Is the Land Rover Defender Reliable?
2020–2026 reliability analysis based on NHTSA safety recalls and owner complaints.
Reliability Score
Own a Land Rover Defender? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Land Rover Defender Reliability by Year
| Model Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 78 | Good |
| 2025 | 1 | 10 | — | — | 75 | Good |
| 2024 | 1 | 25 | — | — | 81 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 6 | 54 | — | — | 69 | Good |
| 2022 | 4 | 42 | — | — | 78 | Good |
| 2021 | 7 | 16 | — | — | 71 | Good |
| 2020 | 5 | 25 | — | — | 79 | Good |
Reliability scores are proprietary to VinCheckEngine and incorporate multiple weighted safety signals.
How the Defender Compares to Similar Vehicles
The Defender scores 8 points above the average suv — a strong result.
Known Land Rover Defender Reliability Issues
The following components appear most frequently in owner complaints filed with NHTSA:
Based on 172 owner complaints across recent model years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Land Rover Defender reliable?+
The Land Rover Defender scores 76/100 on our reliability index — rated "Good." Across 7 recently analyzed model years, it accumulated 27 recall campaigns and 172 owner complaints in the NHTSA database.
What year Defender is most reliable?+
Among the years analyzed, the 2024 Defender achieved the highest reliability score of 81/100 with 1 recall and 25 complaints.
How many miles does a Defender last?+
With consistent maintenance, most Land Rover Defender owners report 150,000 to 200,000+ miles of service life. Checking the VIN of any specific used Defender will reveal its actual mileage history and any title events.
More Land Rover Defender Research
Check a Specific Land Rover Defender VIN
Model-level reliability scores show general trends. A VIN-specific report reveals the exact history of any individual vehicle — accidents, odometer records, auction events, and open recalls.
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