Last updated: 2026-10-10

2023 Land Rover Defender 110
RELIABILITY SCORE: 57/100 (MIXED)

2023 Land Rover Defender 110 Reliability Report

The 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 has mixed reliability, with sudden electrical shutdowns from a failed DC/DC converter as its main problem.

Recalls

7

Complaints

70

Complaint Rate

26.5per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

N/A

Annual Fuel Cost

$3,850–$4,300

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity56/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs40/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact63/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity85/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Caution

Weakest of six scored years, with sudden shutdowns from DC/DC converter failures and more complaints and recalls than the 2022 and 2024 models.

Top Issues to Watch

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (31)
  • VISIBILITY/WIPER (12)
  • STEERING (7)

Should You Buy the 2023 Land Rover Defender 110?

Approach this model year with caution. Its standing is mixed, well below average among 2023 SUVs, and it is the weakest of six scored Defender 110 years. Owners filed 70 complaints, and the 2022 model rates about the same. The 2024 rates better, with 16 complaints, though it has had less time to collect them.

The biggest issue is sudden shutdown. Dealers trace it to a failed DC/DC converter in the mild hybrid system. A message such as "Stop safely, electrical fault detected" appears, then charging, power steering and stability control fail, and the car can die at highway speed. Reported failures fall between 42K and 61,000 miles, and replacement converters are back-ordered for weeks to months. Windshields also crack easily, sometimes with no impact. Federal recall records list 7 recalls, touching brakes, engine cooling, structure, seat belts and back over prevention.

Ask for repair records showing whether the converter has been replaced, and confirm every recall was completed. If you want a newer Defender 110, look at the 2024.

Compared to the 2024 Land Rover Defender 110, which scored 7 points higher. See also the 2022 Land Rover Defender 110 for an earlier comparison.

Pros

    Cons

    • −Below-average reliability score
    • −Above-average recall count
    • −Above-average complaint rate for SUV
    • −ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Car shuts down suddenly while driving, and dealers trace it to a failed DC/DC... (31 complaints)

    Compare 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 With

    Common Problem Categories

    Safety

    LOW RISK
    • 7 manufacturer recalls issued

    Other

    HIGH RISK
    • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (31)
    • VISIBILITY/WIPER (12)

    See detailed breakdown by component ↓

    Recall Overview

    7

    recalls on record

    The 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 has 7 recalls on record, which is above average. A high count can flag multiple component concerns, though it also shows the manufacturer is actively addressing known issues.

    NHTSA.gov →

    Complaint Breakdown

    26.5

    per 10,000 sold

    Segment avg: 11.3

    LowAvgHigh
    Moderate

    Safety Incidents

    0

    Crashes

    0

    Fires

    0

    Injuries

    0

    Deaths

    Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

    2023 Land Rover Defender 110 Recall Details

    7 recalls have been issued for the 2023 Land Rover Defender 110. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

    25V0160002025-01-16

    BACK OVER PREVENTION, EQUIPMENT

    Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2023 Discovery Sport, 2023-2024 Defender, and 2023 Range Rover Evoque vehicles. The touchscreen in the center console may go blank at vehicle startup, resulting in the rearview camera image not displaying as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Consequence

    A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    Dealers will update the touchscreen software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 3, 2025. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N972.

    24E1020002024-12-06

    EQUIPMENT, STRUCTURE

    Jaguar 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.

    Consequence

    A detached raised air intake can fall off the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy

    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.

    24V4500002024-06-17

    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Defender, 2024 Discovery, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and Range Rover Velar vehicles. The oil filter housing can crack and leak oil into the engine compartment.

    Consequence

    An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

    Remedy

    Dealers will replace the filter housing, oil filter, and o-rings, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 27, 2024. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N908.

    VIN History Report

    Buying a used 2023 Land Rover Defender 110? Check its history first

    Electrical system problems lead owner complaints about the 2023 Land Rover Defender 110, and 7 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

    No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

    • Accidents
    • Open Recalls
    • Title History
    • Odometer Rollback

    2023 Land Rover Defender 110 NHTSA Safety Ratings

    Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

    Gas Powertrain

    Rollover risk: 0.0%

    Safety Technologies

    Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Not Available)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Not Available)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Not Available)Seat Belt Reminder System (Not Available)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Not Available)Additional Air Bags (None)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Standard)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)
    View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

    Land Rover Defender 110Repair Costs & Maintenance

    Maintenance Rating

    2Maintenance rating: 2 out of 5

    Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

    Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

    MPG & Annual Running Costs

    Gas

    16–18 MPG

    Fuel cost: $3,850–$4,300/yr

    Fuel only

    14–17 city / 19–20 hwy MPG

    Hybrid

    20 MPG

    Fuel cost: $3,450/yr

    Fuel only

    18 city / 23 hwy MPG

    Based on EPA fuel-cost estimates. Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2023 EPA label cycle.

