2026 Land Rover Defender Problems
Compared with other Land Rover Defender years
Too new to compare
- Model years are compared once their first three years of complaints are in; the 2026 can be compared from 2029.
- Most reported part: Electrical system (2 complaints).
- 3 recall campaigns on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2023
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 6filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- —no mileage reported
- Recalls
- 3campaigns on record
- Trend
- Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —no overall rating published
- EPA fuel economy
- 16 mpgcombined, 5.0L 8-cyl 4WD · 14 city / 18 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2026 Land Rover Defender (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2026 Land Rover Defender. The part named most often is electrical system, with 2 complaints (33% of the total), followed by other or unknown (2) and air bags (1). NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 60 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 39 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system2 33%
- Other or unknown2 33%
- Air bags1 17%
- Brakes1 17%
- Engine1 17%
- Exterior lighting1 17%
Example complaints
Electrical system: “Driving along when electrical warning light came on and car died. Coasted into safe parking space. Would not start. Dash controls would not respond. This is the day after we bought it. It had been on trickle charge at the dealership and drove fine the evening we bought it. It was fine driving in the morning. So the battery should have been fully charged.”
NHTSA complaint #11765553, filed 2026-09Other or unknown: “Red Error code popped up about battery. Then vehicle completely shut down. Was unable to put it in gear in order to move it to a safe place, therefore my vehicle blocked traffic. Fortunately this incident did not occur on the interstate where my vehicle could have been completely totaled or I could have been killed. I have less than 2500 miles on my vehicle, this should not have happened. It is currently in service waiting to be diagnosed.”
NHTSA complaint #11758849, filed 2026-08Brakes: “The transmission has failed twice while the vehicle was in motion, causing loss of gear control and, on one occasion, loss of parking brake function. Incident 1 — March 24, 2026: While driving on the highway, the transmission failed and the vehicle entered a safety mode. The vehicle was in dealer service for 8 days at Findlay Land Rover. …”
NHTSA complaint #11749201, filed 2026-07Complaints by year filed
This model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2026 Land Rover Defender version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defender 110 4WD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 18 | 22 | 20 | $4,100 |
| Defender 110 4WD | 5.0L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 14 | 18 | 16 | $5,150 |
| Defender 130 4WD | 5.0L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 14 | 19 | 16 | $5,150 |
| Defender 90 4WD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 18 | 21 | 19 | $4,350 |
| Defender 90 4WD | 5.0L 8-cyl | 8-speed automatic | 15 | 19 | 16 | $5,150 |
| Defender 110 MHEV 4WD | 3.0L 6-cyl · hybrid | 8-speed automatic | 18 | 22 | 20 | $4,100 |
| Defender 110 MHEV 4WD | 4.4L 8-cyl · hybrid | 8-speed automatic | 15 | 19 | 17 | $4,850 |
| Defender 110 Trophy MHEV 4WD | 3.0L 6-cyl · hybrid | 8-speed automatic | 17 | 18 | 17 | $4,850 |
| Defender 130 Outbound 4WD | 3.0L 6-cyl · hybrid | 8-speed automatic | 17 | 19 | 18 | $4,550 |
| Defender 130 P300 MHEV 4WD | 3.0L 6-cyl · hybrid | 8-speed automatic | 17 | 21 | 19 | $4,350 |
| Defender 130 P400 MHEV 4WD | 3.0L 6-cyl · hybrid | 8-speed automatic | 16 | 20 | 18 | $4,550 |
| Defender 90 MHEV 4WD | 3.0L 6-cyl · hybrid | 8-speed automatic | 18 | 23 | 20 | $4,100 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 26V389000Jun 12, 2026Air bags › FrontalCovers: Land Rover Defender 2020–2026, Discovery 2021–2026, Range Rover 2022–2026
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…
- 26V263000Apr 23, 2026Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assemblyCovers: Land Rover Defender 2026
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2026 Land Rover Defender vehicles. The fuel tank was improperly manufactured with walls that are too thin.
- 26V163000Mar 18, 2026Seat belts › Critical fastenersCovers: Land Rover Defender 2026
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2026 Land Rover Defender vehicles. The third-row lower seat belt anchorage bracket may have an insufficient weld stud.
Recall details for the 2026 Land Rover Defender → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 60 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11038296Oct 7, 2026Transmission and drivetrain. Diagnostic Trouble Code stored in the Powertrain Control Module(PCM). The DTC may be unable to be cleared and may return to a confirmed status after three drive cycles.
- 11038293Sep 25, 2026Body and structure. Accessory Wheel Arch Protection - Gaps Present Between Protection And Vehicle Body
- 11038342Sep 18, 2026Engine. The engine coolant temperature amber warning is not enabled and not displayed on the instrument panel cluster.
- 11038305Sep 18, 2026Other or unknown. Jump Start Information Label Missing
- 11037135Aug 21, 2026Other or unknown. Engine coolant temperature amber warning is not enabled and not displayed on the instrument panel cluster. The engine coolant temperature amber warning gives the vehicle driver more warning and time…
- 11037130Aug 21, 2026Other or unknown. Jump Start Information Label Missing
- 11037119Aug 21, 2026Other or unknown. TCU Activation Failure And InControl App Inoperative After Software Update
- 11037117Aug 21, 2026Other or unknown. Air Conditioning Inoperative / Intermittent Operation
- 11035735Jul 22, 2026Other or unknown. Intermittent Passive Entry Operation 24MY Or With New Service Smart Key Fob.
- 11035867Jul 17, 2026Other or unknown. Car Configuration File (CCF) Update
Other model years of the Land Rover Defender
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | — | 3 | — | 16 | — | Too new |
| 2025 | 13 | — | 1 | — | 16 | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 27 | 18,250 | 7 | — | 19 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 87 | 50,500 | 9 | — | 18 | 49 · Typical | Too new |
| 2022 | 76 | 21,500 | 6 | — | 18 | 60 · Typical | Stable |
| 2021 | 42 | 35,000 | 9 | — | 19 | 26 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2020 | 58 | 2,041 | 7 | — | 19 | 51 · Typical | Falling |
All Land Rover Defender model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2026 Land Rover Defender have?
NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 2026 Land Rover Defender as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2026 Land Rover Defender is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 2 complaints (33% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 2.
Has the 2026 Land Rover Defender been recalled?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2026 Land Rover Defender get?
The EPA rates the 2026 Land Rover Defender (Defender 110, 5.0L 8-cyl) at 16 mpg combined, 14 city and 18 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,150 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.