2020 Land Rover DEFENDER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
53 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
1,971 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 53 complaints (35.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 15.1% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 15.1% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 13.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 19 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Steering | 8 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 6 |
| Structure:Body | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 4 |
Exterior Lighting: 19; Electrical System: 10; Steering: 8; Engine: 7; Visibility/Wiper: 6; Structure:Body: 5; Service Brakes: 4; Unknown Or Other: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 11 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 11; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (11). 41 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 6 |
| 2026 | 13 |
2020: 9; 2021: 8; 2022: 8; 2023: 4; 2024: 5; 2025: 6; 2026: 13
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11348990 · 2020-08-13 (August 13, 2020)
ON AUGUST 3RD, WHILE DRIVING WEST-SOUTHWEST AT APPROXIMATELY 80 MPH ON INTERSTATE 90 IN MONTANA, THE A-PILLAR COVER BECAME LOOSE AND THE SMALL COVER AT THE BASE OF THE A PILLAR FLEW FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE MOVING. THE TWO REMAINING PIECES REMAINED ON THE VEHICLE, ONE PIECE BARELY HELD ON BY A SCREW AT THE BASE, THE OTHER HELD ON WITH ABOUT 50% OF THE ADHESIVE STILL INTACT. BOTH WOULD HAVE FLOWN OFF HAD WE NOT IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND REMOVED EACH WITH THE TOOLS I HAD IN THE CAR (PERSONAL TOOLS I HAPPENED TO HAVE WITH ME). THE TWO PIECES THAT …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11348990 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11349162 · 2020-08-14 (August 14, 2020)
WHILE DRIVING OUR ONE-MONTH OLD RANGE ROVER DEFENDER 110SE, THE BRAKES FAILED WITH NO WARNING. THE DEALERSHIP (PATRICK JAGUAR & LAND ROVER OF NAPERVILLE IL) WAS NON-RESPONSIVE TO MY REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION WHEN CALLED FROM ROADSIDE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE FLAT-BEDDED FROM SCENE. IT WAS TERRIFYING NOT TO HAVE BRAKING ABILITY.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,041 miles reported. Look up ODI 11349162 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11353875 · 2020-09-08 (September 8, 2020)
WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEEDS ON AN INTERSTATE, THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED. BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER THE AIR CONDITIONER I'LL PROBABLY BEGIN TO STOP WORKING. FOLLOWING THIS, A SERIES OF MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. FOLLOWING THIS, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACTIVATE WHATSOEVER. ALL POWER WAS LOST. I COULD NOT SHIFT GEAR. THE CAR REQUIRED A TOW TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,297 miles reported. Look up ODI 11353875 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11360178 · 2020-09-21 (September 21, 2020)
WHILE DRIVING ON STRAIGHT HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE'S LANE KEEP ASSIST FEATURE WHICH WAS TURNED OFF (THE DEFAULT POSITION) ACTIVATED AUTOMATICALLY WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT OR WARNING AND CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN AND ABRUPTLY MOVED THE VEHICLE FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THIS REQUIRED THE DRIVER TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION TO FORCE THE VEHICLE TO REMAIN STRAIGHT. A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF FORCE WAS REQUIRED TO OVERRIDE THE AUTOMATIC STEERING ACTION.
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11360178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11363062 · 2020-10-06 (October 6, 2020)
1. HEAD LIGHT ESCUTCHEON BLOCKS LIGHT IN DIRECTION OF RIGHT OR LEFT TURN. WHEN TURNING, THIS LEAVES THE CORNER IN THE DARK. 2. THE TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAY IS "WHITE", AND TOO BRIGHT WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. VERY DISTRACTING. SHOULD HAVE BEEN A BLACK BACKGROUND, WITH WHITE INFO.
Owner-reported narrative. 93 miles reported. Look up ODI 11363062 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11364755 · 2020-10-16 (October 16, 2020)
I WAS AT A RED LIGHT AND COULD NOT TURN ON THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DURING A RAINSTORM. I TOOK A VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT BUT IT IS TOO LARGE TO UPLOAD TO YOUR WEBSITE
Owner-reported narrative. 222 miles reported. Look up ODI 11364755 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11374036 · 2020-11-10 (November 10, 2020)
THE CONE OF LIGHT PROJECTED FORWARD BY THE HEADLIGHTS IS TOO NARROW. WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT FROM ONE DARK ROAD ONTO ANOTHER DARK ROAD, ONE CANNOT DETERMINE IF IT IS SAFE TO TURN. THE LIGHT CONE IS BLOCKED BY THE ESCUTCHEON AROUND THE HEADLIGHT, WHICH ARE SET INWARD TOO DEEP.
Owner-reported narrative. 155 miles reported. Look up ODI 11374036 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11375851 · 2020-11-23 (November 23, 2020)
TOTAL BRAKE AND STEERING LOSS AT 60MPH ..I CAN SEND YOU THE SCREEN SHOTS TOMORROW/ NOVEMBER 23RD (PROM THE PHOTOS TAKEN ON MY SON'S PHONE OF THE DASHBOARD NOTICE...PLUS A VIRTUAL GHOST-LIKE ABRUPT TAKE OVER OF LANE ASSISTANCE DESPITE MY HAVING TURNED THAT OFF!
Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 11375851 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
21V424000 · Electrical System:Software | Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Reported: 2021-06-03 (June 3, 2021)
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Land Rover Defender vehicles equipped with 6-cylinder engines. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) may unexpectedly switch off while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in an engine stall with no warning.
Consequence: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The Connected Diagnostic Services (CDS) and the Over-the-air (OTA) diagnostics functionality will be disabled, either by a dealer or through an OTA update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 28, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N599.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V435000 · Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights
Reported: 2021-06-08 (June 8, 2021)
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Defender X vehicles equipped with smoked rear light assemblies. A voltage spike, triggered by a bright light shining on the rear of the vehicle, can cause the turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights to fail.
Consequence: Turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights that fail to illuminate can reduce visibility to other drivers and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear light assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 27, 2021. Owners can contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N598.
NHTSA campaign record ↗21V584000 · Child Seat:Vehicle Latch Anchor | Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other Manual
Reported: 2021-07-29 (July 29, 2021)
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Land Rover Defender vehicles. The owner's manual incorrectly states that the third-row seating is equipped with LATCH child seat restraints with top tethers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Consequence: Incorrect child restraint information may result in a child seat being improperly secured, which can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Land Rover will mail owners the correct information to insert into the owner's manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 23, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N601.
NHTSA campaign record ↗23V044000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Oil/Lubrication
Reported: 2023-02-02 (February 2, 2023)
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Range Rover Sport, 2020-2023 Range Rover, Defender, 2022-2023 Discovery, and 2023 Range Rover Velar vehicles. The engine cam carrier oil channel may be blocked, which can lead to an oil leak.
Consequence: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the engine cam carrier and related components as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2023. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N763.
NHTSA campaign record ↗26V248000 · Electrical System:Propulsion System:Dc/Dc Converter
Reported: 2026-04-17 (April 17, 2026)
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.) The DC-DC converter can fail due to an internal fault in the boost control microchip. 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.
Consequence: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The remedy for this recall is currently under development. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 17, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗26V389000 · Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2026-06-12 (June 12, 2026)
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.
Consequence: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