Oil dilution (DPF regeneration)
usually 30,000–150,000 km · High risk
Signs: Oil level rising, 'oil change' warnings
Fix: Oil change; software update; longer drives
€150–300
Common faults, service intervals and costs
Land Rover Defender
2019–now
1
engines covered
4
known faults
13,198
roadworthiness tests in the statistics
17
official recalls
Enter your VIN and mileage and get a plan built for your exact engine and gearbox.
The Land Rover Defender has been built since 2019.
For this generation we cover 1 engines and 4 known faults, each with the mileage range where it usually appears.
The most expensive known risk is EGR cooler / valve: it usually appears at 80,000–180,000 km and costs €700–1,500 to fix.
In UK roadworthiness tests in 2024, at 0–50 thousand km this model most often failed on: tyres and wheels (2.5 %), lights, wipers and visibility (1.9 %), brakes (0.4 %). It fails less often than average on: tyres and wheels, lights, wipers and visibility.
Engines
| Engine | Fuel | Timing drive | Oil |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 Ingenium diesel (JLR 204DT) | Diesel | Chain | 0W-20 / 0W-30 · JLR STJLR.03.5007 · ~6.2 L · every 15,000 km |
Faults by engine
2.0 Ingenium diesel (JLR 204DT)
EGR cooler / valve
usually 80,000–180,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: Coolant loss, limp mode
Fix: Replace EGR cooler
€700–1,500
AdBlue / NOx sensor
usually 80,000–180,000 km · Medium risk
Signs: AdBlue warning
Fix: Replace sensor
€300–900
Gearboxes
Automatic (ZF 6HP / 9HP)
ZF 9HP rough shifts / software
usually 20,000–120,000 km · Wear part
model years 2014–2027 only
Signs: Harsh or delayed shifts
Fix: Software update; fluid service
€0–400
Scheduled service
Intervals and typical prices for the 2.0 Ingenium diesel (JLR 204DT) engine. Other engines differ in oil, timing drive and some filters; the app gives the exact plan.
| Item | Interval | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| DPF health check (soot / ash load)Emissions | every 20,000 km | €0–60 |
| Transfer case / rear differential oilTransmission | every 80,000 km | €60–160 |
| Engine oil + oil filterEngine | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €70–150 |
| Cabin (pollen) filterClimate | every 15,000 km or every 12 months | €15–40 |
| Brake fluidBrakes | every 24 months | €50–95 |
| AdBlue top-upEmissions | every 15,000 km | €10–30 |
| A/C service (regas + desiccant)Climate | every 24 months | €70–150 |
| Air filterEngine | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €15–45 |
| Fuel filterFuel | every 30,000 km or every 24 months | €40–110 |
| Automatic transmission fluidTransmission | every 90,000 km | €200–450 |
| Glow plugsEngine | every 100,000 km | €120–300 |
| Auxiliary (serpentine) beltEngine | every 120,000 km | €70–180 |
| Coolant replacementCooling | every 150,000 km or every 96 months | €70–150 |
| Timing chain inspection (listen on cold start)Engine | every 150,000 km | €0–120 |
| Front brake padsBrakes | usually at 30,000–60,000 km | €60–150 |
| Front brake discs + padsBrakes | usually at 60,000–120,000 km | €150–320 |
| Rear brake padsBrakes | usually at 50,000–90,000 km | €50–130 |
| Tyres (set of 4)Wheels | usually at 40,000–60,000 km | €320–700 |
| Wiper bladesBody | checked at service | €20–50 |
| 12V batteryElectrical | checked at service | €100–220 |
Roadworthiness tests by mileage
Share of tests in the United Kingdom (DVSA MOT, 2024) that this model failed because of each system. Bold red means more often and green less often than an average car of the same age and mileage. Sample: 13,198 tests.
| thousand km | 0–50 | 50–100 | 100–150 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 0.4 % | 1.3 % | 2.6 % |
| Suspension | 0.3 % | 0.1 % | 0.0 % |
| Steering | 0.0 % | 0.2 % | 0.0 % |
| Tyres and wheels | 2.5 % | 4.4 % | 3.7 % |
| Lights, wipers and visibility | 1.9 % | 3.4 % | 4.1 % |
| Body and corrosion | 0.1 % | 0.2 % | 0.8 % |
| Exhaust, emissions and leaks | 0.3 % | 0.8 % | 2.4 % |
Roadworthiness tests in the Netherlands by age
Share of this model's Dutch fleet that had a defect in each system at a roadworthiness test (APK) in 2025. Bold red means more often and green less often than an average car of the same age and fuel. Sample: 1,437 cars.
| age (years) | 3–5 |
|---|---|
| Brakes | 0.1 % |
| Suspension | 0.1 % |
| Steering | 0.0 % |
| Tyres and wheels | 4.2 % |
| Lights, wipers and visibility | 4.3 % |
| Body and corrosion | 0.1 % |
| Exhaust, emissions and leaks | 0.1 % |
Most common engine versions in the EU
New cars of this generation registered in the EU, Iceland and Norway 2010–2025: 55,636, of which 134 in Croatia. The share shows how common each version is.
