Most common 2025 Land Rover Defender problems
Share of the 13 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Land Rover Defender complaints by model year
2025 Land Rover Defender recalls (1)
Air bags › Frontal
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.
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.
What 2025 Land Rover Defender owners say
Windows, wipers & sunroof
I am now on my 4th windshield on my 2025 Land Rover Defender 110. I have had 5 chips/cracks on these windshields. Only 1 crack was from a rock that you might expect glass breakage, the others were all caused by small pebble sized road gravel that was more like insect splatter. Safelite was repairing 1 very small chip and the windshield cracked during this common repair. Clearly the provided glass is substandard and should be upgraded for all Land Rover Defenders. I now never drive this car without the thought of another windshield break that's about to occur.
I am now on my 4th windshield on my 2025 Land Rover Defender 110. I have had 5 chips/cracks on these windshields. Only 1 crack was from a rock that you might expect glass breakage, the others were all caused by small pebble sized road gravel that was more like insect splatter. Safelite was repairing 1 very small chip and the windshield cracked during this common repair. Clearly the provided glass is substandard and should be upgraded for all Land Rover Defenders. I now never drive this car without the thought of another windshield break that's about to occur.
Transmission & drivetrain
While driving on Back Rd in New Hampshire at approximately 30 mph on Saturday, Feb 14, the vehicle suddenly lost power steering assist and simultaneously shifted into neutral. I received warning messages and immediately lost propulsion. Luckily, there was no traffic on the road with me, but that is not always the case on this particular road. I had to manually steer the vehicle without power assist and muscle it to the side of the roadway. The vehicle was disabled in the road and required towing. The vehicle has approximately 5,400 miles and is a 2025 model year, purchased in late June of 2025. The dealer has indicated the likely cause is a failed DC-DC converter, and I have been told the part is on backorder with extended delays. …
The transfer case on my new 2025 LR Defender 130 went out at 5,000 miles. This unit distributes power to the axles. I was told that if I continue to drive it, it could seize up, possibly leading to a loss of control of the vehicle. Land Rover is aware that they installed a bad batch of transfer cases on their new vehicles. They have the batch number(s), and have apparently issued a 'service bulletin,' but not a recall. Nor did they contact owners to let them know of this problem proactively. Given the potential danger in the failure of this unit, a recall is the only safe option.
2025 Land Rover Defender engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 18 / 20 / 19 |
| 3.0L 6-cyl turbo supercharged hybrid | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 18 / 20 / 19 |
| 4.4L 8-cyl turbo hybrid | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 15 / 19 / 17 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl supercharged | 8-speed automatic | 4WD | 15 / 19 / 16 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2025 Land Rover Defender a good car?
Based on 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2025 Defender rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Defender at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2025 Land Rover Defender?
The windows, wipers & sunroof — 7 complaints, 54% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (3) and electrical system (2).
How many recalls does the 2025 Land Rover Defender have?
There is 1 recall for the 2025 Land Rover Defender, the most recent from June 12, 2026 (frontal). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Land Rover Defender?
Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2023, 2022 and 2021. See the full Land Rover Defender years comparison.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.