2023 Land Rover Defender 110: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 70 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, wipers and visibility, and steering. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2023- Owner complaints
- 70
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes reported
- 0
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2023 Land Rover Defender 110: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/3
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
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.
Which Defender 110 is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2023 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 |
| 5.0L 8-cylGas | 4WD | 16 mpg |
| 3.0L 6-cylHybrid | 4WD | 20 mpg |
- The 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 was sold in three versions. Confirm which one this is from the window sticker, the engine cover, or the VIN report before you compare prices.
- On the hybrid, watch for the car moving off on electric power at low speed and for any hybrid system warning on the dash.
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Defender 110 that averages well under the EPA 16 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2023 Land Rover Defender 110, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Electrical31No crashes
The car shuts down suddenly while driving, and dealers trace it to a failed DC/DC converter in the mild hybrid system. A warning such as "Stop safely, electrical fault detected" appears. Then charging, power steering and stability control fail, the transmission can drop into neutral, and the car dies, sometimes at highway speed. Some cars cannot be jump-started and need a tow. Reported failures fall between 42K and 61,000 miles. Replacement converters are widely back-ordered, with waits of weeks to months. Smaller reports cover a cluster that dims at dusk and a media screen that goes blank.
Wipers and visibility12No crashes
Windshields crack easily. Some cracks spread from tiny rock chips, and others appear with no impact at all. Glass splits while parked overnight, while the car warms up in cold weather, or after defroster use, and cracks often run across the driver's line of sight. Several owners report replacing the windshield two or three times within months, and some replacement glass cracked again within days. Owners say service centers report repairing many windshields on this model. The risk is a sudden loss of forward visibility, plus repeated replacement costs.
Steering7No crashes
Power steering fails without warning, either while driving or right after startup. Drivers see "power steering resistance reduced" or "lane assist not available" messages. Then the steering turns heavy or lane keeping fights the wheel. In other cases the wheel will not turn at all after the car starts and later frees itself. Some reports tie the loss of steering and brake assist to a DC/DC converter failure that is waiting on back-ordered parts. Losing steering at speed is a clear crash risk, and several cars were left stranded and had to be towed.
Transmission5No crashes
The transmission shifts itself from drive into neutral when the engine restarts after an auto start-stop cycle. Drivers notice only when they press the gas. One report describes the car rolling backward on a hill before the brake could be reapplied. Owners say dealers point to a bulletin but offer no fix beyond switching off start-stop on every drive. The other reports describe DC/DC converter failures that bring an electrical fault warning and a loss of charging, putting cars at risk of shutting down on the freeway.
Engine5No crashes
Coolant leaks from the turbo lines. Dealers fix it by replacing two O-rings and a bypass hose assembly. If the leak goes unrepaired, the temperature gauge climbs toward red and an overheating warning appears, which risks engine damage. One owner also cites a fire risk. Other reports repeat the start-stop shift into neutral at stoplights, sometimes many times in a nearly new car. Some owners also describe sudden stalls with an electrical or emissions fault, including in busy traffic. One owner was told they would have to pay for a coolant leak repair.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Defender 110 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
DC/DC converter failed on the 2023 Land Rover Defender about 2000 miles out of warranty. The parts are on back order with no ETA because so many LR Defenders are having this issue. This can cause your car to die while driving.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2026
DC Converter for Hybrid system malfunction with complete battery discharge rendering the vehicle inoperable while utilizing. Lucky that the occurrence occurred in low traffic area! Unable to move vehicle onto flat bed truck because of electrical controlled gears. Unable to secure vehicle because of electrical controlled door locks. Replacement product on back order -estimate at least 6 weeks.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2026
Took my car to the dealership to have the windshield replaced due to a rock chip. Driving home on the freeway with the new windshield installed, I noticed a new crack moving across the windshield. I had on driven only 45 miles. Contacted Landrover and was told it was just an unfortunate chance event. I previously had a windshield replaced for the same reason. I now need my 3rd windshield in 1 1/2 years
Filed with NHTSA, August 2025
Front windshield stress fractured after being parked in cold weather following a long drive with the windshield defroster on. It has been replaced and is not available for inspection. Safety was put at risk due to an obstruction in visibility Problem has not been reproduced or confirmed, but anecdotally seems to be a frequent occurrence based on internet forum posts Vehicle has not been inspected No warnings or other indications of failure
Filed with NHTSA, April 2023
Lane assistance and power steering failed. There was no warning light or alarm. The warning light in the dashboard came on reading “Lane assistance not available” and “power steering resistance reduced” immediately when both systems failed. We were able to safely park, no one was injured. The car has been at the service center at the dealership for 10 days.
Filed with NHTSA, December 2023
Dec 6. Started vehicle and steering wheel would nor move. All functions of car worked. Fwd, rev, engine running , lights all worked. Turned off and restarted 3 times and steering wheel still not moving. All of a sudden wheel became free. I worry now if this could happen while driving. Light did come on saying "lain assist not available"
Filed with NHTSA, December 2023
On several occasions my car has shifted from Drive into Neutral while I was at a light and the vehicle had shut itself off as part of the Intelligent Start Stop feature. I see that this same issue has been happening to several other Owners who have reported this to the NHTSA. Ironically it seems as though all these vehicles were purchased in Houston TX.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2023
Vehicle makes uncommanded shifts from drive into neutral when the engine restarts after stopping during an auto start-stop cycle. Driver has to manually re-engage drive after this happens.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2022
How the 2023 compares with other Defender 110 years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2023 has the most owner complaints of the 5 Defender 110 years we cover, about 2.4 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Electrical317
- Wipers and visibility127
- Steering72
- Transmission51
- Engine50
Recalls to confirm (7)
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.
25V016000Backup cameraJan 2025
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.".
Risk: A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the touchscreen software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2025. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N972.
24E102000EquipmentDec 2024
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.
24V450000EngineJun 2024
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.
Risk: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the filter housing, oil filter, and o-rings, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2024. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N908.
23V789000BrakesNov 2023
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.
Risk: Detached brake calipers can reduce braking ability and cause structural wheel damage, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will reinstall the brake calipers, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 18, 2024. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N848.
23V137000Child SeatMar 2023
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.
Risk: A child seat with reduced strength may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the third-row seat frame and components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 24, 2023. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N768.
23V044000EngineFeb 2023
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.
22V523000Seat beltsJul 2022
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.
Risk: Improperly restrained occupants have an increased risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N720.
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2023 owner complaints, side by side
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