Land Rover Defender Complaints (2021)

38 consumer complaints on file.

#11552072October 26, 2023
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11546063September 22, 2023
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
This vehicle has been at the dealership for six weeks waiting on both headlamp replacements. Daytime running lights do not function. Intermittent headlamp function.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11545310September 19, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
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 the plastic plugs were broken and therefore not able to be re-attached. Luckily I had Duct Tape on the car and had to use it to be able to continue my trip home. When it broke off, the molding also made scratches on the pain of the surrounding side panel and hood, plus the black door molding. During the remainder of the trip, I noticed that the crackling noise had stopped coming from the right side (since I had taped it with duct tape on all sides) however it was still coming from the left side, which led to the obvious conclusion that the moldings were not properly sealed and when in higher speeds the wind was coming in and causing the noise, and eventually led to the right side breaking. I inspected the left side molding and noticed at close look scratches on the hood pain at the base of the molding, which indicates that it had either previously broken off like what just happened to me on the right side, or had been previously assessed for the noise and the scratches happened during the process. Now that I arrived home I did a Google search and found that this is a frequent issue that many other owners experienced, I am surprised a factory recall wasn't issued for this problem, as it is dangerous since it could lead to accidents, and that the inspection for Certified cars also didn't catch the issued and addressed it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11508583February 22, 2023
VISIBILITY/WIPER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11505757February 6, 2023
VISIBILITY/WIPER
6" hairline crack in windshield, no impact detected.. just appeared one morning.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11497834December 17, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Windshield has hairline and becomes 2 differnt hairlines after a small peeble hit it Now on my 3rd windshield it happened again another hailine crack that keeps growing Land rover does not want to be responsible
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11481788August 29, 2022
VISIBILITY/WIPER
The windshield spontaneously cracked from the middle of the pillar on the driver's side to the center of the windshield. No rock strikes.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11478479August 9, 2022
VISIBILITY/WIPER
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11471080June 27, 2022
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield crack from no none source, appears to be pressure related. Happened at highway speed. Reading Defender forums this has happened to many customers, some 2-3 times
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11470701June 23, 2022
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Windshield cracked for no reason. ie no chip caused by rock, etc. Happened while I was driving with no traffic.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11457497March 20, 2022
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Shortly after buying the car a small people hit the windshield while driving on the highway and broke the windshield right in the eyesight of the driver side. It was a little larger than a quarter in size and took 3 months for replacement due to back order. 2 weeks after the replacement the windshield spontaneously cracked while driving from the middle base of the windshield up and towards the passenger side about 20 inches long. Nothing hit the car, it just cracked. No heater or defrost was on. It took 6 months for replacement due to Land Rover ordering the wrong windshield and back orders. During this time the windshield got 3 more chips from pebbles/small rocks while driving. 2 weeks after this replacement a small rock hit the windshield on the driver side and chipped it about the size of a nickel. I am getting this filled tomorrow. This is clearly a defect with the windshield as I have had maybe 2 broken windshields in my life up to this point.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11455637March 7, 2022
VISIBILITY/WIPER
12 inch crack developed overnight. No signs of rock hit or any other impact.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11451131February 9, 2022
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Component: windshield Issue: under adverse temperature conditions ( e.g. high temp or low temp ) the windshield can develop a sudden crack, without any external impact. Conditions: above 95 deg F or below 30 deg F ; Status: vehicle could be stationary, or in motion; Hazard to occupants: Yes; Safety concern: yes, if the vehicle is in motion the size of the crack can develop very fast and create a catastrophic failure which may impact the occupants. JLR - fails even to acknowledge any issues and denies any design fault or responsibility.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11439152November 3, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2 cracked windshields, car has only 15K miles- TONS of Defender owners on FB groups and forums same- some one 4th and 5th windshields- current wait to new ones from UK is 2-4 months. Land Rover knows these are defective and won'y admit/recall, just passing this off to customer. A new windshield is $1800 a pop- people getting hit paying high deductible, getting pulled over, poor visibility, some have cracks so large that they can not operate their vehicle. Currently, I am in wait, no ETA for my 3rd new windshield- I have a large crack and 2 small chips from all separate incidents. Huge safety issue, bc cracks interfere with driver assist Dates of Cracks: Car has only 15K miles 1. May 29, 2021 2. August 18, 2021 People on New Defenders Group on Facebook have started survey for owners with the problem - and forums have tons of issues. Imagine all the owners who have only had one crack and just think it's bad luck and don't realize there's an issue?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11438618October 29, 2021
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
The contact owns a 2021 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that the windshield cracked without impact, causing electrical issues. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed but not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and told the contact that they were unable to assist. The failure mileage was approximately 1,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11435049September 30, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11433619September 20, 2021
VISIBILITY/WIPER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11424416July 12, 2021
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
We have two 2021 Defender 110 SE North American Specification models and these do not have the smoked tail lights as are on another recall. When subjected to a bright light, the entire assembly of tail, brake and turn signals fails on one side of the vehicle. This is also repeatable on the rear lights on both left and right sides of both vehicles. Since the current recall only appears to cover those vehicles with smoked tail lights the recall needs to be extended to all models.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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