RoadVitals

2022 Land Rover Defender

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
79
+4 complaints in 30 days
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
7
Latest Sep 17, 2026
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 79 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2022 Land Rover Defender, most frequently naming the electrical, exterior lighting and visibility categories. 7 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 466 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

7 campaigns cover this model year

View all 7

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
26V599000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER

Sep 17, 2026
23,677 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed November 13, 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 E008. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 26V248.
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLCManufacturer number E008View on NHTSA.gov
26V389000

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Jun 12, 2026
250,857 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will apply a protective lubricant gel to the driver’s air bag connector terminals, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 3, 2026. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is D120.
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLCManufacturer number D120View on NHTSA.gov
26V248000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER

Apr 17, 2026
170,169 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will update the central software, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 17, 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 numbers for this recall are D126 and H575.
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLCManufacturer number D126 H575View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 79
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 4, 2026

On Sunday, [XXX], in the morning, I was driving my 2022 Land Rover Defender 90 (VIN [XXX], about 33,600 miles) southbound on [XXX] at about 30 mph, with my minor nephew in the car. Multiple warning lights came on and the vehicle shut down while moving, losing drive power. We nearly crashed. The vehicle has not started reliably since. An independent repair shop replaced the alternator and battery and the problem continued; they traced it to an electrical fault draining the 12-volt system and identified the open DC-DC converter recall (NHTSA 26V248 / 26V599, Land Rover D126/H575 and E008). My Land Rover dealer (JLR Los Angeles) confirmed in writing that the recall is open on my vehicle but said no remedy exists yet. On [XXX], Land Rover customer service (800-637-6837) declined to open a case or commit to any repair, tow, or interim fix. The vehicle cannot be driven safely and I have no remedy available. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11775613
Incident
Oct 25, 2026
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 30, 2026

The front driver side daytime headlight failed. This part on this vehicle is sometimes called the halo. I am told that it is about a $3,000.00 repair. I don't think this part should fail so soon nor should it cost so much to remedy. It is available for inspection on request. The vehicle is less visible. I am taking it to the dealer for inspection on November 9, 2026, the earliest day available. There were no warnings that it had failed. I only noticed it when seeing the reflection of the vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11774774
Incident
Oct 29, 2026
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 30, 2026

My driver's side Daytime Running Lights has failed prematurely (~4 years since new vehicle purchase) and the Land Rover dealer claims it is normal and expected. This is after my passenger DRL has already failed and was replaced with assistance from JLR North America. This is a known issue (Land Rover Special Service Message 75479).

NHTSA ID
11774760
Incident
Aug 1, 2026
Electrical
Filed Oct 23, 2026

Nothing has happened yet but my vehicle could stop working at any time due to there not being a fix available. I have been waiting for a fix for six months.

NHTSA ID
11773293
Incident
Oct 23, 2026
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Oct 1, 2026

DC/AC error came up once, parked it and turned it off, the error message has not showed up since, i have contacted the San Jose, CA, land Rover dealer, 2 times already, have given them my information and they always say i will get a call back and its been 2 months and i have yet to receive any information on getting these recalls repaired, This vehicle was not cheap and they seem to not care to fix the issue.

NHTSA ID
11768377
Incident
Jun 18, 2026
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed Sep 30, 2026

This is a serious concern and safety condition. In several occasions while driving at a range from 45-70mph the engine loses power. To the point where it has felt like it will shut off. The inside lighting of the dash dims while the vehicle is in loss of engine power.

NHTSA ID
11768195
Incident
May 12, 2026
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 17, 2026

Halo lighting on front headlamps stopped working

NHTSA ID
11765010
Incident
Sep 2, 2026
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 24, 2026

DRL Halo failure/driver side: I own a business, and am on the road driving throughout the day. I have had at least 3 incidents where other drivers have pulled out in front of me, in which I believe was due to the DLR Halo failure. I was also stopped by a Traffic Officer because he thought it was a full 'headlight' failure. I had to explain to him that the DLR Halo failure is a KNOWN issue to Land Rover and that the core headlight still works. Safety Issues: Reduced Visibility: DRLs make your vehicle easier for oncoming traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists to see during daylight hours, especially in overcast weather or glare conditions. A daytime running light (DRL) failure on a vehicle like the Land Rover Defender primarily reduces your truck's daytime visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a collision. Stats: Daytime running lights (DRLs) reduce multi-vehicle daytime traffic accidents by about 5% to 15%, depending on the specific study and crash type.Key Reduction StatisticsGeneral Multi-Vehicle Crashes: A major meta-analysis shows a 10% to 15% reduction in multi-party daytime accidents for cars using DRLs. A Monash University study found an 8.8% reduction in non-nighttime multi-vehicle crashes.Head-On and Opposite-Direction Collisions: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that DRLs reduce opposite-direction daytime fatal and non-fatal crashes by 5%.Vulnerable Road Users: NHTSA data indicates a 12% reduction in daytime pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities in single-vehicle crashes, and a 23% reduction in daytime fatal crashes between a passenger vehicle and a motorcycle.Specific Fleet/Manufacturer Studies: General Motors and independent evaluations typically estimate a general crash reduction of over 5% in urban and mixed environments. While I am driving a 2022 Defender with a DLR Halo defect, Land rover is directly putting me at 5 to 15% greater risk of injury, SBI injury or death.

NHTSA ID
11759228
Incident
Aug 21, 2026

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TUCC_OCT2026_34

Interference from external WiFi sources could disrupt wireless CarPlay or Android Auto connection. Reconnection to the vehicle may also be inhibited while in the area of localized interference.

TUCC_OCT2026_46

The air conditioning system is not cooling properly

SSM76493 - 19OCT26

STRUCTURE:BODY

Retailers may not be following the installation instructions correctlywhen installing accessory wheel arch protection kits.

SSM76493 - 25SEP26

STRUCTURE:BODY

Accessory Wheel Arch Protection - Gaps Present Between Protection And Vehicle Body

SSM76492 - 20AUG26

TCU Activation Failure And InControl App Inoperative After Software Update

SSM76487 - 20AUG26

Air Conditioning Inoperative / Intermittent Operation

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Land Rover Defender by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026630—
2025132054.9
2024278161.4
20239510058.0
2022Viewing797060.2
20214210055.1
2020588058.1
2019000—
2004000—
2003100—
2002300—
2001100—
2000000—
1999100—
1998000—
1997000—
1996000—
1995120—
1994010—
1993210—
1992010—
1990100—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.