Land Rover Defender: common problems, APK failures and recalls
There are 6,640 Land Rover Defender cars registered in the Netherlands, first registered between 1972 and 2026.
In a sample of 398 cars, 31.9% had at least one defect at an APK inspection since 2024, less often than average (51.5% across all models).
The most common defect is tyre pressure incorrect (10.6% of inspected cars).
The RDW lists 18 recalls for this model; 59.8% of registered cars still have an open recall.
2.9% have an odometer reading the RDW marks as illogical, a sign of a rolled-back odometer.
Check a specific Land Rover Defender
Free: APK expiry, insurance, open recall and odometer verdict. The full report adds every APK inspection with its defects.
Most common APK defects
| Defect | Cars |
|---|---|
| Tyre pressure incorrect | 10.6% |
| Dipped beam incorrectly aimed | 9.8% |
| Wipers give insufficient visibility | 5.5% |
| Front fog light incorrectly aimed | 3.5% |
| Position light not working (properly) | 3.5% |
| Tyre tread depth insufficient | 2.5% |
| Seatbelt damaged | 1.8% |
| Particulate filter not working properly, particle count too high | 1.8% |
| Tyre damaged | 1.3% |
| Headlight with different beam pattern incorrectly aimed | 1.3% |
Share of 398 sampled cars (first registered 2012–2021) with this defect at an APK inspection since 2024. RDW Open Data: Geconstateerde Gebreken.
Common advisories
| Tyre(s) with tread depth of 1.6 to 2.5 mm | 3.5% |
| Steering or kingpin ball joint wear up to 1.0 mm | 1.3% |
| Mechanical brake parts show wear | 0.8% |
| Shock absorber leaking | 0.5% |
Advisories are noted at the APK but are not a failure.
Fleet figures
| Registered in the Netherlands | 6,640 |
| Open recall (not yet fixed) | 59.8% |
| Illogical odometer reading | 2.9% |
| Used as a taxi | 0% |
| First registered | 1972 to 2026 |
All Land Rover Defender passenger cars in the RDW register, 2026-10-06.
Recalls
| Published | Component | Risk | Cars in NL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-01 | electrical system | serious | 63 |
| 2026-08-14 | engine, fuel, lubrication and cooling | serious | 144 |
| 2026-06-16 | brakes | serious | 1 |
| 2026-04-30 | airbags, seat belts and occupant protection | serious | 0 |
| 2026-01-26 | general construction | – | 0 |
| 2025-04-10 | suspension | serious | 2 |
| 2024-11-28 | engine, fuel, lubrication and cooling | serious | 6 |
| 2024-11-26 | suspension | – | 1 |
| 2024-09-06 | seats | serious | 2 |
| 2024-09-06 | engine, fuel, lubrication and cooling | serious | 12 |
| 2023-11-24 | suspension | – | 171 |
| 2022-11-09 | airbags, seat belts and occupant protection | serious | 173 |
| 2021-10-15 | airbags, seat belts and occupant protection | serious | 2 |
| 2021-09-21 | seats | serious | 8 |
| 2021-06-24 | engine, fuel, lubrication and cooling | – | 69 |
Recalls registered with the RDW for this model; not every recall applies to every car. Check a plate to see if one is open.
Questions
How often does the Land Rover Defender fail the APK?
In a sample of 398 cars first registered 2012–2021, 31.9% had at least one defect at an APK inspection since 2024, against 51.5% across all models.
What are common problems with the Land Rover Defender?
The most common APK defects are: tyre pressure incorrect (10.6%), dipped beam incorrectly aimed (9.8%), wipers give insufficient visibility (5.5%).
Does the Land Rover Defender have recalls?
Yes, the RDW lists 18 recalls. 59.8% of registered cars still have an open recall. Check a specific car by licence plate on factline.dev/vehicle.
Other Land Rover models
Source: RDW Open Data (Gekentekende voertuigen, Geconstateerde Gebreken, Terugroepacties), CC0. Model grouping by Factline from RDW trade names. AI agents: factline.dev/llms.txt.