Is the 2023 Land Rover DEFENDER reliable?

The 2023 Land Rover DEFENDER has 101 complaints filed with NHTSA (1.7x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: avoid. Most common issue: ELECTRICAL problems.

What are common problems with the 2023 Land Rover DEFENDER?

Top problems: ELECTRICAL (37 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (13 complaints, avg repair $500); VISIBILITY (13 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2023 Land Rover DEFENDER?

Yes, there are 9 recall(s): SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION, CHILD SEAT:VEHICLE TETHER ANCHOR, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:CRITICAL FASTENERS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:FILTER/SCREEN, EQUIPMENT, BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL. Contact any Land Rover dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2023 Land Rover DEFENDER?

The 2023 Land Rover DEFENDER gets 17 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2824. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2023 Land Rover DEFENDER?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2023 Land Rover DEFENDER is approximately $2,373/year (suv-luxury class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2023 Land Rover DEFENDER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2023 Land Rover DEFENDER has 101 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.7x the segment average of 60. The most common issue is electrical problems (37% of all complaints), specifically: the media screen will randomly go blank so you can not see your navigation map, radio information or any other data that the screen should show. the dealer told us to press the door lock twice and wait several minutes before restarting. very unsafe if emergency is occurring and you do not have acces. There are 9 recalls issued for this model year.

101

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ELECTRICAL

37 complaints

37%

• The media screen will randomly go blank so you can not see your navigation map, radio information or any other data that the screen should show. The dealer told us to press the door lock twice and wait several minutes before restarting. Very unsafe if emergency is occurring and you do not have acces
• The Centre Cluster dims a dusk and is not visible to the driver
• the lighting on the 2023 Defender 110 is not adequate, particularly at dusk and in the evening. The brightness control does not adjust for the brightness needed to see gauges. This is a safety risk.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“The media screen will randomly go blank so you can not see your navigation map, radio information or any other data that the screen should show. The dealer told us to press the door lock twice and wait several minutes before restarting. Very unsafe if emergency is occurring and you do not have acces”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Recalls (9)

SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER21/07/2022

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2022-23 Land Rover Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport and 2022 Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Velar vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat belt pretensioners may be damaged, which can cause the seat belts to not properly restrain occupants.

Risk: Improperly restrained occupants have an increased risk of injury during a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2022. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N720.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2023 Land Rover DEFENDER

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,824

Per month

$235

Per mile

23.5¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$3,429/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$2,401/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2023 Land Rover DEFENDER

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$2,373

Full coverage / month

$198

Liability only / year

$732

vs US avg

+42%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (suv-luxury)1.35x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating1.00x

× vehicle age1.05x

= Full coverage estimate$2373

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Land Rover New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

4 yr / 50K mi

Powertrain

4 yr / 50K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

6 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

4 yr / unlimited mi

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 101 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ELECTRICAL: The media screen will randomly go blank so you can not see your navigation map, radio information or any other data that the screen should show. The dealer told us to press the door lock twice and wait several minutes before restarting. Very unsafe if emergency is occurring and you do not have acces
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: When stopped at stoplight engine gear slips to neutral without warning. When applying gas it becomes apparent it’s no longer in drive. Has happened 8 plus times and I’ve had this new car less than 2weeks. Reported to dealer who tells me 2 other customers have reported this as well. No one is sure wh
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: I have had to replace my windshield 3 times in a matter of a few months. In the case of my last two windshields, I was able to drive for only 2 days before it cracked. In all cases they started as small rock chips, always within a few inches of the exterior edge. I have had rock chips in the past w
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: When driving the new 2023 vehicle with 956 miles we got a lane keep malfunction dialogue box pop up on digital instrument cluster. At the same time the power steering ceased to work or the lane keep fought to keep it centered even when trying to make maneuvers to stay in lane of traffic, navigate tu
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 9 recalls have been completed — free at any Land Rover dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)