RoadVitals

2023 Land Rover Defender Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Jul 21, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
18%
of 78 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2023 Land Rover Defender submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Visibility
Filed Jul 21, 2026

Front windshield is extremely fragile. The smallest rock will create a chip which will spider across the windshield within a couple days. I have an older Land Rover and there have been more rocks with only a few small chips and no spider. Cheap glass installed on the new Land Rovers.

NHTSA ID
11751772
Incident
Jun 1, 2026
Visibility
Filed Aug 7, 2025

Took my car to the dealership to have the windshield replaced due to a rock chip. Driving home on the freeway with the new windshield installed, I noticed a new crack moving across the windshield. I had on driven only 45 miles. Contacted Landrover and was told it was just an unfortunate chance event. I previously had a windshield replaced for the same reason. I now need my 3rd windshield in 1 1/2 years

NHTSA ID
11678957
Incident
Aug 6, 2025
Visibility
Filed May 5, 2025

The windshield is very prone to splintering, chips and cracking from even small roadway impacts. I have had to replace the windshield twice in the last 6 months. This has been an ongoing problem with Defender 90 windshields from what I can read and the manufacturer is very aware of it. The windshields pose a danger to the driver at worst and an ongoing and expensive maintenance expense at best.

NHTSA ID
11658983
Incident
Apr 4, 2025
Visibility
Filed Jul 7, 2024

Windshield cracked for no apparent reason. No rock chip. Crack at upper middle of the windshield and goes towards driver side about 16 inches long.

NHTSA ID
11599602
Incident
Jul 6, 2024
Visibility
Filed Apr 28, 2024

Windshield cracks easily.

NHTSA ID
11585715
Incident
Apr 27, 2024
Visibility
Filed Apr 27, 2024

Vehicle windshield spontaneously cracked with large crack extending across most of passenger side. Vehicle has 10K miles. No offroad driving. No rock or foreign object struck vehicle. Driven on smooth roads. Weather was not issue. This is clearly a SAFETY issue. Crack will likely extend and I will need to replace windshield in vehicle less than 1 year old. I will take a picture of it. It needs to be replaced immediately..I've arranged service but am worried that vehicle-specific windshield is inherently flawed, regardless of who installs it. This was common knowledge (frequent cracks) in this model through 2022 but I don't know what has been done to address the problem. thank you

NHTSA ID
11585616
Incident
Apr 27, 2024
Visibility
Filed Mar 16, 2024

Windshield cracks. Minor chips causes major cracks that go across the windshield and reduces visibility. While driving, I watched the crack spread across my sight line which impaired driving. This is the second windshield I have had to replace in two months. Service center states that are having to repair many windshields for this vehicle.

NHTSA ID
11577756
Incident
Mar 9, 2024
Visibility
Filed Nov 4, 2023

Sitting in my car warming it up and the windshield pops and the is a 2 foot crack in the windshield

NHTSA ID
11553592
Incident
Nov 1, 2023
Visibility
Filed Oct 31, 2023

Windshield cracked for no apparent reason.

NHTSA ID
11552807
Incident
Oct 30, 2023
Visibility
Filed Oct 3, 2023

Heated windshield cracked spontaneously overnight while parked in driveway at home. Nothing hit it or caused any damage to windshield. Crack appears to have originated at base of windshield and come up and then curved over towards driver side

NHTSA ID
11547996
Incident
Oct 3, 2023
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Aug 25, 2023

This vehicle is equipped with the "Interactive Driver Display" (IDD), which is a full digital dash. Myself and several other members of enthusiast forums have reported that with recent software updates (PIVI 4.0), this display autodims entirely too dim to see. This happens in bright, full-sun, and half-sun cloudy conditions which prevent the driver from seeing the dashboard. This presents a major safety issue, as there is way to see the speed, tachometer, fuel gauge, warning lights of any kind (including pressure, safety warnings, engine temperature, etc.).

NHTSA ID
11540707
Incident
Jul 28, 2023
Visibility
Filed Apr 26, 2023

Defective windshield. Windshield randomly cracked after no impact or visible damage.

NHTSA ID
11519009
Incident
Apr 1, 2023
Visibility
Filed Apr 17, 2023

Front windshield stress fractured after being parked in cold weather following a long drive with the windshield defroster on. It has been replaced and is not available for inspection. Safety was put at risk due to an obstruction in visibility Problem has not been reproduced or confirmed, but anecdotally seems to be a frequent occurrence based on internet forum posts Vehicle has not been inspected No warnings or other indications of failure

NHTSA ID
11517435
Incident
Mar 26, 2023
Visibility
Filed Apr 6, 2023

I have had to replace my windshield 3 times in a matter of a few months. In the case of my last two windshields, I was able to drive for only 2 days before it cracked. In all cases they started as small rock chips, always within a few inches of the exterior edge. I have had rock chips in the past with other vehicles but typically they would rarely crack. For some reason this vehicle can't take even the smallest of rock chips without cracking. Not sure if this is due to the shape of the windshield, the way it is installed or just bad glass. I wouldn't have made this complaint had I not noticed that there are several other Owners of this vehicle making similar complaints.

NHTSA ID
11515849
Incident
Apr 4, 2023

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .