2022 Land Rover Defender: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2022 Land Rover Defender: 6 recalls, 75 owner complaints and up to 19 mpg combined.
Recalls
6 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Exterior lights, Exterior lights Vehicle recall #21V435000 · 2021 · 2,622 vehicles
What's wrong: A voltage spike, triggered by a bright light shining on the rear of the vehicle, can cause the turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights to fail.
Why it matters: Turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights that fail to illuminate can reduce visibility to other drivers and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the rear light assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 27, 2021. Owners can contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land rover's number for this recall is n598.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #22V523000 · 2022 · 4,927 vehicles
What's wrong: The driver and front passenger seat belt pretensioners May be damaged, which can cause the seat belts to not properly restrain occupants.
Why it matters: Improperly restrained occupants have an increased risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front seat belt assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2022.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #23V044000 · 2023 · 6,724 vehicles
What's wrong: The engine cam carrier oil channel May be blocked, which can lead to an oil leak.
Why it matters: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the engine cam carrier and related components as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2023.
Electrical Vehicle recall #26V248000 · 2026 · 170,169 vehicles
What's wrong: 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.
Why it matters: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the central software, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 17, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available.
Airbags Vehicle recall #26V389000 · 2026 · 250,857 vehicles
What's wrong: The driverâs air bag clockspring connector May corrode, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended.
Why it matters: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will apply a protective lubricant gel to the driverâs air bag connector terminals, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed August 3, 2026.
Electrical Vehicle recall #26V599000 · 2026 · 23,677 vehicles
What's wrong: The dc-dc converter May malfunction due to an electrical overload that can occur during high power demand. Additionally, a software error can cause the dc-dc converter to stop functioning at vehicle start-up under certain circumstances. Failure of the dc-dc converter will result in the loss of 12-volt system charging and can lead to complete loss of drive power and exterior lighting.
Why it matters: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed November 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Equipment, Body & structure Equipment recall #24E102000 · 2024 · 485 vehicles
What's wrong: The raised air intake May not be secured properly, which can allow the intake to detach from the vehicle.
Why it matters: A detached raised air intake can fall off the vehicle and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, remove and reinstall the rai accessory, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed February 20, 2025.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 1 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (27): the most common themes are electrical failure (18), stalls / loses power (6), door / lock issues (4).
- Exterior lights (14): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (2).
- Visibility/Wiper (13): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Other / unknown (9): the most common themes are stalls / loses power (2).
The 2022 Land Rover Defender has 75 owner complaints, ranking #2 of 16 Defender model years for complaints (3.9× the average Defender year). Complaints peaked in 2026 (34 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 21,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2021 (42 complaints, 9 recalls), 2023 (82 complaints, 9 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo hybrid | Automatic (S8) | 4-Wheel Drive | 17 | 22 | 19 | Premium |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 21 | 19 | Premium |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | 4-Wheel Drive | 17 | 20 | 18 | Premium |
| 5.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic (S8) | 4-Wheel Drive | 14 | 19 | 16 | Premium |
| 5.0 L 8-cyl | Automatic (S8) | 4-Wheel Drive | 15 | 19 | 16 | Premium |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2022 Land Rover Defender.
Closest thing to the factory manual for most years. Pay once, keep it.
Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
From $19.99/mo · $39.99/yrOEM procedures, specs and recall/TSB info, the same source many shops use.
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FAQ
Does the 2022 Land Rover Defender have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 vehicle recalls for the 2022 Land Rover Defender, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2022 Land Rover Defender problems?
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (27), exterior lights (14), visibility/wiper (13).
What gas mileage does the 2022 Land Rover Defender get?
EPA ratings run up to 19 mpg combined (3.0 L, Automatic (S8)), across 5 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2022 Land Rover Defender repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.