2026 Land Rover Defender recalls and problems

The 2026 Land Rover Defender has 3 safety recalls and 6 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Land Rover dealer.

Recalls
3
Complaints
6
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2026 Land Rover Defender vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2026 Land Rover Defender recalls

Recall 26V-389: Air Bags

Reported Jun 12, 2026 · 250,857 vehicles affected · Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC

Problem: 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.

Fix: 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 26V-263: Fuel System, Gasoline

Reported Apr 23, 2026 · 6 vehicles affected · Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC

Problem: 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.

Risk: In the event of a crash, an improperly manufactured fuel tank may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 19, 2026. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is D127.

Recall 26V-163: Seat Belts

Reported Mar 18, 2026 · 582 vehicles affected · Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC

Problem: 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.

Risk: A seat belt assembly with an insufficient weld may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the third-row lower seat belt anchorage bracket or the weld-stud on the bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 19, 2026. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's numbers for this recall are D098 and D113.

2026 Land Rover Defender problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Unknown or Other2
Electrical System2
Engine1
Power Train1
Service Brakes1
Air Bags1
Exterior Lighting1

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2026 Land Rover Defender complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Electrical System · reported Sep 23, 2026
My instrument cluster will dim to a nearly unreadable level at random times during the day. This appears to be a common and documented issue with Land Rover Defenders. I have seen a multitude of forum posts going back several years about this issue. There are no settings in the system that allow me to adjust this or prevent it from happening.
Electrical System · reported Sep 19, 2026
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.
Unknown or Other · reported Aug 23, 2026
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.
Unknown or Other · reported Aug 9, 2026
We were dreiving along at 40 miles per hour the check engine light came on a emergecy waring came on 2 seconds later and the car complete stop went dead. The car was towed back to the delaership and set their being worked on for 3 weeks, we never got a indicaito as to what happened, get car back 3 days later check engone lioght on again. This time we pulled over on the road and called roadside, car was pick up 10 dasy agon no communications from dealer. This is a satefy hazard that need to be reviwed
Engine · reported Jul 8, 2026
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. Incident 2 — July 4, 2026, approximately 9:55 AM, at 6.1 miles into the trip, near South Buffalo Drive / Summerlin Parkway, Las Vegas, NV: While making a right turn off the Summerlin Parkway exit, the vehicle suddenly shifted into neutral with no prior…

Other Land Rover Defender years

Compare all Land Rover Defender years · All Land Rover models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2026 Land Rover Defender have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2026 Land Rover Defender: 26V-389 (air bags), 26V-263 (fuel system, gasoline), 26V-163 (seat belts). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2026 Land Rover Defender?

Owners report unknown or other problems most often (2 reports), followed by electrical system (2).

Are Land Rover recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Land Rover dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.