2020 Land Rover Defender: raw data

Every record we hold for this vehicle, as plain tables, with nothing added. The consumer page shows the same records with the maintenance schedule, price ranges and nearby shops around them.

vehicle2020 / land-rover / defender
known issues8 clusters (reviewed 2026-08-28)
complaints55 on file (2020-08-13 → 2026-09-11)
recalls7
investigations0
fars0 occupant deaths, crash years 2010-2024 (legacy-code)
indexedyes
licenseCC BY 4.0 (derived)

Known Issues clusters all years →

Daytime running light and headlight assembly failureEXTERIOR LIGHTING12 complaints2024-01 → 2026-08defender-2020-drl-headlight-failure
  • 11759119 Our 2020 Defender's halo light on the driver's side has become inoperable & poses a safety hazard. After researching this issue, it appears that this has been reported widely online
  • 11756348 I own a 2020 Land Rover Defender 110 HSE, and both of the vehicle’s daytime running lights (DRLs) have failed. The first DRL failed at approximately 63,000 miles, and the second DRL failed at approximately 68,000 miles
  • 11746088 I own a 2020 Land Rover Defender and have experienced a failure of the LED halo ring/daytime running light within the headlight assembly. The LED ring stopped functioning even though the headlight assembly has not been damaged, modified, or involved in any accident
Rear lights disabling when exposed to bright lightEXTERIOR LIGHTING3 complaints2021-07 → 2021-08defender-2020-rear-light-blackout
  • 11427376 Much like the current recall N598 for the smoked rear lights. My rear lights (standard P300) red lensed lights can be turned off when a bright light is shone on the rear red lenses. Not only does it turn off the lights, it also disables the brake lights
  • 11424781 The rear lights of the 2020 Defender 110 go out when hit with a bright light from behind. The issue can be duplicated with a flashlight as well
Narrow headlight beam pattern limiting turn visibilityEXTERIOR LIGHTING3 complaints2020-10 → 2023-05defender-2020-narrow-headlight-beam
  • 11522954 The "cone of light "projected forward by the headlights is too narrow. When turning right or left from one dark road onto another dark road, one cannot determine if it is safe to turn
  • 11374036 THE CONE OF LIGHT PROJECTED FORWARD BY THE HEADLIGHTS IS TOO NARROW. WHEN TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT FROM ONE DARK ROAD ONTO ANOTHER DARK ROAD, ONE CANNOT DETERMINE IF IT IS SAFE TO TURN
Windshield cracking without impactVISIBILITY/WIPER7 complaints2021-09 → 2026-02defender-2020-windshield-cracking
  • 11717917 We have had our vehicle for 3 years and had to replace our windshield twice from random cracks starting from the exterior windshield where it meets the body of the care
  • 11544299 Windshield cracking for no reason Many occurrences in owners forum. Class action lawsuit filed. Manfature doing nothing. Windshields need to be redesigned
  • 11433648 My windshield cracked with no apparent strike with under 5K miles on the vehicle. Researching this, LOTS of people experience broken windshields on Defenders and Land Rover products
Exterior trim panel detachment at highway speedSTRUCTURE4 complaints2020-08 → 2025-01defender-2020-a-pillar-trim-detachment
  • 11634573 2020 Land Rover Defender with air intake snorkel was detached from the vehicle driving down the highway during a windy day. I see that Land Rover has recalled the snorkel for 2023 and 2024 models for that very reason
  • 11484723 Driver's side A Pillar trim came loose at 75 mph on freeway and blew off the side of the car. Also pulled out mounting bolt for A Pillar Trim
  • 11384926 ON THE 2020 LAND ROVER DEFENDER, A KNOWN PROBLEM IS A RATTLING SOUND OF THE PASSENGER SIDE A-PILLAR. LAND ROVER POSTED A BULLETIN ON HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE AND I BROUGHT IT FOR A FIX IN NOVEMBER, BUT THE SOUND PERSISTED
48V hybrid DC-DC converter failureELECTRICAL SYSTEM3 complaints2026-01 → 2026-07defender-2020-dc-dc-converter-failure
  • 11752326 My 2020 Land Rover Defender 48V Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) experienced a check engine light and hybrid electrical failure
  • 11712928 The DC to DC converter for the Hybrid 48v Electrical system has failed. This puts the vehicle at risk of a fire. The part is backordered for a significant amount of time, and there are many others in this situation
  • 11709603 The DC/DC converter is failing on the vehicles regularly. This results in the vehicle losing power and shutting down while driving
Engine stalling or shutting down while drivingENGINE6 complaints2020-09 → 2026-04defender-2020-engine-stall-shutdown
  • 11733249 While I was driving, the vehicle shut down unexpectedly. I was sliding sideways across the road on ice on the side of a cliff and luckily was able to stop the vehicle before going off the side of the mountain
  • 11463932 Engine light came on while at a stop light, engine faltered completely and car stalled. Would not restart
  • 11353875 WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEEDS ON AN INTERSTATE, THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ACTIVATED. BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER THE AIR CONDITIONER I'LL PROBABLY BEGIN TO STOP WORKING
Steering assist and brake control malfunctionsSTEERING8 complaints2020-08 → 2026-08defender-2020-steering-brake-control-loss
  • 11755796 Driving and the steering assistance warning goes off cuts off my cruise control and my lane keep assistance causing my car deceleration on highway promptly while going 70 mph
  • 11429431 The contact owns a 2020 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, she lost control of the vehicle and crashed into two mailboxes but the vehicle kept driving down a curved road onto the left lane. The brakes had failed to engage
  • 11349162 WHILE DRIVING OUR ONE-MONTH OLD RANGE ROVER DEFENDER 110SE, THE BRAKES FAILED WITH NO WARNING

NHTSA complaints (summary) all years →

countearliest_datelatest_datecrash_flaggedfire_flaggedtop_components
552020-08-132026-09-1111EXTERIOR LIGHTING:19; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12; STEERING:8; ENGINE:7; VISIBILITY/WIPER:6

Recalls all years →

campaign_numberreport_received_datecomponentsummaryconsequenceremedy
21V43500008/06/2021EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTSJaguar 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.Turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights that fail to illuminate can reduce visibility to other drivers and increase the risk of a crash.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.
21V58400029/07/2021EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUALJaguar 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."Incorrect child restraint information may result in a child seat being improperly secured, which can increase the risk of injury in a crash.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.
21V42400003/06/2021POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)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.An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.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.
23V04400002/02/2023ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATIONJaguar 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.An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.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.
24E10200006/12/2024EQUIPMENTJaguar 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.A detached raised air intake can fall off the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.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.
26V24800017/04/2026ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTERJaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar and Land Rover Discovery, 2020-2023 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, 2019-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Range Rover, 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Defender, 2021-2024 Jaguar F-Pace, and 2021-2022 Jaguar E-Pace mild-hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs.) The DC-DC converter can fail due to an internal fault in the boost control microchip. A failure of the DC-DC converter will result in a loss of 12-Volt system charging and can lead to complete loss of drive power and exterior lighting.A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.The remedy for this recall is currently under development. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 17, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's numbers for this recall are D126 and H575.
26V38900012/06/2026AIR BAGS:FRONTALJaguar 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.An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.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.

Investigations all years →

none listed

FARS occupant deaths all years →

crash_yearsoccupant_deathsmatch_typevpic_recovered
2010-20240legacy-code0

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road.

Cite this

Derived data is CC BY 4.0. Link back to the page you used. Text and BibTeX below.

Wrench.Pro (2026). 2020 Land Rover Defender vehicle data [dataset]. https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2020/land-rover/defender
@misc{wrenchpro_2020_land_rover_defender_2026,
  author = {Wrench.Pro},
  title = {Wrench.Pro vehicle data: 2020 Land Rover Defender},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {\url{https://www.wrench.pro/data/vehicles/2020/land-rover/defender}},
  note = {Derived from NHTSA public records. CC BY 4.0.}
}

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