2023 Land Rover Defender Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2023 Land Rover Defender.

20222024
Complaints
93
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Fatalities
Recalls
6

Worst 2023 Land Rover Defender Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#134 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:50,500 mi
#213 complaints

Wipers & Visibility

#311 complaints

Engine Problems

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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2023 Land Rover Defender.

Electrical Faults
34
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
50,500
Wipers & Visibility
13
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
11
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Assist
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Headlight/Taillight Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Lane Departure: Warning
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward-Collision Avoidance Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Interior Lighting
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2023 Land Rover Defender. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2023 Land Rover Defender

6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~42,967 vehicles.

25V016000Back Over Prevention:software · Equipment:electrical:infotainment:video (touch)screen/monitor/unit
~28,370 affected

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2023 Discovery Sport, 2023-2024 Defender, and 2023 Range Rover Evoque vehicles. The touchscreen in the center console may go blank at vehicle startup, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

24V450000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:oil/lubrication:filter/screen
~2,013 affected

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Defender, 2024 Discovery, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and Range Rover Velar vehicles. The oil filter housing can crack and leak oil into the engine compartment.

23V789000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:critical Fasteners
~121 affected

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 vehicles modified for the TRek Off-Road Competition. The brake calipers may not be reinstalled properly, allowing the brake calipers to detach.

23V137000Child Seat:vehicle Tether Anchor · Seats:mid/rear Assembly
~812 affected

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The third-row seatback latch may not latch properly, reducing the strength of a child seat installed to the top tether.

23V044000Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:oil/lubrication
~6,724 affected

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.

22V523000Seat Belts:pretensioner
~4,927 affected

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2022-23 Land Rover Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport and 2022 Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Velar vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat belt pretensioners may be damaged, which can cause the seat belts to not properly restrain occupants.

Other Land Rover Defender Years

2023 Land Rover Defender — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2023 Land Rover Defender reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 2023 Land Rover Defender has 93 NHTSA complaints, 0 crash-related, and 6 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 34 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2023 Land Rover Defender?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (34 complaints, avg 50,500 mi); Wipers & Visibility (13 complaints); Engine Problems (11 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2023 Land Rover Defender?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 50,500 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
Does the 2023 Land Rover Defender have any recalls?
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 42,967 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2023 Land Rover Defender?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 2023 Land Rover Defender shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Land Rover Defender reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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