| Version | Share | Years | CO₂ | Fuel use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.0 Hybrid3.0 (2,997 cm³) · 183 kW (249 hp) · Hybrid | 17.4 % | 2020–2025 | 229 g/km | 8.7 L |
| 3.0 Hybrid3.0 (2,997 cm³) · 147 kW (200 hp) · Hybrid | 15.3 % | 2020–2025 | 226 g/km | 8.7 L |
| 2.0 Hybrid2.0 (1,997 cm³) · 221 kW (300 hp) · Hybrid | 13.5 % | 2021–2025 | 67 g/km | 3.0 L |
| 3.0 Hybrid3.0 (2,997 cm³) · 221 kW (300 hp) · Hybrid | 12.8 % | 2020–2025 | 232 g/km | 8.9 L |
| 2.0 Ingenium diesel (JLR 204DT)2.0 (1,997 cm³) · 165 kW (224 hp) · Hybrid | 6.5 % | 2024–2025 | 67 g/km | 3.0 L |
| 3.0 Hybrid3.0 (2,996 cm³) · 294 kW (400 hp) · Hybrid | 5.3 % | 2020–2025 | 261 g/km | 11.5 L |
| 5.0 Petrol5.0 (4,999 cm³) · 386 kW (525 hp) · Petrol | 5.0 % | 2021–2025 | 331 g/km | 14.7 L |
| 2.0 Ingenium diesel (JLR 204DT)2.0 (1,999 cm³) · 177 kW (241 hp) · Diesel | 4.8 % | 2020–2021 | 241 g/km | 9.2 L |
| 3.0 Diesel3.0 (2,997 cm³) · 183 kW (249 hp) · Diesel | 3.4 % | 2020–2025 | 235 g/km | 9.0 L |
| 3.0 Diesel3.0 (2,997 cm³) · 147 kW (200 hp) · Diesel | 3.0 % | 2021–2025 | 233 g/km | 8.9 L |
Source: European Environment Agency (EEA), monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars, CC BY 4.0. CO₂ and fuel use are official type-approval values (WLTP from 2021), not real-world consumption.
Official recalls
Recalls the manufacturer published in the United Kingdom for this model (17). The same recalls usually apply across Europe. Ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN whether your car is affected and whether the work has been done.
- Wheels / tyres AJ20-D6 Idler Pulley Clash26/06/2026 · R/2026/241
- Airbag Driver’s Airbag Potential Non-Deployment19/06/2026 · R/2026/245
- Fire risk E-PACE F-PACE Defender Discovery Sport Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Velar PHEV Traction Battery Fire Risk12/06/2026 · R/2025/553
- Fire risk Defender and Discovery 2026 Model Year Fuel Tank Wall Thickness12/06/2026 · R/2026/177
- Airbag Defender Third Row Lower Seat Belt Anchorage Bracket31/03/2026 · R/2026/115
- Brakes / ABS / ESP Defender P425 Dynamic Mode Stability04/03/2025 · R/2025/065
- Fire risk AJ20-D6 and AJ20-P6 Engine Oil Filter Housing Cracked14/06/2024 · R/2024/255
- Fuel system AJ20-D6 Fuel Injector Clamp Cracked27/03/2024 · R/2024/100
The other recalls (9) are listed in the app.
Common questions
Does the Land Rover Defender have a timing chain or a timing belt?
2.0 Ingenium diesel (JLR 204DT): chain.
What are the known problems with the Land Rover Defender?
The faults with the highest risk: oil dilution (DPF regeneration) (30,000–150,000 km, €150–300); EGR cooler / valve (80,000–180,000 km, €700–1,500); adBlue / NOx sensor (80,000–180,000 km, €300–900). The full list by engine is on this page.
What does the Land Rover Defender most often fail its roadworthiness test on?
In UK roadworthiness tests in 2024, at 0–50 thousand km this model most often failed on: tyres and wheels (2.5 %), lights, wipers and visibility (1.9 %), brakes (0.4 %). It fails less often than average on: tyres and wheels, lights, wipers and visibility.
What should you check when buying a used Land Rover Defender?
Before you buy, ask an authorised dealer to check by VIN that the recalls have been done (17 have been published for this model). On the test drive, watch for these signs: oil level rising, 'oil change' warnings; coolant loss, limp mode. The full checklist is in the guide to buying a used car.
Other generations
Models with the same engines
These models share engines with this car, so they share some of its faults too.
Land Rover Discovery Sport 2014–Jaguar XE / XF 2015–Land Rover Range Rover Sport (L494) 2013–2022Jaguar F-Pace 2016–Land Rover Range Rover (L405) 2012–2021Land Rover Discovery 5 2017–Land Rover Range Rover Evoque II 2019–Jaguar E-Pace 2017–
Other Land Rover models
Land Rover Range Rover Velar 2017–Land Rover Range Rover (L460) 2022–Land Rover Range Rover Sport (L461) 2022–
Sources and notes
Faults, intervals and prices are indicative and collected from public sources and owner experience; always rely on the service book and a qualified workshop. Test statistics: DVSA – Anonymised MOT tests and results, Open Government Licence v3.0. Dutch tests: RDW Open Data (CC0). Engine versions: EEA, monitoring of CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars (CC BY 4.0, DG CLIMA). Owner complaints: NHTSA ODI (public domain). Recalls: DVSA Vehicle Safety Branch Recalls Database, OGL v3.0. Brand and model names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to describe the vehicles.
Updated 08/10/2026