The vehicle dossier US · 2020
2020 Land Rover
DEFENDERProblems & recalls
55 distinct owner reports in the NHTSA snapshot. Other components appears in 26 of them. Explore what was reported—and which official actions are on file.
01 / Owner-reported evidence
What owners reported.
Categories attached to 55 distinct reports. A report can mention more than one component, so category totals can overlap.
See original component labels
These are reports made to NHTSA, not verified diagnoses. More reports can reflect more vehicles, more time on the road, or greater reporting activity.
The reporting timeline
When reports arrived.
Reports by year filed, not by the year a problem occurred. Showing the latest 7 years with reports.
2,041 miles is the median among 13 reports with usable mileage. The middle half spans 800–7,434 miles.
This describes the submitted reports. It does not predict when a vehicle will fail.
02 / Official safety campaigns
8 recall campaigns on file.
A campaign can cover only certain production dates or configurations. The count does not tell you whether an individual car has an open recall.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTERCampaign 26V599000
Reported concern
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Land Rover Range Rover, Land Rover Discovery Sport, Land Rover Defender, 2021-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar, Jaguar E-Pace, F-Pace, and Land Rover Discovery vehicles. The DC-DC converter may malfunction due to an electrical overload that can occur during high power demand. Additionally, a software error can cause the DC-DC converter to stop functioning at vehicle start-up under certain circumstances. Failure of the DC-DC converter will result in the loss of 12-Volt system charging and can lead to complete loss of drive power and exterior lighting.
Manufacturer’s stated response
Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed November 13, 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 E008. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 26V248.
Manufacturer campaign: E008
Read campaign 26V599000 at NHTSAAIR BAGS:FRONTALCampaign 26V389000
Reported concern
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.
Manufacturer’s stated response
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.
Manufacturer campaign: D120
Read campaign 26V389000 at NHTSAELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTERCampaign 26V248000
Reported concern
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar and Land Rover Discovery, 2020-2023 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, 2019-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Range Rover, 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Defender, 2021-2024 Jaguar F-Pace, and 2021-2022 Jaguar E-Pace mild-hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs). Insufficient electrical load balancing during times of high demand can lead to a current overload condition and malfunction of the DCDC converter. A failure of the DC-DC converter will result in a loss of 12-Volt system charging and can lead to complete loss of drive power and exterior lighting.
Manufacturer’s stated response
Dealers will update the central software, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 17, 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 numbers for this recall are D126 and H575.
Manufacturer campaign: D126 H575
Read campaign 26V248000 at NHTSAEQUIPMENTCampaign 24E102000
Reported concern
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.
Manufacturer’s stated response
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.
Manufacturer campaign: N964
Read campaign 24E102000 at NHTSAENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATIONCampaign 23V044000
Reported concern
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Range Rover Sport, 2020-2023 Range Rover, Defender, 2022-2023 Discovery, and 2023 Range Rover Velar vehicles. The engine cam carrier oil channel may be blocked, which can lead to an oil leak.
Manufacturer’s stated response
Dealers will inspect and replace the engine cam carrier and related components as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2023. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N763.
Manufacturer campaign: N763
Read campaign 23V044000 at NHTSACHILD SEAT:VEHICLE LATCH ANCHORCampaign 21V584000
Reported concern
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Land Rover Defender vehicles. The owner's manual incorrectly states that the third-row seating is equipped with LATCH child seat restraints with top tethers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Manufacturer’s stated response
Land Rover will mail owners the correct information to insert into the owner's manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 23, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N601.
Manufacturer campaign: N601
Read campaign 21V584000 at NHTSAEXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNALCampaign 21V435000
Reported concern
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Defender X vehicles equipped with smoked rear light assemblies. A voltage spike, triggered by a bright light shining on the rear of the vehicle, can cause the turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights to fail.
Manufacturer’s stated response
Dealers will replace the rear light assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 27, 2021. Owners can contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N598.
Manufacturer campaign: N598
Read campaign 21V435000 at NHTSAELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARECampaign 21V424000
Reported concern
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Land Rover Defender vehicles equipped with 6-cylinder engines. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) may unexpectedly switch off while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in an engine stall with no warning.
Manufacturer’s stated response
The Connected Diagnostic Services (CDS) and the Over-the-air (OTA) diagnostics functionality will be disabled, either by a dealer or through an OTA update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 28, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N599.
