Land Rover · Known Issues
2021 Land Rover Defender Problems: 4 Known Issues
2021 model year · 1,370+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2021 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2021 model year · 1,370+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2021 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 1,370+ owner reports, the 2021 Land Rover Defender has 4 documented known issues. None of the listed issues is rated critical; this is not a complete reliability assessment. The most commonly reported issue is Optional Air Suspension Faults After Off-Road Use with 560 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $50 to $1,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION:FILTER/SCREEN
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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2024 Defender, Discovery Sport, Range Rover, Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Velar, and Range Rover Sport vehicles. The Near Field Sensing Module (NFSM) may overheat and cause the 3D surround camera images, including the rearview camera image, not to display.
EQUIPMENT
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.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 1,370+ owner reports, the 2021 Land Rover Defender has 4 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Optional Air Suspension Faults After Off-Road Use, Rear Quarter Window Spontaneous Cracking, Differential Breather Blockage After Wading/Off-Road. None are rated critical, but regular maintenance is recommended.
The 2021 Land Rover Defender has 4 known issues documented across 1,370+ owner reports. None of the matching records is rated critical; this is not a complete reliability assessment. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Land Rover Defender issues range from $50 to $1,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
Defenders equipped with the optional air suspension (standard on 110 V8 and X models) can develop faults after off-road use. Mud and debris packed around the air springs and height sensors cause incorrect readings and valve block issues. The air springs can be punctured by sharp… Severity: medium.
The new Defender has experienced reports of rear quarter windows cracking spontaneously without impact. The issue appears related to thermal stress and the bonding method used to attach the glass. The cracks typically start at a corner or edge and propagate across the glass. Some… Repairs typically run $500-$1,500. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
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."
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar and Land Rover Discovery, 2020-2023 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, 2019-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Range Rover, 2020 Land Rover Discovery Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Defender, 2021-2024 Jaguar F-Pace, and 2021-2022 Jaguar E-Pace mild-hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs). Insufficient electrical load balancing during times of high demand can lead to a current overload condition and malfunction of the DCDC converter. A failure of the DC-DC converter will result in a loss of 12-Volt system charging and can lead to complete loss of drive power and exterior lighting.
+ 11 more recalls. Check all on NHTSA.gov
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After wading or driving through deep mud, the differential breathers on the Defender can become blocked. This prevents pressure equalization inside the differential housings, leading to seal leaks as internal pressure builds. The front differential is particularly vulnerable as i… Repairs typically run $50-$600. Severity: low.
JLR documents several bounded Pivi conditions rather than one universal hardware defect. Global Service Action N795 covers specific 2020-2022 Defender vehicles that cannot complete VDC/Pivi Software Over The Air updates and require a wired intervention. A January 2026 JLR update… Severity: low.