Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2026 Land Rover Defender. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Driver's Air Bag May Not Deploy in a Crash
- Summary
- Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Land Rover Defender, 2021-2026 Discovery, and 2022-2026 Range Rover vehicles. The driver’s air bag clockspring connector may corrode, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended.
- Consequence
- An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will apply a protective lubricant gel to the driver’s air bag connector terminals, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 3, 2026. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is D120.
Fuel Tank May Leak
- Summary
- Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2026 Land Rover Defender vehicles. The fuel tank was improperly manufactured with walls that are too thin.
- Consequence
- In the event of a crash, an improperly manufactured fuel tank may leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed June 19, 2026. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is D127.
Insufficiently Welded Seat Belt Anchorage Bracket
- Summary
- Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2026 Land Rover Defender vehicles. The third-row lower seat belt anchorage bracket may have an insufficient weld stud.
- Consequence
- A seat belt assembly with an insufficient weld may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the third-row lower seat belt anchorage bracket or the weld-stud on the bracket, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 19, 2026. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's numbers for this recall are D098 and D113.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (6)
6 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 33.3% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 33.3% |
| Air bags | 1 | 16.7% |
| Engine | 1 | 16.7% |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 16.7% |
| Power train | 1 | 16.7% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 16.7% |
How 2026 compares with other Defender years
Best and worst Defender years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | 3 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | 55 | 7 |
| 2021 | 42 | 9 |
| 2022 | 75 | 6 |
| 2023 | 82 | 9 |
| 2024 | 25 | 7 |
| 2025 | 13 | 1 |
| 2026 | 6 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 20 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $4,100
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 452 g/mi
- EPA class
- Standard Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 20 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | 4-Wheel Drive | 18 / 22 / 20 | $4,100 | 452 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | 4-Wheel Drive | 18 / 22 / 20 | $4,100 | 453 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | 4-Wheel Drive | 18 / 23 / 20 | $4,100 | 448 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic | 4-Wheel Drive | 18 / 21 / 19 | $4,350 | 465 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | 4-Wheel Drive | 17 / 21 / 19 | $4,350 | 468 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | 4-Wheel Drive | 17 / 19 / 18 | $4,550 | 500 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | 4-Wheel Drive | 16 / 20 / 18 | $4,550 | 491 |
| 4.4 L 8-cyl · 8-speed automatic | 4-Wheel Drive | 15 / 19 / 17 | $4,850 | 534 |
| 3 L 6-cyl · 8-speed automatic | 4-Wheel Drive | 17 / 18 / 17 | $4,850 | 512 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 8-speed automatic | 4-Wheel Drive | 15 / 19 / 16 | $5,150 | 550 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 8-speed automatic | 4-Wheel Drive | 14 / 18 / 16 | $5,150 | 574 |
| 5 L 8-cyl · 8-speed automatic | 4-Wheel Drive | 14 / 19 / 16 | $5,150 | 567 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2026 Defender for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2026 Land Rover Defender FAQ
How many recalls does the 2026 Land Rover Defender have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 26V389000 (air bag), 26V263000 (fuel system), 26V163000 (seat belt). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2026 Land Rover Defender problems?
Owners filed 6 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (2), Unknown or other (2), Air bags (1) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2026 Land Rover Defender get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 8-speed automatic version at 18 city, 22 highway and 20 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2026 Defender compare with other years?
Among the 2001–2021 Land Rover Defender model years at least five years old, the 2001 drew the fewest complaints (1) and the 2020 the most (55). The 2026 drew 6. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.