2024 Land Rover Defender Owner Complaints

Vehicle: 2024 Land Rover Defender, VIN [XXX] Related recall: NHTSA campaign 26V248 (JLR internal D126 / H575) This complaint concerns the unavailability of a remedy for a defect that can cause complete loss of drive power while the vehicle is in motion. Timeline: - April 17, 2026: Jaguar Land Rover North America filed Part 573 report for campaign 26V248, covering 170,169 mild-hybrid vehicles including 53,644 2020-2024 Defenders. JLR's filing describes the defect as an internal fault in the boost control microchip of the DC-DC converter, and states that failure results in loss of 12-volt system charging and can lead to complete loss of drive power and exterior lighting. - June 20, 2026: I received an interim owner letter. The letter confirms the defect and the safety risk. It states no remedy is available and that additional correspondence will follow at an unspecified date. - August 11, 2026: No remedy is available. No estimated remedy date has been communicated to me. Approximately four months have elapsed since the Part 573 filing and approximately two months since owner notification. Issue one - the interim notification does not address safe operation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11756154

Incident

Jun 6, 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly shifted into neutral(N), with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle lost motive power. The contact swerved to the shoulder, and an object struck the windshield, causing the windshield to crack. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V248000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.

NHTSA ID

11753957

Incident

Jul 20, 2026

Mileage

32,000 mi

The recent DCDC converter recall has left me feeling unsafe driving my Defender on anything except the slowest local roads. It's an extremely frustrating inconvenience, especially during this summer season with plans for road trips and travels being put on hold or cancelled due to not having a safe vehicle. Also, the JLR dealership is not offering loaner vehicles because the recall remedy is not available yet. There is no timeline for when the remedy will be developed, which is the cherry on top. That means I have to pay out of pocket, indefinitely, for a rental car on top of paying the car note for the Defender. Did I mention that JLR "conveniently" waited almost 60 days from the time they submitted the recall notice to NHTSA to send out the interim letters? They put me and over 150,000 other drivers at risk for nearly two months because they decided to take their time in mailing the letters out (I received mine on June 17th). This removes all confidence I would have had in their ability to develop the fix in a timely manner.

NHTSA ID

11747068

Incident

Jun 17, 2026

The manufacturer became aware of this issue approximately six months ago. At this time, no repair is available. I am driving to a remote location without consistent phone service and the manufacturer and dealer will not offer a loaner vehicle. I believe that Land Rover should offer a trade in for a new vehicle without this issue.

NHTSA ID

11744695

Incident

Jan 1, 2025

Went through 4 windshields in just over 2 years of ownership, cracks repeatedly from minor stone impacts, presents safety risk for visibility while driving or risk of shattering after cracking from minor impact. Clearly is a manufacturing defect as is reported for multiple owners of Defenders since 2020.

NHTSA ID

11742698

Incident

Apr 15, 2026

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The vehicle appears to have experienced a failure or malfunction involving the electrical power system, charging system, 12 volt battery system, vehicle communication modules, or related components. Based on the recent Land Rover recall I found online, I am concerned that the DC to DC converter or related charging system may be involved, because the reported recall issue involves loss of 12 volt charging and potential loss of drive power. The vehicle is currently with Jaguar Land Rover Houston Central and should be available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has not been returned to me, and the dealer has indicated that the vehicle was not communicating with their diagnostic computer and was not initially showing fault codes because the modules were not communicating. They have told me that my car is not part of the recall. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the SUV experienced a complete shutdown while I was driving on two separate occasions. The first event occurred Thursday afternoon at approximately 4:32 PM while I was driving on Highway 610. The vehicle suddenly lost power while in motion. I was able to glide off the highway and park on the side of the road, but this could have caused a crash or created a serious hazard because it occurred on a major roadway. The second event occurred Friday morning around 7:20 AM while I was driving on South Rice Avenue to take my daughter to school. The vehicle shut off again and left me stranded. Multiple people attempted to jump start the vehicle, including the tow truck driver, but the vehicle could not be restarted or shifted into neutral. The vehicle remained disabled and required towing. Because the shutdown happened while driving and the vehicle could not be restarted or moved normally afterward, this created a significant risk of co

