Verdict
2025 Land Rover Defender: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2025 Land Rover Defender — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Fewer reported complaints than most SUV.
Owners filed 11 NHTSA complaints — fewer complaints than 70% of 2025 SUVs. Visibility/Wiper leads the reports (55%). 2 safety recall campaigns on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2025 SUVs, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
11
Reports to NHTSA, 2025
Safety recalls
2
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Not rated
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
18
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
Fewer complaints than 70% of 2025 SUVs
The bar is this car's percentile among 2025 SUVs by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Visibility/Wiper issues lead owner complaints (55% of 11 reports), followed by power train (18%).
Share of all 11 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11736331, ODI 11736333, ODI 11736334, ODI 11726310, ODI 11721273.
Recalls(2)
Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.
Air BagsDec 2026 · 26V389000Details +Close −
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Land Rover Defender, 2021-2026 Discovery, and 2022-2026 Range Rover vehicles. The driver’s air bag clockspring connector may corrode, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will apply a protective lubricant gel to the driver’s air bag connector terminals, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed August 7, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is D120.
EquipmentJun 2024 · 24E102000Details +Close −
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender vehicles equipped with Raised Air Intake (RAI) aftermarket accessory equipment, with part number VPLEP0543. The raised air intake may not be secured properly, which can allow the intake to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: A detached raised air intake can fall off the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, remove and reinstall the RAI accessory, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed February 20, 2025. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N964.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
No NHTSA crash test is on record for this year. Some vehicles and model years were not tested or do not have a published NCAP result.
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defender 90 MHEV | 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 18 | 21 | 19 |
| Defender 90 | 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 18 | 21 | 19 |
| Defender 130 P400 MHEV | 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 18 | 20 | 19 |
| Defender 110 MHEV | 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 18 | 20 | 19 |
| Defender 110 | 2.0L 4-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 18 | 20 | 19 |
| Defender 130 P300 MHEV | 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 17 | 20 | 18 |
| Defender 130 Outbound | 3.0L 6-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 16 | 19 | 18 |
| Defender 110 MHEV | 4.4L 8-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 15 | 19 | 17 |
| Defender 90 | 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 15 | 19 | 16 |
| Defender 130 | 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 14 | 19 | 16 |
| Defender 110 | 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S8) | 14 | 18 | 16 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2025 Land Rover Defender: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2025 Land Rover Defender?
Owners filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the 2025 Land Rover Defender — fewer complaints than 70% of comparable 2025 SUVs, so it sits toward the stronger end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2025 Land Rover Defender?
The most-reported problem areas are Visibility/Wiper (55% of complaints) and power train (18%).
How many recalls does the 2025 Land Rover Defender have?
2 recalls have been issued that affect the 2025 Land Rover Defender, covering components such as air bags. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.
What gas mileage does the 2025 Land Rover Defender get?
The EPA rates the 2025 Land Rover Defender between 16 and 19 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.