2020 Land Rover Defender problems: recalls, complaints and whether this is a year to avoid
The 2020 Land Rover Defender has 55 owner complaints on record with NHTSA. 8 recall entries cover this year.
Which recalls cover the 2020?
Exterior Lighting
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.
Free remedy: 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.
Equipment
The owner's manual incorrectly states that the third-row seating is equipped with LATCH child seat restraints with top tethers.
Free remedy: 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.
Power Train
The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) may unexpectedly switch off while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in an engine stall with no warning.
Free remedy: 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.
Take the campaign number to any franchised Land Rover dealer. Recall repairs are free with no mileage or ownership limit, and they follow the car rather than the owner, so a used 2020 with an unrepaired campaign is a free repair you can claim. How recalls work.
Recall text is abridged from the NHTSA record. Search the campaign number at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the full notice and affected VIN ranges.
What do owners report on the Land Rover Defender?
Across every Land Rover Defender year, not the 2020 alone — NHTSA does not split component totals by model year.
- Exterior Lighting — 17 reports
- Steering — 8 reports
- Electrical System — 7 reports
- Visibility/Wiper — 5 reports
Which other Land Rover Defender years should you compare?
2022 Land Rover Defender → · All Land Rover Defender years
If you are deciding between years, the Land Rover Defender page carries the full run with the component breakdown. Before money changes hands, run the VIN for open recalls and read the inspection checklist — ten minutes in the seller’s driveway finds most of what matters.
Check a 2020 before you commit
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