Owners have filed 32 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the wipers and visibility, exterior lights, and electrical. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2021Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2021 Land Rover Defender 110: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/4
Engine off, key in hand0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/3
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Nearby years usually share most parts, so their problems are worth checking on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2021 Land Rover Defender 110. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cylGas | 4WD | 18 mpg |
| 3.0L 6-cylHybrid | 4WD | 19 mpg |
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Windshield cracking
12,000–15,000 miles
NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Land Rover Defender 110, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
The windshield cracks with no impact, while parked, overnight, or at highway speed. Drivers describe a sudden pop, then a crack running from a corner or pillar toward the center, often 12 to 20 inches long and spreading fast. Some reports link it to extreme heat or cold, above 95 or below 30 degrees. Some owners are on their second or third windshield. Cracks block the driver's view and can interfere with cameras and lane departure assist. Replacement glass is often back ordered for months, and owners say Land Rover denies responsibility.
The headlamps lose their halo daytime running lights, and sometimes the main beam, on one or both sides. No warning light appears, so the failure often goes unnoticed until someone points it out. Repair means replacing the whole headlamp assembly, with quotes in the thousands and frequent warranty denials. Back orders can leave the car at the dealer for weeks. Other reports describe the tail, brake, and turn signals on one side failing under bright light, and an instrument cluster that dims too far to read at dusk and dawn.
The engine can stall while driving after a low-battery warning tells the driver to start the vehicle immediately. A sudden stall in traffic carries a real crash risk. A separate filing reports a DC/DC converter failure. The third complaint repeats the headlamp problem: the halo daytime running light fails, and the dealer replaces the entire headlamp assembly for thousands of dollars once the factory warranty has expired. Only three reports fall here, so the pattern is thin.
The passenger-side windshield pillar trim works loose at highway speed. Air gets under the weather stripping and makes a tapping, flapping, or crackling noise against the glass. In the worse case the molding breaks off its plastic clips and hangs from the pillar at about 70 mph, so the driver has to pull over. Broken clips mean the trim cannot simply be pressed back on. Only two reports exist, but both point to the same A-pillar area.
Excerpts from complaints Defender 110 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
2 complete windshield replacements needed since taking delivery June 2021. This incident was a small chip from a rock on the road that then spread across bottom half of drivers side windshield. These incidents are not isolated, seems other owners are reporting the same thing on this vehicle.
Filed with NHTSA, August 2022
Problem statement: Windshield Issue: The windshield developed a sudden crack while the vehicle was stationary, with no external impact or action Conditions: stationary, outside temp: 97 deg Impacting: visibility and safety features such as cameras, sensor, and lane departure assist
Filed with NHTSA, September 2021
Headlamps are faulty. Replaced the drivers side at almost the end of the 49k miles and after about another 900 miles, the passenger side went out. There is a defect with these lights and they’re back ordered through the UK. Police have told me that I have a headlight out and there is nothing I can do about this.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2023
Ever since I purchased my Defender back in 2021, the instrument cluster automatically dims. Usually when at dusk or dawn, the cluster dims so much, it is impossible to read with sunglasses, and very poorly lit without sunglasses. I have the dimmer switch set to the brightest setting, but it still automatically dims despite being set to the brightest.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2023
The passenger A-Pillar on the vehicle is not secure tight enough to the vehicle or the windshield allowing air to pass underneath the weather stripping that lies on the windshield. When driving at highway speeds this allows the air turbulence to create a flapping or tapping noise on the windshield caused by the weather strpping.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2021
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2021 ranks third for owner complaints among 5 Defender 110 years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Recall repairs are free at any Land Rover dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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.
Risk: A detached raised air intake can fall off the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
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.
Risk: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2021 Range Rover, 2022 Range Rover Sport, 2020-2021 Range Rover Velar, Discovery Sport, 2020-2022 Discovery, and Defender vehicles. The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly.
Risk: An unsecured child restraint system can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed October 20, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N630.
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.".
Risk: Incorrect child restraint information may result in a child seat being improperly secured, which can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: 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.
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2021 Defender 90 vehicles equipped with manually-adjustable front seats. The front seat track end-stop bracket may become deformed, which could prevent the seat from locking into place.
Risk: A seat that is not properly locked into place can move unintentionally during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front seat tracks, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 28, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N609.
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.
Risk: Turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights that fail to illuminate can reduce visibility to other drivers and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
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.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Cars shoppers compare with the Land Rover Defender 110, with their own 2021 checklists.
2021 owner complaints, side by side
