Avoid: 2023 (lowest Year Scores on complaints per year on the road, crash reports and recalls)
Best: 2020
4 model years of NHTSA owner complaints and recalls · How we grade
Across 6 model years, the Land Rover Defender has 619 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 46 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are electrical system and visibility/wiper. 2023 drew the most complaints (243), 2020 the fewest of the years on the road 3+ years (55).
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for Land Rover Defender vehicles (US, public record). Typical used asking price $38,704–$52,889.
Complaint volume by model year. Raw NHTSA totals, not adjusted for sales volume or time on the road, so older and higher-selling years accumulate more. Every year links to its full breakdown.
Highest: 2023 (243 complaints). Lowest: 2020 (55).
Sentiment is sharply divided by generation.
Supercharger/battery failure, coolant leaks with piston-cooling jet failure)
Dim backup lights, blinding blind-spot monitor lights in mirrors)
Owner insights cover all generations of the Defender. Individual model years are broken down above.
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