Manufacturer campaign: N599
Read campaign 21V424000 at NHTSA03 / The manufacturer’s record
Instructions. Updates. Responses.
553 distinct communications list this model-year. Showing the latest 12. A matching model-year does not establish that every engine, trim or reported symptom is covered.
SSM76492 - 20AUG26TCU Activation Failure And InControl App Inoperative After Software UpdateNHTSA ID 11037119
TCU Activation Failure And InControl App Inoperative After Software Update
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 11037119 at NHTSASSM76487 - 20AUG26Air Conditioning Inoperative / Intermittent OperationNHTSA ID 11037117
Air Conditioning Inoperative / Intermittent Operation
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 11037117 at NHTSAE002 - 20JUL26Exhaust System Oxygen (O2) Sensors - Extended WarrantyNHTSA ID 11035675
Exhaust System Oxygen (O2) Sensors - Extended Warranty
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 11035675 at NHTSAN869 Defender 16JUN26Software Over The Air (SOTA) updates are failing to complete. Specifically Vehicle Domain Controller (VDC) PIVI and Gateway Module A (GWM). These vehicles have now been stopped from further SOTA attempts and require a wired int…NHTSA ID 11034885
Software Over The Air (SOTA) updates are failing to complete. Specifically Vehicle Domain Controller (VDC) PIVI and Gateway Module A (GWM). These vehicles have now been stopped from further SOTA attempts and require a wired intervention.
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 11034885 at NHTSAN869 Defender 15MAY26Software Over The Air (SOTA) updates are failing to complete. Specifically Vehicle Domain Controller (VDC) PIVI and Gateway Module A (GWM). These vehicles have now been stopped from further SOTA attempts and require a wired int…NHTSA ID 11033424
Software Over The Air (SOTA) updates are failing to complete. Specifically Vehicle Domain Controller (VDC) PIVI and Gateway Module A (GWM). These vehicles have now been stopped from further SOTA attempts and require a wired intervention.
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 11033424 at NHTSAN811 Defender 15MAY26Door Zone Module - Quiescent DrainNHTSA ID 11033398
Door Zone Module - Quiescent Drain
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 11033398 at NHTSAN892v3 - 01MAY26Arduous customer drive cycles have been found to accelerate the degradation of engine oil, leading to generation of engine oil sludge deposits in high pressure engine oil galleries of the engine and inside the Continuous Variab…NHTSA ID 11033241
Arduous customer drive cycles have been found to accelerate the degradation of engine oil, leading to generation of engine oil sludge deposits in high pressure engine oil galleries of the engine and inside the Continuous Variable Valve Lift (CVVL) unit.
Components: ENGINE. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 11033241 at NHTSAN869 Defender 17APR26Software Over The Air (SOTA) updates are failing to completeNHTSA ID 11032424
Software Over The Air (SOTA) updates are failing to complete
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 11032424 at NHTSAN811 Defender 17APR26Door Zone Module - Quiescent DrainNHTSA ID 11032421
Door Zone Module - Quiescent Drain
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 11032421 at NHTSAN811 Defender 20MAR26Door Zone Module - Quiescent DrainNHTSA ID 11031092
Door Zone Module - Quiescent Drain
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 11031092 at NHTSASSM000028 - 18MAR26Wireless Charger - Charging Interruption With iPhone 15 and 16 DevicesNHTSA ID 11030743
Wireless Charger - Charging Interruption With iPhone 15 and 16 Devices
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 11030743 at NHTSATUCC_MAR2026_28While driving with satellite maps, sometimes image doesn't load fully and then comes backNHTSA ID 11030964
While driving with satellite maps, sometimes image doesn't load fully and then comes back
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 11030964 at NHTSARecords below contain the NHTSA bulk summary unless a document-reviewed explainer is linked. A service bulletin is not a safety recall or a promise of a free repair. Records may be revised or superseded; verify the current document with the manufacturer.
04 / Agency investigations
Official inquiries.
An investigation is an inquiry into a potential concern. Its presence does not establish a defect, and a closed case does not certify a car’s condition.
Your next step
Take good questions
to the inspection.
Use these prompts with a qualified inspector. This page is research, not a diagnosis or a substitute for a hands-on inspection.