2020 Land Rover Defender problems, complaints & recalls

2020 Land Rover Defender recalls (7)

• Recall 26V599000Sep 17, 202623,677 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER

  Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Land Rover Range Rover, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Land Rover Defender, 2021-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar, Jaguar E-Pace, F-Pace, and Land Rover Discovery vehicles. The DC-DC converter may malfunction due to an electrical overload that can occur during high power demand. Additionally, a software error can cause the DC-DC converter to stop functioning at vehicle start-up under certain circumstances. Failure of the DC-DC converter will result in the loss of 12-Volt system charging and can lead to complete loss of drive power and exterior lighting.

  Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed November 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is E008. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 26V248.

• Recall 26V389000Jun 12, 2026250,857 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

  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.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 26V248000Apr 17, 2026170,169 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER

  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). Insufficient electrical load balancing during times of high demand can lead to a current overload condition and malfunction of the DCDC converter. 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.

  Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will update the central software, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 17, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final 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.

• Recall 23V044000Feb 2, 20236,724 vehicles
  ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION

  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.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 21V584000Jul 29, 20217,027 vehicles
  CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHOR · EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

  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."

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 21V435000Jun 8, 20212,622 vehicles
  EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

  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.

  Risk: 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.

• Recall 21V424000Jun 3, 2021163 vehicles
  ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

  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.

  Risk: 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.

Recent 2020 Land Rover Defender complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

1. Filed Sep 11, 202648,000 miTNElectrical System

   The contact owns a 2020 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The following day, the contact’s spouse started the vehicle, and the message “High Voltage Shutdown Not Possible – Live System” was displayed. The contact stated that after an inspection, DTC: P0A7B was retrieved. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V248000 (Electrical System); however, the part was not yet…

   NHTSA complaint #11763592 · source
2. Filed Aug 24, 2026WALighting

   Our 2020 Defender's halo light on the driver's side has become inoperable & poses a safety hazard. After researching this issue, it appears that this has been reported widely online. This malfunctioning halo light renders overall lighting very dim at night, creating a safety hazard for my vehicle & other drivers on the road. While looking online this is a rampant problem with this model, with the dealers wanting to charge & exorbitant cost of $4K+ I am writing to request…

   NHTSA complaint #11759119 · source
3. Filed Aug 11, 2026COLighting

   I own a 2020 Land Rover Defender 110 HSE, and both of the vehicle’s daytime running lights (DRLs) have failed. The first DRL failed at approximately 63,000 miles, and the second DRL failed at approximately 68,000 miles. This appears to be a known and recurring issue with the DRL/signature lighting system on 2020 Land Rover Defenders, yet these failures commonly occur outside of the vehicle’s original warranty period, leaving owners responsible for extremely expensive repairs…

   NHTSA complaint #11756348 · source
4. Filed Aug 9, 2026FLDriver Assistance & Safety TechAcceleration & Cruise ControlSteering

   Driving and the steering assistance warning goes off cuts off my cruise control and my lane keep assistance causing my car deceleration on highway promptly while going 70 mph.

   NHTSA complaint #11755796 · source
5. Filed Aug 6, 202640,000 miTXBrakesEngineLighting

   The contact owns a 2020 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was driving roughly. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while accelerating and the vehicle felt as if the brake pedal was being depressed. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic, and the contact was informed that the coolant hose attached to the radiator and the coolant pipes needed to be replaced. The…

   NHTSA complaint #11755302 · source
6. Filed Jul 23, 2026GAElectrical SystemTransmission & Drivetrain

   My 2020 Land Rover Defender 48V Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) experienced a check engine light and hybrid electrical failure. Diagnostics by an authorized Jaguar Land Rover dealer confirmed code P0A1F-96 (Battery Energy Control Module / BECM internal component failure). This failure relates directly to an active, global safety recall issued by JLR (NHTSA Campaign 26V248 / JLR Recall D126) regarding DC-DC converter failures in MHEV vehicles. According to JLR recall…

   NHTSA complaint #11752326 · source
7. Filed Jun 23, 2026TXElectrical SystemLighting

   I own a 2020 Land Rover Defender and have experienced a failure of the LED halo ring/daytime running light within the headlight assembly. The LED ring stopped functioning even though the headlight assembly has not been damaged, modified, or involved in any accident. This failure affects the vehicle's visibility and appearance and may create a safety concern because the daytime running light is no longer operating as intended. I contacted the dealership regarding the issue,…

   NHTSA complaint #11746088 · source
8. Filed Jun 23, 2026MDLighting

   Daytime running lights on my car gave out. This has been an issue with 2020+ Defenders as the LED module burns out overtime due to a lack of sufficient cooling. Land Rover quoted over 5000 dollars for headlight replacements just for a simple LED bulb. This needs to be addressed.

   NHTSA complaint #11746030 · source

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Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 11, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology