2021 Land Rover Defender exterior lighting problems
11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the exterior lighting on the 2021 Land Rover Defender — 31% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The left headlight daytime running light has died due to a defective chip in the light itself. It may cause a higher chance of a daytime wreck because of reduced visibility. Also, more chance of me getting pulled over for my headlight not working. Apparently it’s a common issue that JLR know about…”
filed Aug 5, 2026
“Headlight DRL Failure - it's safety issue. this is known issue with defenders but when I contacted local dealer in Atlanta area, they refused to replace it without me paying $3200.”
filed Apr 27, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- A voltage spike, triggered by a bright light shining on the rear of the vehicle, can…Campaign 21V435000 · Jun 8, 2021
Exterior Lighting problems in other Defender years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Defender | 2 | 9% |
| 2023 Defender | 6 | 8% |
| 2022 Defender | 8 | 12% |
| 2020 Defender | 16 | 33% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2021 Land Rover Defender
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.