Land Rover Defender Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Land Rover Defender model year (2020–2026) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, injuries, and deaths. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Land Rover Defender Years to Avoid
5 recalls · 44 complaints
1 reported injury
Top issue: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Problem score: 61
7 recalls · 0 complaints
Top issue: No complaints on record
Problem score: 21
7 recalls · 0 complaints
Top issue: No complaints on record
Problem score: 21
Best Land Rover Defender Years to Buy
0 recalls · 0 complaints
Main area: No significant complaints
Problem score: 0
1 recall · 0 complaints
Main area: No significant complaints
Problem score: 3
4 recalls · 0 complaints
Main area: No significant complaints
Problem score: 12
Found the right year? Verify that specific Defender with a free VIN report.
Land Rover Defender — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 1 | 0 | 3 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 4 | 0 | 12 | Good |
| 2023 | 7 | 0 | 21 | Good |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | 12 | Good |
| 2021 | 7 | 0 | 21 | Good |
| 2020 | 5 | 44 | 61 | Avoid |
Higher scores indicate more reported safety issues across recalls, complaints, and injury data.
Land Rover Defender Shopping Guide by Era
2018–Present
Best: 2026Recent Defender models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. Lower problem scores typically appear in this era. The 2026 stands out with just 0 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year Defender should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2020 Land Rover Defender if possible. It has 5 recalls, 44 owner complaints, and the most common complaint category is EXTERIOR LIGHTING. The overall problem score is 61 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year Defender to buy?+
The 2026 Land Rover Defender is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 0. It has only 0 recalls and 0 complaints on record with NHTSA.
Which Defender has the fewest problems?+
The 2026, 2025, 2022 model years have the fewest documented problems across recall and complaint databases. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Land Rover Defender Research
Check a Specific Land Rover Defender VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
Run a Free VIN Report →