2023 Land Rover Defender Electrical Problems

Three days before leaving for a trip from [XXX] to [XXX] my Land Rover Defender gave me a Low Battery warning. There was no time to take it to the dealership so I bought a new battery and put it in myself, then drove the 700 miles to [XXX]. My family and I were traveling in a remote area 6 miles from our vacation rental, with no cellular service, when our Defender suddenly threw an electrical fault warning on the dashboard asking us to pull over safely, on XXX. We made it to the vacation rental, then I borrowed a family member's car and went into [XXX] to buy tools to see if the battery was charging and if I could safely drive it to the nearest dealer or even home. It was not charging. So I called the dealership (Land Rover Rocklin) and had the car towed to it, then rented a truck to finish my vacation and get the family and our gear home. At the dealership, Rocklin required a brand-new factory battery to run tests on the failed DC-DC converter. They confirmed the converter failed under Recall 26V-248 and replaced the unit with the same recalled part. To get through this ordeal, I incurred $3,036.13 in direct out-of-pocket costs (towing, rentals, batteries, tools). Despite written confirmation from Jaguar Land Rover Corporate Customer Care agreeing to reimburse these recall expenses, Jaguar Land Rover has since passed me between departments, applied arbitrary roadside assistance caps, and ultimately refused to issue a refund, imposing an illegal financial burden on me to remedy a federal safety defect. I can supply all receipts. Specific Incident Details Component / System Failure: The DC-DC Converter failed internally (NHTSA Recall 26V-248 / JLR Campaign D126), causing a complete loss of 12V charging. Safety Risk: The failure occurred on remote mountain roads without cell service. A complete loss of 12V power threatens power steering, braking assistance, and vehicle propulsion while driving. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11753125

Incident

Jul 3, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Land Rover Defender. The contact received a recall notification, NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V248000 (Electrical System) however the parts were unavailable. The contact stated that the vehicle was a hazard and unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced any failure regarding the unrepaired recall repair.

NHTSA ID

11744833

Incident

Jun 17, 2026

The DC/DC converter failed and caused the vehicle to immediately lose all power at a main intersection. My wife was driving the vehicle when this happened with out two children in the vehicle as well (ages [XXX] and [XXX]. Luckily, she was able to somewhat get out of intersection of a very busy road. The vehicle had to be towed to the Land Rover dealership. The part was covered by a factory extended warranty. There is an active recall for this part; however, this vehicle does not show to be in the recall. Since this part did fail, I wanted to file a complaint since it is not in the recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11744806

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

SUPPLEMENTAL TO NHTSA COMPLAINT #11728718 (RECALL 26V248000) On March 2, 2026, my 2023 Land Rover Defender was at a dealership for approximately 3.5 hours for key fob programming. At that time, Jaguar Land Rover had an active service message (SSM76173) related to DC-DC converter failures. Within 24 hours of leaving the dealership, the DC-DC converter failed. The vehicle displayed a “Charging System Fault” warning and became inoperable, consistent with the failure described in my original complaint #11728718. I contacted the dealership immediately with information about the issue. They told me that what I experienced aligned with the DC Converter failures that have been reported. I asked if I could get my Defender picked up or if they could at least provide a loaner car if I could somehow get my Defender to them. The dealership declined towing assistance and did not provide a loaner vehicle, citing that I was beyond the mileage limit of the warranty. I was also told that loaner vehicles were reserved for customers who purchased their vehicle at that location. Because I live approximately 4 hours from the dealership and the vehicle was not safely operable, I arranged my own repair. Due to a national backorder, the vehicle was unusable for an extended period (about a month). I purchased a genuine replacement DC-DC converter and paid for expedited shipping. Total out-of-pocket cost exceeded $970. On April 23, 2026, Jaguar Land Rover issued Recall 26V248000 for this defect. Communication with JLR about this incident started on April 7, 2026. On April 23, 2026 at 8:05 am EST (following the announcement of the recall), I was offered a final settlement off of a $458 retailer credit. However, I was instructed that I needed to return to the dealership (4 hours away) for inspection of a vehicle that has already been repaired using an OEM part. I am submitting this update to document the failure, the repair, and the manufacturer’s response following the recall.

