2023 Land Rover Defender reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2023 Land Rover Defender — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 101
- 101 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- 37 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 7
- see below
- Reported harm
- None reported
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#4,148
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Land Rover median
-11
median 112 across 9 Land Rover records
Vs 2021-2025
-97
median 199 complaints in 350 records
Top component share
37%
Electrical System: 37 complaints
What owners report fails — 2023 Land Rover Defender
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 37
- VISIBILITY/WIPER 13
- ENGINE 12
- STEERING 7
- POWER TRAIN 6
7 recalls on record for the 2023 Land Rover Defender
- NHTSA 26V248000 · 2026 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/D A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 25V016000 · 2025 · EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:VIDEO A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 23V789000 · 2024 · SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:CRITICAL FASTE Detached brake calipers can reduce braking ability and cause structural wheel damage, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 24V450000 · 2024 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUB An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a f
- NHTSA 23V137000 · 2023 · CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE TETHER ANCHOR A child seat with reduced strength may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2023 Land Rover Defender
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2023 Land Rover Defender units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2023 Land Rover Defender reliable?
NHTSA has 101 consumer complaints on record for the 2023 Land Rover Defender and 7 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (37 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2023 Land Rover Defender units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Land Rover Defender?
Owners most often report problems with: electrical system (37), visibility/wiper (13), engine (12), steering (7). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2023 Land Rover Defender?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.