NHTSA ID

11736364

Incident

Apr 23, 2026

While driving my 2024 Land Rover Defender 130 on Route 114 in Massachusetts at approximately 8:30–9:00 PM in dark and rainy conditions, the vehicle suddenly and completely shut off while in motion. The vehicle lost all power:     •    Engine shut off     •    No gears functioned     •    Vehicle would not restart     •    Lights and hazard lights were not functioning The vehicle was stranded in the middle of an active roadway with no warning and no visibility. Because of this, I had to exit the vehicle into traffic, stop oncoming vehicles, and remove my child from the car. We crossed a live lane of traffic to get to safety while leaving the vehicle in the roadway. I called 911. Police responded and controlled traffic at the scene. In the presence of the responding officer, I attempted to restart the vehicle multiple times. It remained completely unresponsive for an extended period before eventually starting again without explanation. This vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power while in motion on an active roadway. This is a serious safety concern. I do not feel it is safe to transport my child or family in this vehicle. I am seeking a clear and definitive diagnosis and resolution. If this issue cannot be conclusively identified and repaired, the vehicle should not remain in service.     •    RSelect systems:     •    Engine     •    Electrical     •    Powertrain

NHTSA ID

11731440

Incident

Apr 14, 2026

While operating the vehicle within normal constraints, at or below the speed limit, a electrical fault warning alterted me to multiple issues. Begining with ABS failure warnings, and adaptable cruise failure the vehicle continued for the next 30 minutes to show multiple system failures. Finally the vehicle lost complete power in the middle of a street with the brakes locking and no ability to steer. Attempts to jumpstart the vehicle failed to remedy the situation. When the vehicle was taken to the dealer the problem was diagnosed to be a failure of the DC/DC converter.

NHTSA ID

11729605

Incident

Mar 21, 2026

The component that failed appears to be the DC-DC converter and/or related charging system within the vehicle’s electrical system, which resulted in complete failure of the 12-volt battery system. The vehicle displayed a dashboard warning stating: “Electrical fault detected. Please find a safe place to stop.” Shortly after this warning appeared, the vehicle lost electrical stability and the 12-volt battery completely discharged. The battery would not hold a charge even after attempted recharging. The vehicle became inoperable and required towing to an authorized Land Rover dealership. The vehicle is currently in the possession of an authorized Land Rover dealer and is available for inspection upon request. It has not yet been repaired. Safety Risk This failure created a significant safety risk because: The warning appeared while the vehicle was being driven. The electrical system is critical to power steering, braking assist, stability systems, lighting, and other safety components. A sudden loss of electrical power while driving at highway speeds or in traffic could result in loss of critical vehicle control systems. The vehicle became fully inoperable after the fault, creating the potential for stranding in unsafe conditions. If this failure had occurred at higher speed or in heavy traffic, it could have placed the driver, passengers, and surrounding motorists at risk. Reproduction / Dealer Confirmation The vehicle is currently at an authorized Land Rover dealership. The dealer has indicated that they have a significant number of other Land Rover and Range Rover vehicles in queue with similar DC-DC converter / electrical system failures. However: The vehicle has not yet been formally diagnosed. It has not yet entered the service bay. There is no estimated time for inspection or repair due to part shortages. The dealer has acknowledged that this appears to be a known and recurring issue. Inspection by Manufacturer or Others The vehicle has been in

NHTSA ID

11717878

Incident

Feb 3, 2026

Car has had 2 separate, distinct failures of the DC/DC converter which result in electrical faults rendering all systems unusable (gearbox, steering, etc.) and making the care immobile. I have had it replaced once in September 2025 following a failure, and then the replacement failed in January 2026. This is incredibly dangerous while driving. Dealer and Land Rover are aware of widespread failures, parts are backordered with no timeline. Warning light starts with 'Electric Fault Detected' and continues to function for an indeterminate amount of time before failing completely.

NHTSA ID

11715904

Incident

Jan 17, 2026

Repeated failures of the 48v to 12v DC to DC converter. Failure to charge the 12v system results in an complete drain of the 12v battery in under 30 mins while operating the vehicle. The result is an immediate shut down of the vehicle. In my case, while in the middle of a travel lane. Without 12v power the vehicle cannot be shifted into neutral and cannot be moved creating a very unsafe situation. My vehicle has been in an authorized land rover service dealership five time on this issue. The converter was replaced only to occur again. The vehicle displays and warning message on the dash that an electrical failure has occurred and to stop the vehicle. As the voltage of the 12v battery drops, multiple systems begin to fail in fast progression while trying to get to a safe pullover. Multiple engine fault codes occur, including electrical generator failure. Current mileage on the vehicle 13800.

