Problem Lookup › Land Rover › Defender › 2021
Car problem report
2021 Land Rover Defender problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2021 Land Rover Defender has been recalled for, how often it fails the UK MOT and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 42owner complaints
- 0crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 4%fail the UK MOT
42 complaints, against an average of 43 for the other 6 Land Rover Defender model years.
Every Land Rover Defender model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2021 Land Rover Defender?
The components named most often in the 42 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2021 Land Rover Defender owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 42 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Has the 2021 Land Rover Defender been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2021 Land Rover Defender as of October 25, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
Is the 2021 Land Rover Defender recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSADriver’s Airbag Potential Non-Deployment
Risk: A concern has been identified where the connector to the driver’s airbag at the clockspring may experience fretting corrosion over time. This can lead to an increased resistance in the driver’s airbag circuit potentially resulting in the airbag failing to deploy when requested to do so. An airbag which fails to deploy as-intended will increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Vehicles will have a protective lubricant gel applied to the driver’s airbag connector terminals.
UK DVSAE-PACE F-PACE Defender Discovery Sport Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Velar PHEV Traction Battery Fire Risk
Risk: Vehicles have experienced thermal overload which may manifest in smoke or fire that may occur underneath the rear of the vehicle where the high voltage traction battery is located. The root cause is not yet known and investigations are continuing. A vehicle thermal overload condition such as fire or smoke can result in increased risk of occupant injury and/or injury to persons outside the vehicle as well as property damage.
Fix: Vehicles will be inspected by the retailer and as required at-risk battery packs will be replaced.
UK DVSAAJ20-D6 and AJ20-P6 Engine Oil Filter Housing CrackedD6 and AJ20-P6 Engine Oil Filter Housing Cracked
Risk: On affected vehicles the incorrect specification of plastic was used to manufacture the oil filter housing. This housing may over time and with vehicle use crack. This could result in oil under pressure leaking and coming into contact with hot components of the engine which may result in a fire. Additionally oil may leak onto the road surface posing a skid hazard.
Fix: Replace the oil filter housing complete with filter and associated O-rings.
UK DVSASecurity Enhancement
Risk: For affected vehicles the manufacturer has developed a software enhancement to further increase vehicle security.
Fix: The software enhancement will deploy this update and reduce the theft risk.
UK DVSASecurity Enhancement
Risk: For affected vehicles the manufacturer has developed a software enhancement to further increase vehicle security.
Fix: The software enhancement will deploy this update and reduce the theft risk.
UK DVSAOn affected vehicles there is an issue involving the seat latch in the area of the third row of seats for where injury in the event of an…On affected vehicles there is an issue involving the seat latch in the area of the third row of seats for where injury in the event of an incident cannot be ruled out.
Risk: On affected vehicles there is an issue involving the seat latch in the area of the third row of seats for where injury in the event of an incident cannot be ruled out.
Fix: The third-row seat back latch operation will be checked. Where the seat latches operate correctly no further action is required. Where a latch does not operate properly the seat frame and associated components will be replaced.
UK DVSAOn affected vehicles there is a risk where the water pump pully drive belt can become damaged leading to detachment or destruction.On affected vehicles there is a risk where the water pump pully drive belt can become damaged leading to detachment or destruction. Where water pump pully drive is lost this leads to a loss coolant flow in the engine.
Risk: On affected vehicles there is a risk where the water pump pully drive belt can become damaged leading to detachment or destruction. Where water pump pully drive is lost this leads to a loss coolant flow in the engine.
Fix: Affected vehicles will have the engine coolant elbow replaced. In addition a turbocharger feed coolant pipe will be replaced.
UK DVSADamaged front seat belt pre tensioner tube may have been installed on the seat belt retractor
Risk: Damaged front seat belt pretensioner tube may have been installed on the seat belt retractor.
Fix: Inspect the seat belt pretensioner tube for damage and if damage is identified the seat belt retractor will be replaced.
UK DVSAFront passenger seats missing occupancy detection sensor system
Risk: The front passenger seats were manufactured without the Occupancy Detection Sensor system (ODS) installed.
Fix: Fit the occupant detection sensor to the front passenger seat.
UK DVSAThe front seat track end stop bracket may be deformed
Risk: The front seat track end stop bracket may become deformed.
Fix: Replace the front seat tracks with a modified part.
UK DVSAThe fixings connecting the exhaust downpipe to the catalytic converter may not have been tightened to the specified torque value
Risk: The fixings connecting the exhaust downpipe to the catalytic converter may not have been tightened to the specified torque value.
Fix: Inspect the exhaust downpipe to catalytic converter joint. If the fixings are present torque them up to the required torque specification. If any fixings are missing they will be replaced and torqued to the required specification.
EU Safety GateCorrosion of the airbag connector may increase electrical resistance, which could prevent the driver airbag from deploying correctly in…Corrosion of the airbag connector may increase electrical resistance, which could prevent the driver airbag from deploying correctly in the event of an accident. This increases the risk of injury.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Importer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 10/07/2026
EU Safety GateThe driver airbag connectors in the steering column has shown that they may corrode.Over time, the airbag might not deploy as intended and therefore could increase the risk of injuries.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 23/06/2026
EU Safety GateA defective module has been installed in the high-voltage battery, which may cause it to overheat and lead to a fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 12/06/2026
EU Safety GateThe lower fixing on the accessory raised air intake and the body A-pillar on which it is mounted may not fit correctly.This can result in inadequate attachment force between the raised air intake and the vehicle. The air intake can become detached from the vehicle and fall into the road. This creates a risk of accident for the following traffic.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Other; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe engines may become blocked, which can cause external oil leakage or oil transfer into the air intake system, creating a risk of fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 16/02/2023
EU Safety GateThe coolant pump may malfunction and stop the coolant flow, causing the engine to overheat quickly and subsequently break an…The coolant pump may malfunction and stop the coolant flow, causing the engine to overheat quickly and subsequently break an engine-mounted plastic elbow in the cooling circuit. Coolant can leak onto the turbocharger's heat shield, creating a risk of fire in the engine compartment.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateDue to an error in the assembly process, the occupant detection system (ODS) of the front passenger seat had not been installed on the…Due to an error in the assembly process, the occupant detection system (ODS) of the front passenger seat had not been installed on the seat cushion. As a result, no audible signal sounds and no warning symbol will appear on the instrument panel to warn the driver when the front passenger seat is occupied but the seat belt is not fastened.This may increase the risk of not having the seat belt fastened in the event of an accident, increasing the risk of injury.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 05/10/2021
EU Safety GateWhen the manually adjustable front seats are moved as far forward as possible, for example, when moving the front seats forward rapidly to…When the manually adjustable front seats are moved as far forward as possible, for example, when moving the front seats forward rapidly to allow access to the second row seats, the front seat slide end supports may become deformed over time. As a result, the seats could be positioned too far and the driver may not be able to touch the pedals, increasing the risk of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 16/08/2021
EU Safety GateThe fixing nuts which connect the exhaust downpipe to the catalytic converter may not have been tightened correctly and could loosen over…The fixing nuts which connect the exhaust downpipe to the catalytic converter may not have been tightened correctly and could loosen over time.This may cause a hot exhaust gas leak into the engine bay, increasing the risk of fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe gasket fixings between the exhaust downpipe and the catalytic converter may not have been tightened to the correct torque and could…The gasket fixings between the exhaust downpipe and the catalytic converter may not have been tightened to the correct torque and could become loose over time.As a result, hot exhaust gases could leak into the engine compartment, increasing the risk of fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: 19/04/2021
How often does the 2021 Land Rover Defender fail its MOT?
Why they failed: the share of failed tests with at least one fault in each area (a test can fail on several). Cars first registered in 2021, tested in Great Britain in 2023; first registration is usually, but not always, the model year. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0.
What do 2021 Land Rover Defender owners report?
12 of the 42 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
The failure of the Daytime running light on Defenders is a known issue caused by a design flaw. It is not covered by warranty and costs over $3000 to replace.
The signature halo LED ring on the front headlight stopped working and has now failed completely, impairing headlight performance. Land Rover previously replaced one of these units when under warranty, but now refuse to fix the second one unless privately paid for (I am now out of warranty). This is a known and common issue and is clearly a safety concern and a consequence of a Land Rover design flaw. In my opinion, this should be a safety recall.
