Land Rover Defender problems
0 safety recalls. 45 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Top trouble spots 5 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
ON THE 2020 LAND ROVER DEFENDER, A KNOWN PROBLEM IS A RATTLING SOUND OF THE PASSENGER SIDE A-PILLAR. LAND ROVER POSTED A BULLETIN ON HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE AND I BROUGHT IT FOR A FIX IN NOVEMBER, BUT THE SOUND PERSISTED. YESTERDAY WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THERE WERE HEAVY…
TOTAL BRAKE AND STEERING LOSS AT 60MPH ..I CAN SEND YOU THE SCREEN SHOTS TOMORROW/ NOVEMBER 23RD (PROM THE PHOTOS TAKEN ON MY SON'S PHONE OF THE DASHBOARD NOTICE...PLUS A VIRTUAL GHOST-LIKE ABRUPT TAKE OVER OF LANE ASSISTANCE DESPITE MY HAVING TURNED THAT OFF!
This is a 2020 Land Rover Defender 110. The daytime running lights on the headlamp need replaced. I had replaced the passenger side a few months ago at the Land Rover dealership while the car was still under warranty at 49,500 miles. Now, the Land Rover has 55k miles and the…
THE CONE OF LIGHT PROJECTED FORWARD BY THE HEADLIGHTS IS TOO NARROW. WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT FROM ONE DARK ROAD ONTO ANOTHER DARK ROAD, ONE CANNOT DETERMINE IF IT IS SAFE TO TURN. THE LIGHT CONE IS BLOCKED BY THE ESCUTCHEON AROUND THE HEADLIGHT, WHICH ARE SET INWARD TOO DEEP.
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2020 Land Rover Defender reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 8.2 out of 10 based on 45 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 Land Rover Defender is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
What's the most common problem on the 2020 Land Rover Defender?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is lighting, with 13 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $250 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The lighting is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $250 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Land Rover Defender has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2020 Land Rover Defender?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 45 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $250, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.