NHTSA ID

11714834

Incident

Sep 3, 2025

Yes, my car caught fire. It's at an impound currently. My clothes caught fire when I tried putting it out. The car could have been parked in my garage or been in NYC, with a full tank of gas, that would have caused serious damage. My insurance company is sending an investigator to look into it today. No, warning lamps, messages or symptoms.

NHTSA ID

11714170

Incident

Jan 28, 2026

Back passenger side seat belt not stitched and was not connected to the frame.

NHTSA ID

11678273

Incident

Aug 4, 2025

Turned the car on and the display screen was black and would not work. This is after we did the software update several months ago.

NHTSA ID

11674813

Incident

Jul 19, 2025

To whom may it concern, I was driving on [XXX] , in Pennsylvania, at the speed of 65 miles per hour speed, My car engine suddenly stop ( may be i am not able to describe in proper word ) but i tried to put accelerator, car not responding total stop , at the speed of 65 miles per hours , i was driving my car with my entire family - 4 occupant . Luckily i pull over to shoulder and i survive , this is new vehicle purchased in dec /2024( only 15 month old ) - total odometer is 10196 miles . After this incident , I called Range rover road side assistance , Someone came at 6 pm and pick up our vehicle , We were on highway at least for 3 hours , My car is at dealership . But definitely this car and model has major issue with engine . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11651704

Incident

Mar 29, 2025

The contact owns a 2024 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the display screen was dark. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V016000 (Back Over Prevention, Equipment); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The dealer informed the contact to turn off and restart the vehicle for the failure to be self-corrected. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 4,500. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11648963

Incident

Aug 1, 2024

Mileage

4,500 mi

Near dusk, the driver display (speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge , etc.) automatically dimes to night mode and becomes unreadable. Turning the rheostat controlling display brightness does nothing. Very dangerous. Display should only go to night mode when conditions are actually dark.

NHTSA ID

11624884

Incident

Nov 11, 2024

We were driving at highway speeds on paved, dry road. The vehicle threw a electrical fault error. As I drove to a safe location to pull over, the vehicle switched into Neutral, every warning light on the dash lit up and my power steering failed. We barely coasted to a safe spot on the shoulder of the highway we were on in the mountains. The parking brake also would not work. The vehicle then completely died and we were stuck in an area with no cell phone service. The rear hatch also would not open

NHTSA ID

11624215

Incident

Nov 2, 2024

Infotainment screen intermetittetly doesn't work which then prohibits the use of the backup camera(s). Worried about the lack of visibility in reverse. Multiple service trips to the dealership with no resolution.

NHTSA ID

11622834

Incident

Aug 15, 2024

The main display screen will randomly not turn on upon startup of the vehicle. This prevents me from using the reverse camera, parking aids or any other functions or driving aids that are accessed through the screen. Turning off the vehicle and / or restarting the screen does not fix the issue...the screen will just randomly start working or stop working. This might happen 2 or 3 times per day and then may not happen for a month. In my 6 months of ownership it has happen more than 15 times. Others in the online forums are experiencing this problem and I feel this is a safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11594884

Incident

Apr 9, 2024

The Land Rover Defender has a center touchscreen that displays the cameras (rear back up camera, forward facing camera, Birds Eye camera). There have been two instances now when, upon turning on the vehicle, the center touchscreen remained blank (did not power on). Turning the vehicle on/off did not make it come on, neither did "restarting" the system by holding down the infotainment power button. Without the center touchscreen functioning, the rear back up camera would not display when the vehicle was in reverse and the rear back up sensors did not alarm when items were in the way. The screen did come back after turning off the vehicle for an extended period of time and then turning it back on, but for the duration of my drive, the screen remained black and the rear back up camera was not active. There were no other warning lamps, messages, or symptoms beyond what has been described above.

NHTSA ID

11579658

Incident

Mar 13, 2024

This morning I got into my Defender, started it, and the power steering was clearly not working at all. The steering wheel was not locked. With very significant effort I could turn the wheel. After searching online I found that this is apparently a widespread problem with Land Rover Defenders since about 2021. I was lucky that it happened in my driveway and not while I was actually driving. I was able to regain steering by disconnecting the negative terminal of the battery for 60 seconds and reconnecting. After that, the car drove fine.

NHTSA ID

11561955

Incident

Dec 26, 2023

I was ready to leave for work and started the car. The steering wheel was locked and would not turn left or right. The car could be put in gear but, the steering wheel not move. I turned the car off several times and nothing helped. Hopefully, this will not happen while driving. Had to drive my other car to work.

NHTSA ID

11557380

Incident

Nov 29, 2023