 10 | 4 |
| 2004 | 30 | 21 | 5 |
| 2003 | 72 | 50 | 15 |
| 2002 | 48 | 32 | 12 |
| 2001 | 29 | 25 | 3 |
| 2000 | 25 | 19 | 3 |
| 1999 | 17 | 5 | 12 |
| 1998 | 40 | 15 | 21 |
| 1997 | 41 | 19 | 19 |
| 1996 | 38 | 25 | 12 |
| 1995 | 15 | 2 | 12 |
| 1994 | 14 | 2 | 9 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
6,990 Defender cars are on Dutch roads; 47% arrived later as imports, and 3,701 still have a recall open. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 628 | €114,613 |
| 2025 | 1,120 | €107,243 |
| 2024 | 790 | €113,266 |
| 2023 | 823 | €110,057 |
| 2022 | 658 | €110,805 |
| 2021 | 578 | €106,208 |
| 2020 | 208 | €132,391 |
| 2011 | 29 | €90,920 |
| 2010 | 80 | €74,249 |
| 2009 | 118 | €68,630 |
| 2008 | 304 | €66,710 |
| 2007 | 308 | €48,805 |
| 2006 | 147 | €46,955 |
| 2005 | 106 | — |
| 2004 | 126 | €46,350 |
| 2003 | 127 | — |
| 2002 | 143 | — |
| 2001 | 108 | — |
| 2000 | 130 | €73,821 |
| 1999 | 107 | — |
| 1998 | 82 | — |
| 1997 | 89 | — |
| 1996 | 93 | — |
| 1995 | 30 | — |
| 1986 | 32 | — |
| 1985 | 26 | — |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
Road collisions in Great Britain
From 2021 to 2025, 907 Defender cars were involved in road collisions in Great Britain that injured someone and were reported to the police. 19 of those collisions were fatal and 241 caused serious injuries. As with any count, models with more cars on British roads appear more often.
| Year | Cars in injury collisions | Fatal | Serious |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 222 | 3 | 63 |
| 2024 | 140 | 4 | 38 |
| 2023 | 202 | 5 | 45 |
| 2022 | 177 | 4 | 52 |
| 2021 | 166 | 3 | 43 |
Department for Transport, STATS19 road safety data 2021–2025 · Open Government Licence v3.0 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
65,293 Defender cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12,179 | 144 |
| 2024 | 11,899 | 322 |
| 2023 | 11,556 | 184 |
| 2022 | 8,143 | 174 |
| 2021 | 6,113 | 209 |
| 2020 | 3,940 | 163 |
| 2019 | 20 | 4 |
| 2016 | 2 | 2 |
| 2015 | 24 | 15 |
| 2014 | 40 | 9 |
| 2013 | 14 | 5 |
| 2012 | 14 | 6 |
| 2011 | 8 | 4 |
| 2010 | 621 | 99 |
| 2009 | 962 | 152 |
| 2008 | 1,294 | 270 |
| 2007 | 1,374 | 276 |
| 2006 | 1,264 | 230 |
| 2005 | 1,399 | 213 |
| 2004 | 1,270 | 208 |
| 2003 | 1,214 | 244 |
| 2002 | 731 | 190 |
| 2001 | 100 | 52 |
| 2000 | 161 | 56 |
| 1999 | 113 | 48 |
| 1998 | 92 | 57 |
| 1997 | 66 | 55 |
| 1996 | 44 | 31 |
| 1995 | 29 | 29 |
| 1994 | 33 | 34 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
106,638 Defender cars took their annual MOT test in 2023; 68% passed first time, against 65% for all cars of the same ages. Older cars fail more often, so compare a year with the same year of other cars.
| First registered | Tests | Passed first time |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 257 | 96% |
| 2020 | 4,031 | 91% |
| 2016 | 1,801 | 83% |
| 2015 | 6,600 | 79% |
| 2014 | 5,789 | 77% |
| 2013 | 4,314 | 73% |
| 2012 | 3,832 | 70% |
| 2011 | 3,902 | 69% |
| 2010 | 3,963 | 68% |
| 2009 | 3,485 | 66% |
| 2008 | 3,701 | 67% |
| 2007 | 3,936 | 67% |
| 2006 | 3,723 | 65% |
| 2005 | 4,114 | 65% |
| 2004 | 4,209 | 65% |
| 2003 | 4,338 | 64% |
| 2002 | 3,838 | 64% |
| 2001 | 3,162 | 63% |
| 2000 | 2,997 | 62% |
| 1999 | 3,057 | 64% |
| 1998 | 3,504 | 66% |
| 1997 | 3,407 | 62% |
| 1996 | 3,524 | 63% |
| 1995 | 2,889 | 64% |
| 1994 | 2,357 | 63% |
| 1993 | 1,927 | 64% |
| 1992 | 1,487 | 64% |
| 1991 | 1,718 | 63% |
| 1990 | 1,638 | 66% |
| 1989 | 1,918 | 65% |
Why they fail
Share of all first tests that ended in a fail because of each part of the car (one test can fail on several).
| Area | Defender | All cars, same ages |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 17.6% | 15.9% |
| Suspension | 9.5% | 12.1% |
| Brakes | 8.7% | 10.0% |
| Steering | 8.0% | 3.1% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 7.4% | 6.8% |
| Visibility | 6.8% | 6.2% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 2.6% | 5.2% |
| Tyres | 1.8% | 5.4% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests of cars only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
New registrations in Europe
26,400 new Land Rover Defender cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2022, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2022 the largest markets were Germany (3,224), Italy (1,417), Spain (446).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 7,930 | 222 (WLTP) |
| 2021 | 7,417 | 214 (WLTP) |
| 2020 | 8,407 | 247 (WLTP) |
| 2018 | 1 | 282 (NEDC) |
| 2017 | 5 | — |
| 2016 | 6 | — |
| 2015 | 18 | — |
| 2014 | 7 | — |
| 2013 | 13 | — |
| 2012 | 47 | — |
| 2011 | 147 | — |
| 2010 | 2,402 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Real-world fuel consumption
15,421 Land Rover Defender cars and vans registered in Europe between 2021 and 2024 report their fuel use through the on-board meter. Diesel hybrid versions average 10.2 l/100 km on the road, against 8.9 l/100 km in the official WLTP test — 15% more. Plug-in hybrids use 10.2 l/100 km against 3.1 l/100 km on paper, with 14% of their distance covered with the engine off.
| Fuel | Vehicles | On the road | WLTP | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 1,336 | 15.4 | 14.1 | +9% |
| Petrol hybrid | 784 | 14.0 | 11.6 | +21% |
| Diesel | 1,467 | 10.2 | 9.0 | +14% |
| Diesel hybrid | 7,049 | 10.2 | 8.9 | +15% |
| Plug-in hybrid | 3,186 | 10.2 | 3.1 | +230% |
| Diesel hybrid van | 1,599 | 10.0 | 8.8 | +14% |
Litres per 100 km: total fuel used divided by total distance driven, from the car's own fuel consumption meter (OBFCM), collected in 2024 by the manufacturers, mostly remotely, and by national authorities. WLTP figures are the type-approval CO₂ values converted to litres. Hybrids, including mild hybrids, do not plug in; plug-in hybrid figures include the distance driven on electricity. European Environment Agency, Real-world CO₂ emissions from cars and vans · CC BY 4.0
What it costs in fuel
On real-world figures the diesel hybrid Land Rover Defender uses 10.2 litres per 100 km, so 15,000 km a year takes about 1,530 litres: €3,457 at this week's average price in Germany, its largest market in Europe.
| Country | Diesel hybrid | Diesel | Petrol | Petrol hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | €3,457 | €3,467 | €5,017 | €4,576 |
| Italy | €3,424 | €3,434 | €4,641 | €4,233 |
| United Kingdom | £3,041 | £3,050 | £4,019 | £3,666 |
| France | €3,579 | €3,589 | €5,132 | €4,681 |
| Spain | €2,882 | €2,890 | €4,100 | €3,739 |
| United States | $2,529 | $2,537 | $2,606 | $2,377 |
Fuel for 15,000 km (9,300 miles) a year at real-world consumption. Pump prices with taxes, week of 19 October 2026: European Commission Weekly Oil Bulletin, UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, US Energy Information Administration. Non-euro EU prices are in euros as the Bulletin publishes them.
Work it out for your driving
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the Defender in at least 12 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
The fuel tank wall near the inlet check valve is thinner than specified. In the event of a crash, the tank may not withstand the impact adequately, which could lead to fuel leakage and potentially cause a fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation o…
Corrosion of the airbag connector may increase electrical resistance, which could prevent the driver airbag from deploying correctly in the event of an accident. This increases the risk of injury. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval…
The driver airbag connectors in the steering column has shown that they may corrode. Over time, the airbag might not deploy as intended and therefore could increase the risk of injuries. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and marke…
A defective module has been installed in the high-voltage battery, which may cause it to overheat and lead to a fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, …
A weld stud of insufficient strength on the third-row seatbelt anchorage bracket may result in the restraint system not functioning correctly in the event of an accident and affect occupant protection, leading to a risk of injury. The product does not comply w…
The lower fixing on the accessory raised air intake and the body A-pillar on which it is mounted may not fit correctly. This can result in inadequate attachment force between the raised air intake and the vehicle. The air intake can become detached from the ve…
Due to an incorrect configuration in dynamic mode, the vehicles do not have adequate stability, suspension rigidity, or sufficient stability control, increasing the risk of loss of the vehicle's control and creating a risk of accident and injuries. The product…
The engines may become blocked, which can cause external oil leakage or oil transfer into the air intake system, creating a risk of fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their traile…
The front stabilizer does not meet specifications and is inadequate for the use on the vehicle. The road handling may be negatively affected, creating a risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillanc…
The coolant pump may malfunction and stop the coolant flow, causing the engine to overheat quickly and subsequently break an engine-mounted plastic elbow in the cooling circuit. Coolant can leak onto the turbocharger's heat shield, creating a risk of fire in t…
The back seat LATCH (lower anchors and tethers for children) may be faulty. A child restraint system may not work as intended due to compromised seat strength. This could lead to injuries in case of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation …
Defective welding involving the vehicle's axle may cause the weld to break which can lead to a loss of mechanical resistance and the axle flange becoming detached, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the appro…
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
20 campaigns cover the Defender; the latest 12 are below.
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 2026 Land Rover Defender vehicles. The fuel tank was improperly manufactured with walls that are too thin.
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 2026 Land Rover Defender vehicles. The third-row lower seat belt anchorage bracket may have an insufficient weld stud.
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."
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.
NHTSA recalls