Jeep Wrangler 4-DR 4X2 vs Land Rover Defender

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Jeep Wrangler 4-DR 4X2 Land Rover Defender
Complaints on file 160 400
Model years covered 2007–2009 1990–2026
Worst model year — 2020
Best model year — 2025
Crashes reported 1 5
Fires reported 3 8
Injuries reported 1 5
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Steering Electrical System
Share of complaints involving harm 3.1% 4.5%

Jeep Wrangler 4-DR 4X2 by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Steering 33 20.6%
Suspension 25 15.6%
Fuel & Propulsion 20 12.5%
Electrical System 18 11.3%
Engine & Cooling 14 8.8%
Airbags 10 6.3%
Stability & Traction Control 7 4.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain 6 3.8%

Land Rover Defender by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Lights 53 13.3%
Engine & Cooling 41 10.3%
Steering 26 6.5%
Transmission & Drivetrain 20 5.0%