2023 Land Rover Defender problems

POWER TRAIN

My 2023 Land Rover Defender is subject to manufacturer recall D126 / NHTSA Recall 26V-248 concerning potential failure of the DC/DC converter due to an internal fault in the boost control microchip. The recall remains incomplete and Jaguar Land Rover has advised that a remedy is not yet available. I have contacted Jaguar Land Rover and my authorized Land Rover retailer, but there is currently no repair that I can have performed to remedy the safety defect. This has created a significant problem because I recently relocated from Canada to the United States and need to import my Canadian-market Defender. Jaguar Land Rover will not provide the manufacturer compliance documentation required for the normal U.S. importation process while this recall remains outstanding. However, I cannot have the recall completed because Jaguar Land Rover has not yet developed or made a remedy available. I am therefore effectively unable to remedy the safety recall through no action available to me as the vehicle owner, while the unresolved recall is simultaneously preventing me from importing the vehicle into the United States. I have asked Jaguar Land Rover for assistance and am currently discussing a potential manufacturer buyback because there is no available recall remedy. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether Jaguar Land Rover is providing an appropriate and timely remedy for Recall 26V-248 and advise what recourse is available to an owner whose vehicle cannot be remedied because the manufacturer has not yet made a repair available.

NHTSA complaint #11758371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My 2023 Land Rover Defender is subject to manufacturer recall D126 / NHTSA Recall 26V-248 concerning potential failure of the DC/DC converter due to an internal fault in the boost control microchip. The recall remains incomplete and Jaguar Land Rover has advised that a remedy is not yet available. I have contacted Jaguar Land Rover and my authorized Land Rover retailer, but there is currently no repair that I can have performed to remedy the safety defect. This has created a significant problem because I recently relocated from Canada to the United States and need to import my Canadian-market Defender. Jaguar Land Rover will not provide the manufacturer compliance documentation required for the normal U.S. importation process while this recall remains outstanding. However, I cannot have the recall completed because Jaguar Land Rover has not yet developed or made a remedy available. I am therefore effectively unable to remedy the safety recall through no action available to me as the vehicle owner, while the unresolved recall is simultaneously preventing me from importing the vehicle into the United States. I have asked Jaguar Land Rover for assistance and am currently discussing a potential manufacturer buyback because there is no available recall remedy. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether Jaguar Land Rover is providing an appropriate and timely remedy for Recall 26V-248 and advise what recourse is available to an owner whose vehicle cannot be remedied because the manufacturer has not yet made a repair available.

NHTSA complaint #11758371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Three days before leaving for a trip from [XXX] to [XXX] my Land Rover Defender gave me a Low Battery warning. There was no time to take it to the dealership so I bought a new battery and put it in myself, then drove the 700 miles to [XXX]. My family and I were traveling in a remote area 6 miles from our vacation rental, with no cellular service, when our Defender suddenly threw an electrical fault warning on the dashboard asking us to pull over safely, on XXX. We made it to the vacation rental, then I borrowed a family member's car and went into [XXX] to buy tools to see if the battery was charging and if I could safely drive it to the nearest dealer or even home. It was not charging. So I called the dealership (Land Rover Rocklin) and had the car towed to it, then rented a truck to finish my vacation and get the family and our gear home. At the dealership, Rocklin required a brand-new factory battery to run tests on the failed DC-DC converter. They confirmed the converter failed under Recall 26V-248 and replaced the unit with the same recalled part. To get through this ordeal, I incurred $3,036.13 in direct out-of-pocket costs (towing, rentals, batteries, tools). Despite written confirmation from Jaguar Land Rover Corporate Customer Care agreeing to reimburse these recall expenses, Jaguar Land Rover has since passed me between departments, applied arbitrary roadside assistance caps, and ultimately refused to issue a refund, imposing an illegal financial burden on me to remedy a federal safety defect. I can supply all receipts. Specific Incident Details Component / System Failure: The DC-DC Converter failed internally (NHTSA Recall 26V-248 / JLR Campaign D126), causing a complete loss of 12V charging. Safety Risk: The failure occurred on remote mountain roads without cell service. A complete loss of 12V power threatens power steering, braking assistance, and vehicle propulsion while driving. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11753125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The Halo/daylight running light has burned out. I have found on the internet that this is a know issue. Mine burned out at 57,000 miles. The dealer wants over $3000 to fix it.

NHTSA complaint #11752192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

Front windshield is extremely fragile. The smallest rock will create a chip which will spider across the windshield within a couple days. I have an older Land Rover and there have been more rocks with only a few small chips and no spider. Cheap glass installed on the new Land Rovers.

NHTSA complaint #11751772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The DC/DC converter failed and caused the vehicle to immediately lose all power at a main intersection. My wife was driving the vehicle when this happened with out two children in the vehicle as well (ages [XXX] and [XXX]. Luckily, she was able to somewhat get out of intersection of a very busy road. The vehicle had to be towed to the Land Rover dealership. The part was covered by a factory extended warranty. There is an active recall for this part; however, this vehicle does not show to be in the recall. Since this part did fail, I wanted to file a complaint since it is not in the recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11744806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2023 Land Rover Defender. The contact received a recall notification, NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V248000 (Electrical System) however the parts were unavailable. The contact stated that the vehicle was a hazard and unsafe to drive. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced any failure regarding the unrepaired recall repair.

NHTSA complaint #11744833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The DC/DC converter failed and caused the vehicle to immediately lose all power at a main intersection. My wife was driving the vehicle when this happened with out two children in the vehicle as well (ages [XXX] and [XXX]. Luckily, she was able to somewhat get out of intersection of a very busy road. The vehicle had to be towed to the Land Rover dealership. The part was covered by a factory extended warranty. There is an active recall for this part; however, this vehicle does not show to be in the recall. Since this part did fail, I wanted to file a complaint since it is not in the recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11744806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

The DC/DC converter failed and caused the vehicle to immediately lose all power at a main intersection. My wife was driving the vehicle when this happened with out two children in the vehicle as well (ages [XXX] and [XXX]. Luckily, she was able to somewhat get out of intersection of a very busy road. The vehicle had to be towed to the Land Rover dealership. The part was covered by a factory extended warranty. There is an active recall for this part; however, this vehicle does not show to be in the recall. Since this part did fail, I wanted to file a complaint since it is not in the recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11744806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The front light **What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request?** The front passenger-side (right) headlight failed completely on my Land Rover Defender. The headlight assembly, including the bulb and/or associated electrical components, ceased functioning without any prior indication of a problem. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. **How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk?** The sudden loss of a front headlight significantly reduced visibility while driving at night, creating a serious safety hazard for myself, passengers, and other road users. Reduced lighting also diminishes the vehicle's visibility to oncoming traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists, increasing the risk of a collision. **Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?** Yes. The failure was confirmed by an authorized Land Rover dealership, which inspected the vehicle and verified that the front passenger-side headlight had failed. **Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others?** The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Land Rover dealership, which confirmed the headlight failure. No inspection has been conducted by police or insurance representatives at this time. **Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear?** There were no warning lamps, dashboard messages, flickering, dimming, or any other symptoms prior to the failure. The headlight failed suddenly and without any advance warning, providing no opportunity to anticipate or respond to the malfunction before it occurred.

NHTSA complaint #11743158 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Daytime running lights have both failed within the last 79 days. Passenger side failed at ~32660 miles o/a 05 Mar 26. It was replaced under warranty. Driver side failed around 36234 miles on 22 May 26 (5-days out of warranty). It is pending a shop appointment for replacement. This is not a “wear and tear” issue, it is a product quality control issue. It is not a simple plug and play repair. It is a costly repair due to the design of the headlamp assembly. I have owned vehicles since 1988 and last changed a headlamp or taillight bulb in the early 2000’s and that was on a MY93 vehicle. I have also owned two other Land Rovers MY07 LR3 from 2008-2011 and MY14 LR4 from 2014-2022 and did not have to replace a single bulb in the vehicle. Point is that technology and quality have improved over the years and these headlamp/DRL assemblies should not fail with less than 36500 miles on the vehicle. This is a known issue that warrants further investigation. Jaguar Land Rover has issued a Special Service Message 75479 concerning the known issue with the Defender DRL. My DRLs failed in similar fashion described in the SSM. Inoperable DRL reduces safety due to lower visibility since they should operate during normal driving conditions. This issue is dangerous since there is no indication on the dashboard or other warning unless the headlights are manually inspected while the vehicle is operating. Additionally, inoperable DRL leads to a failed State vehicle safety inspections.

NHTSA complaint #11739874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

SUPPLEMENTAL TO NHTSA COMPLAINT #11728718 (RECALL 26V248000) On March 2, 2026, my 2023 Land Rover Defender was at a dealership for approximately 3.5 hours for key fob programming. At that time, Jaguar Land Rover had an active service message (SSM76173) related to DC-DC converter failures. Within 24 hours of leaving the dealership, the DC-DC converter failed. The vehicle displayed a “Charging System Fault” warning and became inoperable, consistent with the failure described in my original complaint #11728718. I contacted the dealership immediately with information about the issue. They told me that what I experienced aligned with the DC Converter failures that have been reported. I asked if I could get my Defender picked up or if they could at least provide a loaner car if I could somehow get my Defender to them. The dealership declined towing assistance and did not provide a loaner vehicle, citing that I was beyond the mileage limit of the warranty. I was also told that loaner vehicles were reserved for customers who purchased their vehicle at that location. Because I live approximately 4 hours from the dealership and the vehicle was not safely operable, I arranged my own repair. Due to a national backorder, the vehicle was unusable for an extended period (about a month). I purchased a genuine replacement DC-DC converter and paid for expedited shipping. Total out-of-pocket cost exceeded $970. On April 23, 2026, Jaguar Land Rover issued Recall 26V248000 for this defect. Communication with JLR about this incident started on April 7, 2026. On April 23, 2026 at 8:05 am EST (following the announcement of the recall), I was offered a final settlement off of a $458 retailer credit. However, I was instructed that I needed to return to the dealership (4 hours away) for inspection of a vehicle that has already been repaired using an OEM part. I am submitting this update to document the failure, the repair, and the manufacturer’s response following the recall.

NHTSA complaint #11733338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SUPPLEMENTAL TO NHTSA COMPLAINT #11728718 (RECALL 26V248000) On March 2, 2026, my 2023 Land Rover Defender was at a dealership for approximately 3.5 hours for key fob programming. At that time, Jaguar Land Rover had an active service message (SSM76173) related to DC-DC converter failures. Within 24 hours of leaving the dealership, the DC-DC converter failed. The vehicle displayed a “Charging System Fault” warning and became inoperable, consistent with the failure described in my original complaint #11728718. I contacted the dealership immediately with information about the issue. They told me that what I experienced aligned with the DC Converter failures that have been reported. I asked if I could get my Defender picked up or if they could at least provide a loaner car if I could somehow get my Defender to them. The dealership declined towing assistance and did not provide a loaner vehicle, citing that I was beyond the mileage limit of the warranty. I was also told that loaner vehicles were reserved for customers who purchased their vehicle at that location. Because I live approximately 4 hours from the dealership and the vehicle was not safely operable, I arranged my own repair. Due to a national backorder, the vehicle was unusable for an extended period (about a month). I purchased a genuine replacement DC-DC converter and paid for expedited shipping. Total out-of-pocket cost exceeded $970. On April 23, 2026, Jaguar Land Rover issued Recall 26V248000 for this defect. Communication with JLR about this incident started on April 7, 2026. On April 23, 2026 at 8:05 am EST (following the announcement of the recall), I was offered a final settlement off of a $458 retailer credit. However, I was instructed that I needed to return to the dealership (4 hours away) for inspection of a vehicle that has already been repaired using an OEM part. I am submitting this update to document the failure, the repair, and the manufacturer’s response following the recall.

NHTSA complaint #11733338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle: 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 P400 (MHEV) Component Failure: Failure of the 48V DC-DC converter module (L8B2-14B227-AD), which converts 48V to 12V and maintains the vehicle’s 12V electrical system. The component is available for inspection. What Happened: Vehicle displayed “Charging System Fault” and red battery warning. Shortly after, the vehicle became inoperable and left driver stranded. Diagnostics showed: 48V battery retained voltage (~45V) No current output from the 48V system No 12V charging DTC: P065B-16 (Generator Control Circuit Voltage Below Threshold) The DC-DC converter reported “Failure / Standby” and would not initialize. High-voltage contactors did not close, preventing power delivery from the 48V system. Safety Risk: Failure disables 12V charging and can render the vehicle inoperable without warning. This creates a risk of being stranded and loss of essential vehicle functions. Inspection / Confirmation: Issue was confirmed through diagnostic tools (GAP IIDTool). Failure condition and DTC are consistent with DC-DC converter malfunction. Warnings Prior to Failure: “Charging System Fault” message and red battery warning appeared immediately prior to loss of function. No earlier warning. Additional Information: Similar failures involving the DC-DC converter and 48V MHEV system have been reported by other owners. Failures outside of warranty result in significant repair costs.

NHTSA complaint #11728718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The vehicle experienced a sudden and complete electrical failure while driving, related to the DC converter. Warning lights did appear prior to the failure; however, I was driving down a mountainous road and do not recall the exact messages. Shortly after, the vehicle shut down and lost power, causing it to roll to a stop in active traffic. At the time of the incident, I was partially in the roadway and unable to safely move the vehicle out of traffic. The vehicle became inoperable and could not be restarted. I had two children and two dogs in the vehicle at the time. The vehicle had to be towed approximately two hours back home. The required part was on backorder for approximately two months due to so many vehicles having the issue, leaving my vehicle unusable for an extended period. This issue creates a serious safety hazard due to the sudden loss of propulsion and inability to move the vehicle out of traffic. Based on my research, this appears to be a known issue affecting multiple Land Rover Defenders. In attempting to locate the part sooner, we contacted several Land Rover dealerships, all of which indicated they had numerous Defenders awaiting the same repair due to part availability.

NHTSA complaint #11725480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The vehicle experienced a sudden and complete electrical failure while driving, related to the DC converter. Warning lights did appear prior to the failure; however, I was driving down a mountainous road and do not recall the exact messages. Shortly after, the vehicle shut down and lost power, causing it to roll to a stop in active traffic. At the time of the incident, I was partially in the roadway and unable to safely move the vehicle out of traffic. The vehicle became inoperable and could not be restarted. I had two children and two dogs in the vehicle at the time. The vehicle had to be towed approximately two hours back home. The required part was on backorder for approximately two months due to so many vehicles having the issue, leaving my vehicle unusable for an extended period. This issue creates a serious safety hazard due to the sudden loss of propulsion and inability to move the vehicle out of traffic. Based on my research, this appears to be a known issue affecting multiple Land Rover Defenders. In attempting to locate the part sooner, we contacted several Land Rover dealerships, all of which indicated they had numerous Defenders awaiting the same repair due to part availability.

NHTSA complaint #11725480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DC-DC converter failure. Received dashboard message “Stop safely Electrical fault detected”

NHTSA complaint #11725104 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Received a stop vehicle, "Electrical Fault". Diagnosed by certified mechanic to be DC to DC Converter fault needing replacement. Estimated 1-2 month backorder due to high demand for parts.

NHTSA complaint #11722354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SUSPENSION

While driving the dashboard suddenly showed a message saying Battery Charging Fault error” a few minutes later the car stopped driving while I was on a busy freeway. It had no power and it displayed several messages saying suspension system is disabled, battery issue, cameras disabled. I had try to navigate my rolling car to a side lane to call roadside assistance. It was a very dangerous incident and needs to be addressed. Land Rover in White Plains NY, diagnosed my vehicle saying the Dc to Dc converter needs to be replaced and they don’t have any in stock. They also mentioned they have 30 customer cars all waiting for the same part. This was scary and I’m grateful my children were not in the vehicle at the time.

NHTSA complaint #11721872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While driving the dashboard suddenly showed a message saying Battery Charging Fault error” a few minutes later the car stopped driving while I was on a busy freeway. It had no power and it displayed several messages saying suspension system is disabled, battery issue, cameras disabled. I had try to navigate my rolling car to a side lane to call roadside assistance. It was a very dangerous incident and needs to be addressed. Land Rover in White Plains NY, diagnosed my vehicle saying the Dc to Dc converter needs to be replaced and they don’t have any in stock. They also mentioned they have 30 customer cars all waiting for the same part. This was scary and I’m grateful my children were not in the vehicle at the time.

NHTSA complaint #11721872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

While driving the dashboard suddenly showed a message saying Battery Charging Fault error” a few minutes later the car stopped driving while I was on a busy freeway. It had no power and it displayed several messages saying suspension system is disabled, battery issue, cameras disabled. I had try to navigate my rolling car to a side lane to call roadside assistance. It was a very dangerous incident and needs to be addressed. Land Rover in White Plains NY, diagnosed my vehicle saying the Dc to Dc converter needs to be replaced and they don’t have any in stock. They also mentioned they have 30 customer cars all waiting for the same part. This was scary and I’m grateful my children were not in the vehicle at the time.

NHTSA complaint #11721872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DC-DC Converter failed, battery light came on mid-drive and I continued to drive to try and make it to my destination. Car systems started one by one shutting down, first my seat heater then eventually my steering and gas petal. The Vehicle then died and left me stranded in the middle of the road while cars were passing me leaving me unsafe and blocking the road for more than an hour untill a tow truck could arrive. I could have easily been in an accident if I was on a different road do to the steering assist and gas pedal not continuing to work. Making it unsafe for me and many people on the road. The car would also not turn on or go into neutral so I could push it off to the side. Making it a hazard blocking a major road. I took it to Land Rover dealer and they mentioned that this is currently a common issue among Defenders, they have a bunch of them sitting on the lot waiting for this part and it is currently back ordered for several months. Leading me to believe this isn't an isolated incident and that Land Rover should address it before someone gets hurt on the road.

NHTSA complaint #11721421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

On 2/18/26 the vehicle electrical system stopped working. I unlocked teh vehicle with an emergincy key inside the keyfob. Once towed back to the dealer I was informed that the DC-to-DC converter failed causing the entire electical system to fail/immobilized the vehicle. The part will take 3-4 weeks to receive. Doing my own desk research I see that this is common issue and in many cases reoccurring b/c the part is replaced with a version that is also failing (look at how many different part #'s have been issued).

NHTSA complaint #11721077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Car suddenly stopped and lost all power due to DC DC converter issue

NHTSA complaint #11720814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

Car suddenly stopped and lost all power due to DC DC converter issue

NHTSA complaint #11720814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.