NHTSA ID

11733338

Incident

Apr 23, 2026

Vehicle: 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 P400 (MHEV) Component Failure: Failure of the 48V DC-DC converter module (L8B2-14B227-AD), which converts 48V to 12V and maintains the vehicle’s 12V electrical system. The component is available for inspection. What Happened: Vehicle displayed “Charging System Fault” and red battery warning. Shortly after, the vehicle became inoperable and left driver stranded. Diagnostics showed: 48V battery retained voltage (~45V) No current output from the 48V system No 12V charging DTC: P065B-16 (Generator Control Circuit Voltage Below Threshold) The DC-DC converter reported “Failure / Standby” and would not initialize. High-voltage contactors did not close, preventing power delivery from the 48V system. Safety Risk: Failure disables 12V charging and can render the vehicle inoperable without warning. This creates a risk of being stranded and loss of essential vehicle functions. Inspection / Confirmation: Issue was confirmed through diagnostic tools (GAP IIDTool). Failure condition and DTC are consistent with DC-DC converter malfunction. Warnings Prior to Failure: “Charging System Fault” message and red battery warning appeared immediately prior to loss of function. No earlier warning. Additional Information: Similar failures involving the DC-DC converter and 48V MHEV system have been reported by other owners. Failures outside of warranty result in significant repair costs.

NHTSA ID

11728718

Incident

Mar 2, 2026

The vehicle experienced a sudden and complete electrical failure while driving, related to the DC converter. Warning lights did appear prior to the failure; however, I was driving down a mountainous road and do not recall the exact messages. Shortly after, the vehicle shut down and lost power, causing it to roll to a stop in active traffic. At the time of the incident, I was partially in the roadway and unable to safely move the vehicle out of traffic. The vehicle became inoperable and could not be restarted. I had two children and two dogs in the vehicle at the time. The vehicle had to be towed approximately two hours back home. The required part was on backorder for approximately two months due to so many vehicles having the issue, leaving my vehicle unusable for an extended period. This issue creates a serious safety hazard due to the sudden loss of propulsion and inability to move the vehicle out of traffic. Based on my research, this appears to be a known issue affecting multiple Land Rover Defenders. In attempting to locate the part sooner, we contacted several Land Rover dealerships, all of which indicated they had numerous Defenders awaiting the same repair due to part availability.

NHTSA ID

11725480

Incident

Jan 18, 2026

DC-DC converter failure. Received dashboard message “Stop safely Electrical fault detected”

NHTSA ID

11725104

Incident

Feb 11, 2026

Received a stop vehicle, "Electrical Fault". Diagnosed by certified mechanic to be DC to DC Converter fault needing replacement. Estimated 1-2 month backorder due to high demand for parts.

NHTSA ID

11722354

Incident

Feb 1, 2026

While driving the dashboard suddenly showed a message saying Battery Charging Fault error” a few minutes later the car stopped driving while I was on a busy freeway. It had no power and it displayed several messages saying suspension system is disabled, battery issue, cameras disabled. I had try to navigate my rolling car to a side lane to call roadside assistance. It was a very dangerous incident and needs to be addressed. Land Rover in White Plains NY, diagnosed my vehicle saying the Dc to Dc converter needs to be replaced and they don’t have any in stock. They also mentioned they have 30 customer cars all waiting for the same part. This was scary and I’m grateful my children were not in the vehicle at the time.

NHTSA ID

11721872

Incident

Feb 28, 2026

DC-DC Converter failed, battery light came on mid-drive and I continued to drive to try and make it to my destination. Car systems started one by one shutting down, first my seat heater then eventually my steering and gas petal. The Vehicle then died and left me stranded in the middle of the road while cars were passing me leaving me unsafe and blocking the road for more than an hour untill a tow truck could arrive. I could have easily been in an accident if I was on a different road do to the steering assist and gas pedal not continuing to work. Making it unsafe for me and many people on the road. The car would also not turn on or go into neutral so I could push it off to the side. Making it a hazard blocking a major road. I took it to Land Rover dealer and they mentioned that this is currently a common issue among Defenders, they have a bunch of them sitting on the lot waiting for this part and it is currently back ordered for several months. Leading me to believe this isn't an isolated incident and that Land Rover should address it before someone gets hurt on the road.