    Gas trims
    TrimDriveTrans.CityHwyCombFuel Cost
    Defender 110 2.0L 4-cyl4-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S8)172018$3,850
    Defender 110 5.0L 8-cyl4-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S8)141916$4,300
    Hybrid trims
    TrimDriveTrans.CityHwyCombFuel Cost
    Defender 110 MHEV 3.0L 6-cyl4-Wheel DriveAutomatic (S8)182320$3,450

    Used Buying Checklist

    Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2023 Land Rover Defender 110.

    • Ask for service records showing whether the DC/DC converter has failed or been replaced, and when.

    • Start the car cold and watch for any "Electrical fault detected" or low battery warning.

    • Inspect the windshield edges for chips and cracks, and ask how many times the glass has been replaced.

    • At a stoplight with auto start-stop active, confirm the car stays in drive when the engine restarts.

    • After startup, turn the wheel fully left and right and watch for power steering or lane assist warnings.

    • Check for coolant residue near the turbo and confirm the coolant level is full.

    • Watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive for any climb toward red.

    • Confirm the ADAS sensor cover above the rear-view mirror is firmly attached.

    2023 Land Rover Defender 110 Common Problems by Component

    70 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

    31
    12
    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (31)VISIBILITY/WIPER (12)STEERING (7)POWER TRAIN (5)ENGINE (5)UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3)SUSPENSION (1)ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (1)Other (5)

    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    31 complaints

    The car shuts down suddenly while driving, and dealers trace it to a failed DC/DC converter in the mild hybrid system. A warning such as "Stop safely, electrical fault detected" appears. Then charging, power steering and stability control fail, the transmission can drop into neutral, and the car dies, sometimes at highway speed. Some cars cannot be jump-started and need a tow. Reported failures fall between 42K and 61,000 miles. Replacement converters are widely back-ordered, with waits of weeks to months. Smaller reports cover a cluster that dims at dusk and a media screen that goes blank.

    31 complaints total

    VISIBILITY/WIPER

    12 complaints

    Windshields crack easily. Some cracks spread from tiny rock chips, and others appear with no impact at all. Glass splits while parked overnight, while the car warms up in cold weather, or after defroster use, and cracks often run across the driver's line of sight. Several owners report replacing the windshield two or three times within months, and some replacement glass cracked again within days. Owners say service centers report repairing many windshields on this model. The risk is a sudden loss of forward visibility, plus repeated replacement costs.

    12 complaints total

    STEERING

    7 complaints

    Power steering fails without warning, either while driving or right after startup. Drivers see "power steering resistance reduced" or "lane assist not available" messages. Then the steering turns heavy or lane keeping fights the wheel. In other cases the wheel will not turn at all after the car starts and later frees itself. Some reports tie the loss of steering and brake assist to a DC/DC converter failure that is waiting on back-ordered parts. Losing steering at speed is a clear crash risk, and several cars were left stranded and had to be towed.

    7 complaints total
    POWER TRAIN (5 complaints)

    POWER TRAIN

    5 complaints

    The transmission shifts itself from drive into neutral when the engine restarts after an auto start-stop cycle. Drivers notice only when they press the gas. One report describes the car rolling backward on a hill before the brake could be reapplied. Owners say dealers point to a bulletin but offer no fix beyond switching off start-stop on every drive. The other reports describe DC/DC converter failures that bring an electrical fault warning and a loss of charging, putting cars at risk of shutting down on the freeway.

    5 complaints total
    ENGINE (5 complaints)

    ENGINE

    5 complaints

    Coolant leaks from the turbo lines. Dealers fix it by replacing two O-rings and a bypass hose assembly. If the leak goes unrepaired, the temperature gauge climbs toward red and an overheating warning appears, which risks engine damage. One owner also cites a fire risk. Other reports repeat the start-stop shift into neutral at stoplights, sometimes many times in a nearly new car. Some owners also describe sudden stalls with an electrical or emissions fault, including in busy traffic. One owner was told they would have to pay for a coolant leak repair.

    5 complaints total
    UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3 complaints)

    UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    3 complaints

    These reports repeat the windshield cracking problem. The glass splits with no impact or spreads after small rock hits, and one owner replaced it twice in 4 months. A separate report describes the cover over the ADAS sensors above the rear-view mirror detaching and falling into the driver's area. The owner says it caused a loss of control and that the cover had come loose once before without incident.

    3 complaints total
    SUSPENSION (1 complaints)

    SUSPENSION

    1 complaint
    2026-02-28

    While driving the dashboard suddenly showed a message saying Battery Charging Fault error” a few minutes later the car stopped driving while I was on a busy freeway. It had no power and it displayed several messages saying suspension system is disabled, battery issue, cameras disabled. I had try to navigate my rolling car to a side lane to call roadside assistance. It was a very dangerous incident and needs to be addressed. Land Rover in White Plains NY, diagnosed my vehicle saying the Dc to Dc converter needs to be replaced and they don’t have any in stock. They also mentioned they have 30 customer cars all waiting for the same part. This was scary and I’m grateful my children were not in the vehicle at the time.

    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (1 complaints)

    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

    1 complaint
    2026-01-10

    The contact owns a 2023 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was white smoke coming from the engine compartment. The message to “Add Coolant” was displayed. The coolant was added to the coolant reservoir; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact was constantly adding coolant; however, there were no coolant leaks found. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,000.

    FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1 complaints)

    FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

    1 complaint
    2025-12-30

    The vehicle experienced an electrical fault and shortly after receiving the warning on the dash, the vehicle completely lost power in the middle of traffic. The dealership has told me that the hybrid battery and DC converter both need to be replaced, but the DC converter is on indefinite back order. Based on information I’ve learned from others and I’ve heard from the dealership, Land Rover has been aware of this issue for about a year, but parts have been unavailable for several months. My dealership alone has several of the same vehicle suffering from the same problem, get Land Rover seems to have no path towards resolution.

    FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (1 complaints)

    FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

    1 complaint
    2024-03-25

    The contact owns a 2023 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH with no other vehicles or objects nearby, the Forward Collision Avoidance system activated with the Automictic Emergency Braking function drastically slowing the vehicle nearly causing a crash. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 13,000.

    Best & Worst Land Rover Defender 110 Years

    Best Land Rover Defender 110 Years to Buy

    Land Rover Defender 110 Years to Avoid

    No Land Rover Defender 110 years are statistical outliers in our data.

    Scores stay between 57 and 64 across 6 scored model years.

    Land Rover Defender 110 Reliability Score Trend

    Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

    Land Rover Defender 110 reliability scores by year
    YearScoreRating
    202159/100Mixed
    202259/100Mixed
    202357/100Mixed
    202464/100Good
    202559/100Mixed
    202664/100Good

    Land Rover Defender 110 Reliability Compared to Other Years

    Reliability scores compared across model years
    YearScorevs Prior YearRatingRecallsComplaints
    202664/100+5Good00
    202559/100-5Mixed18
    202464/100+7Good416
    2023(selected)57/100-2Mixed770
    202259/1000Mixed461
    202159/100—Mixed732

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Is the 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 reliable?
    Not very. Its standing is mixed, well below average among 2023 SUVs, and it is the weakest of six scored Defender 110 years. Owners filed 70 complaints, mostly about electrical failures that shut the car down while driving. Federal recall records also list 7 recalls for this year.
    What are the most common problems with the 2023 Land Rover Defender 110?
    Electrical failures lead, with 31 complaints. Windshield cracking follows with 12, then steering with 7 and power train with 5. Owners describe sudden shutdowns, windshields that crack with no impact, power steering that quits without warning, and a transmission that slips into neutral after an auto start-stop restart.
    Does the 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 have DC/DC converter problems?
    Yes. Owners say dealers trace sudden shutdowns to a failed DC/DC converter in the mild hybrid system. Failures were reported between 42K and 61,000 miles. Some cars could not be jump-started and needed a tow, and replacement converters are widely back-ordered, with waits of weeks to months.
    What recalls does the 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 have?
    Federal recall records list 7 recalls. The areas are back over prevention, equipment, structure, engine and engine cooling (two recalls), service brakes, child seat and seats, and seat belts. Check the VIN with a dealer to confirm each one was completed before you buy.
    Is the 2024 Land Rover Defender 110 more reliable than the 2023?
    It rates better. The 2024 has good reliability, with 16 complaints and 4 recalls, against 70 complaints and 7 recalls for the 2023. Because the 2024 is newer, part of that gap is less time on the road, so still check its repair and recall records.

    Don’t buy a 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

    Look Up a VIN →

    How we score the 2023 Land Rover Defender 110

    Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 does best on how many systems draw complaints (85/100) and worst on repair costs (40/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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