On my 2021 Land Rover Defender 110, the front Daytime Running Light (DRL) halo unit experienced a complete illumination failure due to an internal component defect. Because the LED DRL system is permanently sealed inside the headlamp assembly, replacing the failed light required a complete headlamp replacement costing nearly $3,000 out of pocket. Shortly after this initial repair, the DRL halo unit on the remaining original headlamp assembly experienced the exact same total failure. This is a known pattern defect across 2020–2023 Land Rover Defender models caused by internal heat degradation…
On XXX at approximately 8:10am I received this red warning on my vehicle: "OK to drive with caution. Hybrid system fault detected." I was driving my daughter to daycare at the time and didn't feel safe continuing to do that. My wife had to drive 25minutes to come and get us and safely continue our trip. No other issues with the vehicle prior to this incident. A month or two prior to that, I had received the recall notice regarding a failure of the DCDC converter and that an electrical fault warning could potentially happen. Well I got that warning and then my check engine light remained on. I…
The contact owns a 2021 Land Rover Defender. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V248000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2021 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds, the driver-side windshield exterior A-pillar trim detached from the vehicle and blocked the driver-side rearview mirror, obstructing rear visibility. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the highway, and the detached A-Pillar trim was completely removed from the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had previously occurred on two occasions, resulting in the replacement of both the driver-side and passenger-side A-pillar trims. The cause of the failure was not determined. The…
The contact owned a 2021 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the contact noticed a fuel odor while driving. The contact continued driving; however, the fuel odor had grown stronger. The contact arrived at the residence and inspected the vehicle, and became aware that the main fuel line had fractured, causing fuel to leak onto the engine. The dealer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the vehicle was no longer covered under warranty, and there was no recall on the VIN related to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact…
On or about August 7 or 8, my wife was driving our vehicle when it suddenly stalled and stopped running. Prior to this incident, we received a warning that the battery was low and that the vehicle needed to be started immediately. On August 9, I replaced the battery. That same day, we contacted the dealership where we purchased the vehicle and reported the issue. We were advised not to drive the car and instead have it towed to the dealership for inspection. In researching the problem, I found information about recall N599, which involves vehicles of this model year suddenly stalling. However…
a random crack appeared without incident in the front window and proceeded to progress across rapidly where repair was not an option.
The windshield of the vehicle had a crack form from the upper passenger corner down to the middle of the glass then turning towards the middle of the glass. It is about 16 inches long and the temperature was a modest 85 degrees F.
Since I got Certified Pre-Owned 2021 Defender 90 First Edition exactly a month ago I noticed at speeds higher than 65mph a crackling noise that sounded like sand hitting my windshield and assumed it was coming from the windshield wipers being "loose" since the noise came from both front sides. Today while driving on the highway at about 70mph I heard a loud noise coming from the front right side of the car and when I looked the right windshield pillar molding had broken off and was hanging by the bottom. I had to pull over immediately and saw that the molding had broken off from the pillar and…
Bought a used 2021 defender with 5k miles and at 12k miles my windshield while driving makes a huge popping sound and i look to see that it cracked right down the middle, startling me while driving at night. There was ABSOLUTELY nothing that hit the windshield. It was a clear night driving with no other drivers on the road nor anything above me that could have fallen out of the sky. Land rover wouldn't take responsibility had to pay 2k out of pocket to fix this at 12k miles only having the car 2 months.
2021 Land Rover Defender: questions owners ask
Is the 2021 Land Rover Defender reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Land Rover Defender; the most common categories were exterior lighting (16, 38.1%), visibility/wiper (12, 28.6%), electrical system (5, 11.9%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Land Rover Defender?
Across 42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are exterior lighting (38.1% of complaints), visibility/wiper (28.6% of complaints), electrical system (11.9% of complaints), structure (7.1% of complaints), back over prevention (2.4% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2021 Land Rover Defender have any recalls?
As of October 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2021 Land Rover Defender. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why do the headlights or taillights fail on my 2021 Land Rover Defender?
14 of the 42 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2021 Land Rover Defender (33.3%) describe headlights, taillights or brake lights failing or condensation in the lamps. One owner wrote: "The signature halo LED ring on the front headlight stopped working and has now failed completely, impairing headlight performance." (NHTSA complaint 11766706, September 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Defender
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA anonymised MOT results (Open Government Licence v3.0), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2021 only; combines NHTSA's entries for DEFENDER L663 110 and DEFENDER L663 90.