2022 Land Rover Defender Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe electrical problems, particularly a failed DC/DC converter that can leave the vehicle without power, along with front daytime running lights that stop working. A separate group reports windshields cracking without any impact. Most complaints in the sample come in under about 35,000 miles, and many electrical failures are described as happening suddenly while driving.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   DC-to-DC converter failure and sudden power loss

   • 25 complaints (33%)
   • typically at 4.3 yrs old
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Complaints describe a red "Stop Safely - Electrical Fault Detected" warning, followed by loss of drive power, power steering and instrument lighting, sometimes at highway speed. Owners say dealers diagnosed a failed DC/DC converter, and several report long waits because the replacement part was on back order. Some note a dealer first replaced the 12V battery before identifying the converter. Reported from roughly the first year of ownership onward, with several cases described while driving or shortly after start-up, including in cold weather.

   Recall 26V599000Recall 26V248000

   What to check: Ask whether the DC/DC converter has been replaced or the recall work performed, and request any electrical fault history from the dealer. Watch for a low-battery or electrical-fault message on a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “DC to DC converter failure that displays a RED warning indicator that says Stop Safely Electrical Fault Detected with a red battery indicator symbol displayed simultaneously. I called the dealer as this is the 3rd time I have experienced similar electrical issues that have left me stranded since my purchase of this truck new Jan '22. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11716451, filed 2026-02

   “On 4/2/2026, my DC to DC converter failed in my 2022 Landrover Defender (owned 3 months, purchased pre-owned from dealer), which short-circuited both my 12V battery and my telemetric safety battery (location services, and emergency calls). The vehicle lost all power, completely malfunctioned electrically losing ability to accelerate, power steering, and everything went dark in the vehicle while driving on a highway. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11731110, filed 2026-04
2. 2
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield cracks without impact

   • 18 complaints (24%)
   • median 8,000 mi at 1.6 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2024

   Complaints describe the windshield cracking on its own, often starting at the top center, lower edge or near the camera area, with no chip or strike heard. Several owners say it happened while parked, after washing the car, or on a hot day, and some report repeat cracks after replacement. Owners describe warranty claims being declined or handled case by case. Mostly reported below 10,000 miles, often within the first months of ownership and in warm or sunny conditions.

   What to check: Inspect the windshield edges, camera area and lower cowl for fine cracks or repair marks, and ask whether the glass has been replaced and whether any claim was covered.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My windshield crack on its own when it was not even being driven. It appears to be a stress crack as it is a small V at the top center comes down the middle and across the passenger side. Only owned the car a few months and barely driven. I took to the dealer and they said they wouldn't chance covering by warranty out of fear corporate would deny the claim. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11469526, filed 2022-06

   “I Have a 2022 Land Rover defender 110 and it had 8,000 miles on it. One day I was driving and the windshield just cracked, nothing had hit it and no visible chips were present. I have yet to receive a replacement windshield.”

   NHTSA complaint #11493632, filed 2022-11
3. 3
   Exterior lighting

   Front daytime running lights fail

   • 8 complaints (11%)
   • typically at 4.6 yrs old
   • filed 2023–2026

   Owners report the LED halo daytime running lights on one or both front headlights going dark, sometimes within the first couple of years. Complaints say the dealer's only remedy is replacing the whole headlight assembly, with quoted costs in the thousands, and that there is no dashboard warning when the light fails. Several owners mention being stopped by police or failing to pass inspection. Reported from about 28,000 miles up to 40,000 miles, often after a year or more of use.

   Recall 21V435000

   What to check: With the vehicle running, walk around the front and confirm both daytime running light halos are lit; the failure may not show any dashboard message. Ask whether either headlight assembly has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “DRL Halo failure/driver side: I own a business, and am on the road driving throughout the day. I have had at least 3 incidents where other drivers have pulled out in front of me, in which I believe was due to the DLR Halo failure. I was also stopped by a Traffic Officer because he thought it was a full 'headlight' failure. I had to explain to him that the DLR Halo failure is a KNOWN issue to Land Rover and that the core headlight still works. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11759228, filed 2026-08

   “The DRL a safety feature fails on the Defender L663 models 20-23 and LR will not fix. I have 40k miles on my 22. They want $3200 for a headlight but to me its a safety offering for daytime running lamps. Looks how many reporting it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11757349, filed 2026-08
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine stalls or cuts out while driving

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning, at times at highway speed or while idling at a light, with no response from the accelerator until the vehicle is restarted. Owners report dealers attributing it to battery or charging issues, and in some cases the engine stalled again after service. Others report a loss of power at speed without a stored warning. Reported from low mileage upward, including within the first few thousand miles of ownership.

   Recall 23V0440001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask for the service history around battery, charging and engine-control work, and note any hesitation, warning chimes or idle drop during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On January 25, 2026, while driving my 2022 Land Rover Defender 110 in Colorado on Interstate 70, the vehicle suddenly and completely lost power with no warning. There were no dashboard alerts, warning lights, or messages prior to the failure. The vehicle abruptly became disabled while traveling at highway speed, creating an immediate and serious risk of a crash, severe injury, or death to myself and other motorists. I was extremely fortunate to be able to safely maneuver the vehicle out of traffic and exit the highway. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11714786, filed 2026-02

   “This is a serious concern and safety condition. In several occasions while driving at a range from 45-70mph the engine loses power. To the point where it has felt like it will shut off. The inside lighting of the dash dims while the vehicle is in loss of engine power.”

   NHTSA complaint #11768195, filed 2026-09
5. 5
   Steering

   Steering assist and lane-keeping warnings at start-up

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the steering becoming very heavy or unresponsive when starting the vehicle, usually alongside a "lane assist not available" message. Some report the condition clearing after restarts, while others say the dealer could not reproduce or diagnose it. A few complaints also describe the lane-keeping system steering the vehicle when it should not. Typically reported at start-up after the vehicle has sat, with no clear mileage pattern in the sample.

   What to check: Start the vehicle from cold and check that the steering is light and normal and that no lane-assist or stability warnings appear; ask whether any steering-related repairs were logged.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I started my vehicle as usual, everything looked ok except “lane assist not available!” was showing on the driver's screen, and when I wanted to drive away, the steering wheel was unresponsive, but I could drive the vehicle forward and in reverse. Also, the main interactive display was slightly dimmed. I tried a couple of restarts (engine off, lock and leave for 30mins) to no avail. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11444859, filed 2021-12

   “Power steering failed upon starting the car after 12 hours of non use. The lane assist light came on saying it was unavailable. Upon first starting it did not move in drive or reverse but was able to after a few restarts but the steering was still failing. I am worried about the steering failing while driving.”

   NHTSA complaint #11448727, filed 2022-01

Buying note. This model year draws a large share of complaints about electrical faults and front lighting, so check that any open recalls were completed and look closely at the headlights and windshield on a used example. A pre-purchase inspection that includes a battery and charging-system check, plus a scan for stored fault codes, is worth the cost.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.