2026 Land Rover Defender Problems, Recalls & Complaints
NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints for the 2026 Land Rover Defender, and what to keep if your vehicle keeps going back to the shop.
Recall campaigns
3
NHTSA owner complaints as of November 6, 2026, from NHTSA's complaint data files.
6
Data last refreshed (Eastern time)
November 6, 2026
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2026 Defender and 6 owner complaints; the most-reported component in owner complaints is unknown or other, with 2 reports.
Counts come from NHTSA records for this model year and refresh daily. Complaints are unverified owner reports; one complaint can name more than one component.
Top Reported Problems
Owner complaints grouped by NHTSA component (top 7). Linked components open a page comparing models for that problem.
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
- POWER TRAIN1
- SERVICE BRAKES1
- AIR BAGS1
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING1
2026 Defender Recall Records
Campaigns can apply only to specific configurations and production dates. Confirm whether your VIN is affected with NHTSA or the manufacturer.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · 26V389000
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.
Remedy: Dealers will apply a protective lubricant gel to the driver’s air bag connector terminals, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 3, 2026. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is D120.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY · 26V263000
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2026 Land Rover Defender vehicles. The fuel tank was improperly manufactured with walls that are too thin.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 19, 2026. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is D127.
SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS · 26V163000
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2026 Land Rover Defender vehicles. The third-row lower seat belt anchorage bracket may have an insufficient weld stud.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the third-row lower seat belt anchorage bracket or the weld-stud on the bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 19, 2026. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's numbers for this recall are D098 and D113.
2026 Defender Service Bulletins
A service bulletin is a manufacturer's repair instruction to dealers. It is not a recall and does not by itself establish a defect or a claim.
Manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA for this model year, newest first. A bulletin may apply only to certain configurations. Source data refreshes daily.
| Number | Date | Component | Summary | NHTSA record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSM76508 - 11SEP26 | Oct 7, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Diagnostic Trouble Code stored in the Powertrain Control Module(PCM). The DTC may be unable to be cleared and may return to a confirmed status after three drive cycles. | 11038296 |
| SSM76493 - 25SEP26 | Sep 25, 2026 | STRUCTURE:BODY | Accessory Wheel Arch Protection - Gaps Present Between Protection And Vehicle Body | 11038293 |
| D089 Defender 18SEP26 | Sep 18, 2026 | ENGINE | The engine coolant temperature amber warning is not enabled and not displayed on the instrument panel cluster. | 11038342 |
| D048 Defender 18SEP26 | Sep 18, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Jump Start Information Label Missing | 11038305 |
| D089 Defender 21AUG26 | Aug 21, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Engine coolant temperature amber warning is not enabled and not displayed on the instrument panel cluster. The engine coolant temperature amber warning gives the vehicle driver… | 11037135 |
| D048 Defender 21AUG26 | Aug 21, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Jump Start Information Label Missing | 11037130 |
| SSM76492 - 20AUG26 | Aug 21, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | TCU Activation Failure And InControl App Inoperative After Software Update | 11037119 |
| SSM76487 - 20AUG26 | Aug 21, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Air Conditioning Inoperative / Intermittent Operation | 11037117 |
| SSM76477 - 21JUL26 | Jul 22, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Intermittent Passive Entry Operation 24MY Or With New Service Smart Key Fob. | 11035735 |
| D089 Defender 17JUL26 | Jul 17, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Car Configuration File (CCF) Update | 11035867 |
| D048 Defender 17JUL26 | Jul 17, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Jump Start Information Label Missing | 11035859 |
| SSM76470 - 06JUL26 | Jul 7, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Increased effort required to close one or more vehicle doors. | 11035734 |
| SSM76463 - 06JUL26 | Jul 7, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Wireless Device Charger Inoperative Post Software Update | 11035730 |
| SSM76324 - 06JUL26 | Jul 6, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | A low-speed ‘clonk’ type noise from the rear driveline, audible during low speed throttle inputs, often coupled with up/down gear changes. The noise is audible during normal… | 11035679 |
| SSM76468 - 03JUL26 | Jul 4, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Unable to select Navigation when pressing the navigation Tile on theTouchscreen. | 11035732 |
| SSM76462 - 22JUN26 | Jun 22, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Software Update | 11034860 |
| D089 Defender 16JUN26 | Jun 16, 2026 | ENGINE | A Car Configuration File (CCF) update is required, the engine coolant temperature amber warning will then be displayed on the instrument panel cluster when required. | 11034881 |
| D048 Defender 16JUN26 | Jun 16, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Jump Start Information Label Missing | 11034873 |
| SSM76457 - 26MAY26 | May 26, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Amber MIL being displayed on the Instrument Panel Cluster on vehicles equipped with a Gen4 transmission. | 11033270 |
| SSM76457 - 21MAY26 | May 21, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Amber MIL being displayed on the Instrument Panel Cluster on vehicles equipped with a Gen4 transmission. | 11033267 |
Get recall alerts for this vehicle
Privacy: we store your email address and the vehicle you enter. We use them only to send recall alerts for that vehicle, starting after you confirm by email. Every alert has an unsubscribe link, and one click stops them.
Build Your Defender Repair File
- Dated repair orders with mileage and diagnosis
- Whether the same symptom returned after the repair
- Days unavailable, rental bills and dealer correspondence
- Purchase or lease contract and warranty documents
Does My Land Rover Defender Qualify?
A model's recall history cannot answer that question. Your repair attempts, when the problem was first reported and the vehicle-coverage rules in Maryland or D.C. matter. A lawyer can review those facts rather than relying on a model-wide rating.
If Lemon Law does not cover your circumstances, federal warranty or other consumer claims may be worth discussing. No remedy is guaranteed.
Other Defender Model Years
All Land Rover Defender model yearsStill Going Back to the Shop?
Get an individual review of your 2026 Land Rover Defender's repair history. Recall totals do not determine eligibility or guarantee an outcome.
You don’t pay unless we win.
Representation terms, including how costs are handled, are explained in your written agreement.
Review My Vehicle