2021 Land Rover Defender
The 2021 Land Rover Defender is a midsize SUV, rated at 19 MPG combined by the EPA. NHTSA lists 9 recalls for this model year.

- Combined MPG
- 19
- NHTSA safety
- Not rated
- Starting price
- $56,000
- Recalls
- 9
Watch: Defender reviews
Full specifications
Identity
SRC · NHTSA vPIC| Make | Land Rover |
|---|---|
| Model | Defender |
| Model year | 2021 |
| Vehicle class | Midsize SUV |
Engine & drivetrain
SRC · EPA FuelEconomy| Displacement | 2 L |
|---|---|
| Cylinders | 4 |
| Transmission | Automatic (S8) |
| Drivetrain | 4-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
Fuel economy
SRC · EPA FuelEconomy| City MPG | 18 |
|---|---|
| Highway MPG | 21 |
| Combined MPG | 19 |
| CO₂ tailpipe | 466 g/mi |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $4050 |
Available configurations
SRC · EPA FuelEconomy| Defender 110 | 18 MPG combined |
|---|---|
| Defender 110 MHEV | 19 MPG combined |
| Defender 90 | 19 MPG combined |
| Defender 90 MHEV | 19 MPG combined |
Fuel economy
SRC · EPA FuelEconomy| City | 18 MPG |
|---|---|
| Highway | 21 MPG |
| Combined | 19 MPG |
Efficiency vs class average
About 26% below the class average.
- Amount financed
- $50,400
- Total interest
- $8,768
Partner offers · may earn us a commission
≈ $2,116/yr · 12,000 mi/yr · $3.35/gal
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Cost to own
Estimate monthly payments and 5-year fuel cost using the tools in the sidebar. Figures use EPA fuel economy and current U.S. energy prices from EIA.
Safety ratings & recalls
SRC · NHTSA vPICNHTSA has not published NCAP crash-test ratings for this model year yet.
Recalls (9)
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS21V435000 · 2021-06-08
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Defender X vehicles equipped with smoked rear light assemblies. 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.
Remedy: 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:FRONT:RETRACTOR21V668000 · 2021-08-26
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2021 Range Rover, 2022 Range Rover Sport, 2020-2021 Range Rover Velar, Discovery Sport, 2020-2022 Discovery, and Defender vehicles. The seat belt automatic locking retractors may deactivate early, which can prevent the child restraint system from securing properly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed October 20, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N630.
- EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL21V584000 · 2021-07-29
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Land Rover Defender vehicles. The owner's manual incorrectly states that the third-row seating is equipped with LATCH child seat restraints with top tethers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."
Remedy: Land Rover will mail owners the correct information to insert into the owner's manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 23, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N601.
- POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)21V424000 · 2021-06-03
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Land Rover Defender vehicles equipped with 6-cylinder engines. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) may unexpectedly switch off while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in an engine stall with no warning.
Remedy: The Connected Diagnostic Services (CDS) and the Over-the-air (OTA) diagnostics functionality will be disabled, either by a dealer or through an OTA update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 28, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N599.
- SEATS21V499000 · 2021-07-01
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2021 Defender 90 vehicles equipped with manually-adjustable front seats. The front seat track end-stop bracket may become deformed, which could prevent the seat from locking into place.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front seat tracks, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 28, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N609.
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION23V044000 · 2023-02-02
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Range Rover Sport, 2020-2023 Range Rover, Defender, 2022-2023 Discovery, and 2023 Range Rover Velar vehicles. The engine cam carrier oil channel may be blocked, which can lead to an oil leak.
Remedy: 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. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N763.
- EQUIPMENT24E102000 · 2024-12-06
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, remove and reinstall the RAI accessory, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed February 20, 2025. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N964.
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER26V248000 · 2026-04-17
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.) The DC-DC converter can fail due to an internal fault in the boost control microchip. 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.
Remedy: The remedy for this recall is currently under development. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed June 17, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's numbers for this recall are D126 and H575.
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL26V389000 · 2026-06-12
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Land Rover Defender, 2021-2026 Discovery, and 2022-2026 Range Rover vehicles. The driver’s air bag clockspring connector may corrode, which can cause the air bag not to deploy as intended.
Remedy: Dealers will apply a protective lubricant gel to the driver’s air bag connector terminals, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed August 7, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is D120.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the MPG of the 2021 Land Rover Defender?
The 2021 Land Rover Defender is EPA-rated at 19 MPG combined (18 city / 21 highway).
Is the 2021 Land Rover Defender reliable?
NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2021 Land Rover Defender. Recalls are repaired free of charge by the manufacturer — verify any open recalls by VIN before purchase.
How much does it cost to fuel the 2021 Land Rover Defender?
At 12,000 miles per year, the 2021 Land Rover Defender costs roughly $2,116 per year to fuel, or about $10,579 over 5 years at current U.S. energy prices.
What type of vehicle is the 2021 Land Rover Defender?
The 2021 Land Rover Defender is classified as a midsize suv. Common rivals in this class are worth comparing on price, MPG, and safety.
Sources: NHTSA vPIC · EPA FuelEconomy · NHTSA vPIC