Last updated: 2026-05-15
Land Rover Defender 110 vs Toyota Highlander: Reliability Compared
Land Rover Defender 110
Toyota Highlander
Choosing between the Land Rover Defender 110 and the Toyota Highlander? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two full-size suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Toyota Highlander currently leads with an average score of 72/100 compared to 60/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Land Rover Defender 110 and Toyota Highlander Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Toyota Highlander is more reliable than the Land Rover Defender 110, scoring 72/100 vs 60/100.
The Toyota Highlander demonstrates superior reliability compared to the Land Rover Defender 110, with an average reliability score of 72/100 versus 60/100 for the Defender. Despite having a higher total recall count, the Highlander boasts a lower owner complaint rate at 5.8 per 10,000 sold, significantly outperforming the Defender's 20.7 per 10,000. Additionally, independent repair cost estimates suggest the Highlander is more economical to maintain, with annual costs around $489. Key differentiators include the Highlander's fewer complaints and lower repair expenses, making it the more reliable choice.
Key Differences
- 1Land Rover Defender 110 has 43 fewer total recalls
- 2Toyota Highlander has 14.9 fewer complaints per 10k sold
- 3Toyota Highlander scores 12 points higher in reliability
Category Scoreboard
Land Rover Defender 110 vs Toyota Highlander: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Land Rover Defender 110 | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 60/100 | 72/100 |
| Years Tracked | 6 | 9 |
| Total Recalls | 23 | 66 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 20.7 | 5.8 |
| Year Wins | 0 | 5 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Land Rover Defender 110 and Toyota Highlander?
The Toyota Highlander exhibits a higher volume of complaints overall, with significant issues in the power train, air bags, and service brakes, which are areas of concern due to their safety implications, particularly with 41 crash-linked air bag complaints. In contrast, the Land Rover Defender 110 has far fewer complaints, with the electrical system being the most reported issue, though only one complaint is crash-linked. The Highlander's problems are more concentrated in safety-critical systems, whereas the Defender's complaints are more dispersed and less severe in terms of crash linkage. This suggests the Highlander may face more acute reliability challenges in critical safety components compared to the Defender.
| Component | Land Rover Defender 110 | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 6.5Average | 0.4Very Low |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 4.3Average | —None |
| POWER TRAIN | 1.1Low | 1.5Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1.3Low | 0.7Very Low |
| STEERING | 1.8Low | 0.1Very Low |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1.7Low | —None |
| ENGINE | 0.6Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| STRUCTURE | 0.4Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | —None | 0.6Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | —None | 0.5Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | 0.3Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Land Rover Defender 110 or Toyota Highlander?
How Does Land Rover Defender 110 vs Toyota Highlander Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Land Rover Defender 110 | Toyota Highlander | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 59/1001R / 8C | 76/1008R / 40C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2024 | 64/1004R / 16C | 67/10016R / 198C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2023 | 57/1007R / 70C | 73/10013R / 140C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2022 | 59/1004R / 61C | 74/1007R / 186C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2021 | 59/1007R / 32C | 70/1006R / 403C | Toyota Highlander |
| 2026(predicted) | 60/100(predicted) | 72/100(predicted) | Toyota Highlander |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Land Rover Defender 110 scored 64/100 and the 2025 Toyota Highlander scored 76/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
Who Should Buy the Land Rover Defender 110 vs the Toyota Highlander?
Land Rover Defender 110 vs Toyota Highlander: Common Questions
- Is the Land Rover Defender 110 more reliable than the Toyota Highlander?
- Based on our data, the Toyota Highlander is more reliable with an average score of 72/100 compared to 60/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Land Rover Defender 110 or the Toyota Highlander?
- The Toyota Highlander has more recalls (66) compared to the Land Rover Defender 110 (23). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Land Rover Defender 110 or the Toyota Highlander?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Toyota Highlander has a lower complaint rate at 5.8 per 10,000 vehicles sold versus 20.7 for the Land Rover Defender 110. Normalizing by sales gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Land Rover Defender 110 comparisons
Decided between Land Rover Defender 110 and Toyota Highlander? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
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How We Calculate Reliability Scores
Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.
Key Ranking Factors
Complaint Severity
NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.
Repair Costs
Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.
Recall Impact
Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.
Issue Diversity
Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.
Scores are grouped into four tiers:
- 80–100: Excellent— Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
- 60–79: Good— Reliable with some minor concerns
- 40–59: Mixed— Notable issues, research before buying
- 0–39: Risky— Significant problems, proceed with caution
Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.
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