NHTSA ID

11721421

Incident

Feb 3, 2026

On 2/18/26 the vehicle electrical system stopped working. I unlocked teh vehicle with an emergincy key inside the keyfob. Once towed back to the dealer I was informed that the DC-to-DC converter failed causing the entire electical system to fail/immobilized the vehicle. The part will take 3-4 weeks to receive. Doing my own desk research I see that this is common issue and in many cases reoccurring b/c the part is replaced with a version that is also failing (look at how many different part #'s have been issued).

NHTSA ID

11721077

Incident

Feb 18, 2026

Car suddenly stopped and lost all power due to DC DC converter issue

NHTSA ID

11720814

Incident

Feb 6, 2026

An electrical component called the DC DC converter failed in my 2023 Land Rover Defender. I discovered the failure after starting the car after work. A warning that the battery was not charging presented itself. I didn't think it was a major issue and could be something reset easily. I was able to get the car home safely but shortly after the car was completely non functional and could have potentially shut down right on the interstate on my drive home. Currently my car has been at the dealership for over two weeks waiting on a new converter because it is on backorder. This part is quite fragile and its failure can leave drivers stranded on the highway.

NHTSA ID

11719447

Incident

Feb 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2023 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 – 60 MPH, the vehicle suddenly shuddered and vibrated with several unknown warning lights illuminated and flashing before the vehicle abruptly stalled and lost power in the middle of the freeway. The vehicle lost steering and braking functionality and was unable to accelerate. The vehicle failed to restart. The contact stated that several vehicles almost crashed into the rear of the vehicle, and a semi-truck came to a screeching halt behind the vehicle. The contact experienced an extreme panic attack and severe anxiety during the failure. The Emergency Services were called to the scene and with the help of the Fire Department, Police, and Ambulance Services, the vehicle was moved from the roadway to safety. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the DC-to-DC converter had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the part was on back order and that the vehicle could not be immediately repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.

NHTSA ID

11719441

Incident

Feb 18, 2026

Mileage

40,000 mi

The dc dc converter failed and had to be towed away. The incident happened while I was driving the vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11718655

Incident

Feb 14, 2026

Vehicle was started, while still in park, an alert appeared on the dashboard “stop safely electrical fault detected”. Vehicle was turned off and restarted, with the same warning light on. Called LR dealer, Vehicle was backed out of garage at service advisors advice, parked and flatbed tow truck called.

NHTSA ID

11718347

Incident

Feb 2, 2026

While driving on the freeway I recieved and elctrical fault detected please pull over when safe. The issue is the DC to DC converter failed resultign in the loss of charging for the car and relaince on stored elctricity in the battery to drive systems. I was on the highway at freeway speeds and had to exit the highway quickly to avoid the vehicle completly shutting down on the freeway. The dealer has verified the issue. There is significant discussion on owner boards about the numerous failures across all years of the mhev defender resulting in owners being stranded on the side of the road. Land Rover needs to issue a recall to replace this defective part.

NHTSA ID

11717507

Incident

Jan 13, 2026

DC/DC converter failed on the 2023 Land Rover Defender about 2000 miles out of warranty. The parts are on back order with no ETA because so many LR Defenders are having this issue. This can cause your car to die while driving.

NHTSA ID

11716962

Incident

Feb 4, 2026

DC-DC converter has failed causing the car to shut of while driving. During this period of time the car shuts off and the steering wheel locks. Seems to be a massive problem as every dealer we call doesn't have the parts to repair and are quoting months to fix the car.

