2021 Land Rover Defender Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 7%of 42 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 35,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the body and structure of the 2021 Land Rover Defender, 7% of the 42 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 35,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Since I got Certified Pre-Owned 2021 Defender 90 First Edition exactly a month ago I noticed at speeds higher than 65mph a crackling noise that sounded like sand hitting my windshield and assumed it was coming from the windshield wipers being loose since the noise came from both front sides. Today while driving on the highway at about 70mph I heard a loud noise coming from the front right side of the car and when I looked the right windshield pillar molding had broken off and was hanging by the bottom. …”
NHTSA complaint #11545310, filed 2023-09“The passenger A-Pillar on the vehicle is not secure tight enough to the vehicle or the windshield allowing air to pass underneath the weather stripping that lies on the windshield. When driving at highway speeds this allows the air turbulence to create a flapping or tapping noise on the windshield caused by the weather strpping.”
NHTSA complaint #11435049, filed 2021-09“The contact owns a 2021 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds, the driver-side windshield exterior A-pillar trim detached from the vehicle and blocked the driver-side rearview mirror, obstructing rear visibility. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the highway, and the detached A-Pillar trim was completely removed from the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had previously occurred on two occasions, resulting in the replacement of both the driver-side and passenger-side A-pillar trims. The cause of the failure was not determined. …”
NHTSA complaint #11748533, filed 2026-07, 35,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 11038293Sep 25, 2026Accessory Wheel Arch Protection - Gaps Present Between Protection And Vehicle Body
- 11020198Jun 12, 2025Tapping Noise From A-Pillar Area
- 11020199Jun 11, 2025Tapping Noise From A-Pillar Area
- 11012407Dec 13, 2024The windshield trim is not sitting correctly or rattles.
- 11011048Nov 21, 2024Roof Opening Panel Not Operating as Expected
- 10248411Dec 20, 2023JLR Retailers have reported visible corrosion around the outlet of the exhaust tailpipe prior to PDI
Body and structure: other model years
Other parts of the 2021 Land Rover Defender
16 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaintsElectrical system
5 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
1 complaintsEngine
1 complaintsFuel system
1 complaintsLane departure
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsSuspension
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 Land Rover Defender
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology