41 of the
391 complaints filed about the Land Rover Defender
are about the engine —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2023.
1) Exhaust Manifold Studs are loosening and/or breaking on I6 engine causing potential CO2 exposure to passengers in the cabin and/or engine bay fire risk. 2) Potentailly yes via CO2. 3) Yes - out of factory warranty therefore had independent service center replace all studs 4) No 5) Not in my case but others on JLR Automotive Forums have heard rattling noises and found broken bolts that fell onto the skid plate directly below engine. *) In attached images below the final picture is of the repaired studs
NHTSA complaint #11756476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle: 2024 Land Rover Defender, VIN [XXX] Related recall: NHTSA campaign 26V248 (JLR internal D126 / H575) This complaint concerns the unavailability of a remedy for a defect that can cause complete loss of drive power while the vehicle is in motion. Timeline: - April 17, 2026: Jaguar Land Rover North America filed Part 573 report for campaign 26V248, covering 170,169 mild-hybrid vehicles including 53,644 2020-2024 Defenders. JLR's filing describes the defect as an internal fault in the boost control microchip of the DC-DC converter, and states that failure results in loss of 12-volt system charging and can lead to complete loss of drive power and exterior lighting. - June 20, 2026: I received an interim owner letter. The letter confirms the defect and the safety risk. It states no remedy is available and that additional correspondence will follow at an unspecified date. - August 11, 2026: No remedy is available. No estimated remedy date has been communicated to me. Approximately four months have elapsed since the Part 573 filing and approximately two months since owner notification. Issue one - the interim notification does not address safe operation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11756154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle was driving roughly. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated while accelerating and the vehicle felt as if the brake pedal was being depressed. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic, and the contact was informed that the coolant hose attached to the radiator and the coolant pipes needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred approximately one month later. The front driver’s side headlight had failed and was replaced by the local dealer. The contact stated that one month later, the front passenger’s side headlight failed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 40,000.
NHTSA complaint #11755302 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 warning. A check engine light and "Gearbox fault detected" alert appeared on the dashboard. The vehicle coasted downhill and my worker was able to steer it to the shoulder. Once stopped, the gearshift would not engage any gear other than neutral, and the electronic parking brake also failed to engage. My worker kept his foot on the brake pedal continuously and did not turn off the engine, fearing the vehicle could not be safely towed otherwise. A tow was requested at 10:09 AM and arrived at 11:01 AM; at that point the parking brake functioned again, and the vehicle was winched onto the tow truck. The vehicle was dropped off at Land Rover Las Vegas at 11:41 AM. Upon repair pickup on July 7, 2026, the service advisor stated the issue was software-related — the vehicle's computer had taken the transmission offline. The malfunctioning transmission and intermittent loss of parking brake function on a moving public road presents a serious safety risk, particularly since the failure occurred without warning during normal driving conditions.
NHTSA complaint #11749201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
The manufacturer became aware of this issue approximately six months ago. At this time, no repair is available. I am driving to a remote location without consistent phone service and the manufacturer and dealer will not offer a loaner vehicle. I believe that Land Rover should offer a trade in for a new vehicle without this issue.
NHTSA complaint #11744695 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving my 2024 Land Rover Defender 130 on Route 114 in Massachusetts at approximately 8:30–9:00 PM in dark and rainy conditions, the vehicle suddenly and completely shut off while in motion. The vehicle lost all power: • Engine shut off • No gears functioned • Vehicle would not restart • Lights and hazard lights were not functioning The vehicle was stranded in the middle of an active roadway with no warning and no visibility. Because of this, I had to exit the vehicle into traffic, stop oncoming vehicles, and remove my child from the car. We crossed a live lane of traffic to get to safety while leaving the vehicle in the roadway. I called 911. Police responded and controlled traffic at the scene. In the presence of the responding officer, I attempted to restart the vehicle multiple times. It remained completely unresponsive for an extended period before eventually starting again without explanation. This vehicle experienced a sudden loss of power while in motion on an active roadway. This is a serious safety concern. I do not feel it is safe to transport my child or family in this vehicle. I am seeking a clear and definitive diagnosis and resolution. If this issue cannot be conclusively identified and repaired, the vehicle should not remain in service. • RSelect systems: • Engine • Electrical • Powertrain
NHTSA complaint #11731440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
I am reporting a systemic failure of exhaust manifold retaining bolts on the 2020 Land Rover Defender (L663, P400 engine). While removing the engine skid plate, I discovered a fractured exhaust manifold bolt that had fallen down. The bolt head had separated, leaving the threaded portion in the cylinder head. There are I believe 12 manifold bolts securing the integrated exhaust manifold/turbocharger assembly, & multiple owners have documented similar failures, including cases with multiple broken bolts on one vehicle. The exhaust manifold is integrated with the turbocharger and is part of the emissions control pathway. This assembly operates at extremely high temps. Based on the pattern of failures, repeated thermal cycling and inadequate fastener material appear to cause bolt fatigue and fracture. When bolts break, proper clamping force is lost and hot exhaust gases escape directly into the engine compartment rather than remaining sealed within the manifold/turbo assembly. This presents serious safety concerns: Fire risk: Escaping exhaust gases from a turbocharged engine can exceed 1,000°F. These gases are released near wiring, plastic components, insulation, and other materials. Loss of sealing increases the risk of localized overheating and engine compartment fire. Exhaust gas intrusion: Exhaust leaks at the manifold can allow exhaust gases to enter the passenger compartment. Emissions defect: As this leak occurs upstream of emissions control components, unmetered exhaust gases escape before entering the emissions system, affecting federally regulated emissions compliance. This costs thousands to fix and owners are going to ignore it due to cost & unawareness. Multiple vehicles across varying mileages have experienced this issue, suggesting a systemic design or material defect rather than normal wear. Exhaust manifold fasteners should not fracture under normal operating conditions on a vehicle with 30,000 miles.
NHTSA complaint #11721177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The DC converter went bad and within 30 seconds while driving on the highway I got a battery warning and then the car went into neutral and stopped and went into park and the car turned off in the middle of the road and couldn’t be moved at all. Luckily some cops came and protected the car from behind until a tow truck came. The part needed is out of stock and may not be in stock for months!
NHTSA complaint #11717995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2023 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was white smoke coming from the engine compartment. The message to “Add Coolant” was displayed. The coolant was added to the coolant reservoir; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact was constantly adding coolant; however, there were no coolant leaks found. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.
NHTSA complaint #11717107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving the vehicle warnings alerted me that the battery was low and to start the vehicle ( it was running as I was driving) then the alert changed to pull over when possible. At this time the power steering and power brakes started to fail by the time I pulled into a parking lot the vehicle completely died and I had to push it into a parking spot. I called Land Rover they towed it to a dealership. The dealership in Orlando Florida said that the DC to DC converter failed and that it would need a new one (but the part is on a back order because it’s a common issue and they have no idea how long it will take to get the part) it will take at least 30 days or more to get a new part. Before I managed to pull over in a safe location the steering became very heavy and the brake pedal got very hard and barely stopped the vehicle ( almost had a collision) and steering into the parking lot was extremely difficult.
NHTSA complaint #11715474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
8/25/2023 18,118 miles, vehicle purchased. Warranty 48 months or 50,000 miles. Factory warranty remaining 31 months or 31,905 miles. 1/8/2024 26,536 miles, L Headlight failure, electric door lock malfunction, air suspension failure. Headlight = warranty replacement. Service Department = no solution, diagnostic code or replication of electric lock or suspension issue. 3/26/2024 30,285 miles, R Headlight failure, Low Battery notification. Tested Battery- passed. Headlight- warranty replacement. 4/30/2024 32,175 miles, Low Battery notification. Tested Battery- failed. Battery replacement and battery reset module = warranty replacement. 11/7/20205 58,812 miles, Turbo Coolant O rings failed- mechanical. Service writer advised this is common for these engines in the V6 defender models. Repair estimate $642.77. Dealership - provided good faith discount. Customer agreed to and paid a negotiated repair totaling $377.30. Despite all repairs, electrical warnings continued off and on with Low Battery notifications, that would appear and disappear. 1/31/2026 (62,105 mi), electrical issue, Low Battery notification, then “STOP SAFELY – ELECTRICAL FAULT DETECTED” notification. Caused vehicle failuer & shut down. Required towing. "STOP SAFELY – ELECTRICAL FAULT DETECTED" notification – electronic fault affects: Power delivery, Steering, Braking, Stability systems. Dealership Diagnosed fault code P0D33-11, failed DC/DC converter and batteries. Replacement Cost +$2,467.38. DC/DC Convertor OEM Parts are on national backorder. 1-2 months lead time. QTY 15 units waiting. Low battery warnings & P0D33-11 code are related. Weak 12V battery = stress the DC/DC converter, fault codes, conversely, a failing DC/DC prevent the 12V battery charging. These repeated low-battery warnings and electrical failures are directly related to DC/DC converter failure and represent an ongoing electrical defect that originated during the warranty period, not normal wear and tear.
NHTSA complaint #11715326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I own a 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 that I purchased brand new. Since buying it, it has been back to the dealer many times for serious issues. The vehicle has had repeated cooling system failures, including replacement of all upper coolant hoses. Most recently it was at the dealer for coolant loss / no coolant, and the dealer diagnosed failed O-rings going into the turbo and repaired it. I was told this is a common issue but there has been no recall. Shortly after getting the vehicle back, while traveling with my family, I received a dashboard warning: “Stop safely – electrical fault.” Immediately after this warning, the vehicle lost power and died in the street with my family in the car, creating a major safety hazard and risk of being hit by traffic. The vehicle had to be towed. I am currently stranded in NY (away from home in MA) and the vehicle is now at a dealer here. It has been difficult to even get it seen by a technician, and we are supposed to return home tomorrow (Sunday). I have learned many other owners are experiencing similar “Stop safely” failures and it appears related to the P400 DC/DC converter. There have also been incidents where the steering wheel would not turn, and the only way to restore function was disconnecting the negative battery terminal to reset the vehicle computer, which is extremely dangerous. Additionally, the heated steering wheel overheated and burned a hole through the steering wheel and burned my hand while driving. The dealer replaced it under warranty, but the repair notes suggested the damage caused the heater issue, when the damage occurred because of the overheating/burn. This vehicle has had repeated safety-related defects involving the cooling system, electrical system, steering, and heated steering wheel, including sudden shutdown in the roadway with passengers. I request NHTSA investigate for a potential recall.
NHTSA complaint #11714705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Safety Complaint – DC-to-DC Converter Failure Causing Vehicle Shutdown I am submitting this complaint to report a DC-to-DC converter failure that rendered my vehicle inoperable. The authorized Land Rover service department diagnosed a failed DC-to-DC converter. This component is part of the vehicle’s electrical system and its failure caused a loss of vehicle functionality. I was informed the replacement part is on national back order, with an estimated repair time of up to two months. Based on owner reports and service discussions, this appears to be a common failure affecting Land Rover mild-hybrid vehicles. Many reports describe sudden loss of electrical power, warning messages, and vehicle shutdown. This issue presents a potential safety risk, as failure of the DC-to-DC converter can result in loss of vehicle systems and may occur without warning, including while the vehicle is in motion. The vehicle is currently unusable. It is concerning that a critical electrical component with safety implications is failing at relatively low mileage and that replacement parts are not readily available. I am requesting NHTSA review this issue for potential investigation, recall, or other corrective action.
NHTSA complaint #11713757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My car died on December 14, 2025 when I was pulling out of my driveway. It read “stop safely electrical fault detected.” And then shut down and would not turn on. Then it said “battery low. Please start engine.” But the car would not start. I had to get it towed to the dealer. They told me it was a the DC converter or the epic module. They said this is a company wide issue with the 2023 defenders and they do not have the part in stock and that it is on back order. Right now they are stating that the part may be in in mid February. Previous to this issue I also had issues two times with my car stating engine coolant issues and had to bring it to the dealer two times to get fixed.
NHTSA complaint #11709828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The DC/DC converter is failing on the vehicles regularly. This results in the vehicle losing power and shutting down while driving. I own this vehicle and while it hasn’t happened yet, I constantly fear that it will. With the common knowledge and frequency of this occurrence, Land Rover should fix as a recall to ensure the safety of all customers. Please push for this. Thank you.
NHTSA complaint #11709603 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.