NHTSA ID

11716175

Incident

Feb 2, 2026

The DC/DC converter failed when I turned the car on and I received a warning. Drove straight to the dealership to drop it off for service. Reviewing others with this issue online, it is an extremely common problem and no recall has been issued. Many report their cars dying in the middle of nowhere. To make matters worse, there is a long backlog for the part, months for some people. I’m waiting to hear back from the dealer on my wait time. I hope by submitting a report that you will consider requiring Land Rover to issue a recall.

NHTSA ID

11715745

Incident

Feb 1, 2026

While driving the vehicle warnings alerted me that the battery was low and to start the vehicle ( it was running as I was driving) then the alert changed to pull over when possible. At this time the power steering and power brakes started to fail by the time I pulled into a parking lot the vehicle completely died and I had to push it into a parking spot. I called Land Rover they towed it to a dealership. The dealership in Orlando Florida said that the DC to DC converter failed and that it would need a new one (but the part is on a back order because it’s a common issue and they have no idea how long it will take to get the part) it will take at least 30 days or more to get a new part. Before I managed to pull over in a safe location the steering became very heavy and the brake pedal got very hard and barely stopped the vehicle ( almost had a collision) and steering into the parking lot was extremely difficult.

NHTSA ID

11715474

Incident

Feb 1, 2026

While driving my Defender 130 at Highway speed a warning for a faulty electrical system light came on. Within a mile while I was trying to exit the highway, all electrical systems failed. I had a gearbox failure warning and the car went into neutral at highway speed. Power steering failed and I had to manhandle the vehicle off the road into a snow drift to get off the highway.

NHTSA ID

11714802

Incident

Jan 27, 2026

I own a 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 that I purchased brand new. Since buying it, it has been back to the dealer many times for serious issues. The vehicle has had repeated cooling system failures, including replacement of all upper coolant hoses. Most recently it was at the dealer for coolant loss / no coolant, and the dealer diagnosed failed O-rings going into the turbo and repaired it. I was told this is a common issue but there has been no recall. Shortly after getting the vehicle back, while traveling with my family, I received a dashboard warning: “Stop safely – electrical fault.” Immediately after this warning, the vehicle lost power and died in the street with my family in the car, creating a major safety hazard and risk of being hit by traffic. The vehicle had to be towed. I am currently stranded in NY (away from home in MA) and the vehicle is now at a dealer here. It has been difficult to even get it seen by a technician, and we are supposed to return home tomorrow (Sunday). I have learned many other owners are experiencing similar “Stop safely” failures and it appears related to the P400 DC/DC converter. There have also been incidents where the steering wheel would not turn, and the only way to restore function was disconnecting the negative battery terminal to reset the vehicle computer, which is extremely dangerous. Additionally, the heated steering wheel overheated and burned a hole through the steering wheel and burned my hand while driving. The dealer replaced it under warranty, but the repair notes suggested the damage caused the heater issue, when the damage occurred because of the overheating/burn. This vehicle has had repeated safety-related defects involving the cooling system, electrical system, steering, and heated steering wheel, including sudden shutdown in the roadway with passengers. I request NHTSA investigate for a potential recall.

NHTSA ID

11714705

Incident

Jan 31, 2026

Car only has 42K miles on it- we were driving down the highway at approx 75mph, when the dash alarms started going off indicating an electrical system failure. A few minutes later all systems started flashing failures (lane keep assist system, braking system, etc)....then suddenly the gear box system failure alerted and the gears disengaged, the RPM's shot up and red-lined, and the CAR lost power in the middle of the highway. Fortunately we were able to get off to the shoulder without getting hit by a semi-truck. The car was completely dead. It had to be towed to a dealer, to find out that the DC/DC converter had failed- and these parts have been on back order for months- apparently this is a common issue with these cars, and people have been talking about it online...many have been without their car for 3-4 months waiting these parts.

NHTSA ID

11714701

Incident

Jan 19, 2026

The car completely died. Unable to be jumped. Had to be towed. There’s a problem with the DC/DC converter. The parts going to take at least 3-4 weeks to come in. My dealer states they have over five or six vehicles waiting for the same repair. This should be a recall issue!

NHTSA ID

11714244

Incident

Jan 23, 2026