NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Land Rover Defender Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Land Rover Defender has no NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Land Rover dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Land Rover Defender. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Land Rover Defender owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2003 Land Rover Defender, describing incidents dated November 17, 2005.

Most-cited components

Engine 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Visibility/Wiper 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10173902 · Filed November 20, 2006
AT 30,000 MILES, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO BE "SERVICED" MAINLY BECAUSE ANOTHER MECHANIC TOLD US THAT THE OIL WAS 'GUNKED'. THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE OR THE WARRANTY AND REPLACED THE OIL AT A CHARGE OF OVER $94.00. THEN AT 34,000, THE BRAKES SUDDENLY BEGAN TO…

Read the full complaint

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Land Rover Defender as of November 3, 2026. New recalls can be issued at any time, so check the specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before buying.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Land Rover Defender. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Land Rover Defender.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Engine and Engine Cooling; Visibility

ODI #10173902

Incident: November 17, 2005 · Filed: November 20, 2006

AT 30,000 MILES, WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO BE "SERVICED" MAINLY BECAUSE ANOTHER MECHANIC TOLD US THAT THE OIL WAS 'GUNKED'. THE DEALER INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE OR THE WARRANTY AND REPLACED THE OIL AT A CHARGE OF OVER $94.00. THEN AT 34,000, THE BRAKES SUDDENLY BEGAN TO GRIND AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR" AND CHARGED US OVER $355.00 TO FIX THE BRAKES. AFTER ANOTHER 1,000 MILES, THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, WHEN WE CALLED THEM THEY TOLD US TO LEAVE IT WITH THEM FOR A FEW WEEKS AND REFUSED US A LOANER CAR. ALSO, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP AND THEY REPLACE IT BECAUSE IT WAS 'UNDER WARRANTY'. AT 46,000 MILES THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVER HEAT. I TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL AGAIN WAS 'GUNKED UP' BECAUSE ANTI FREEZE HAD BEEN LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. AFTER 3 WEEKS, THE DEALER "LAND ROVER OF TULSA' FIRST TOLD US THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEN LAND ROVER INC TRIED TO TELL US THAT THE ENGINE WOULD BE OUR EXPENSE. THEY TRIED TO INFORM US THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY SERVICED (EVEN THOUGH WE HAD TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE). THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS, AND THEN REPLACED SOME PART, TOLD US TO WATCH THE COOLANT AND TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 6,000 MILES. AFTER 247 MILES, HALF A GALLON OF ANTIFREEZE WAS GONE AND THE ENGINE STARTED TO RUN "FUNNY AGAIN". EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER CLAIMED THAT NO ANTI FREEZE WAS IN THE OIL, THEY FORGOT TO CLEAN THE OIL CAP AFTER THEIR "SERVICE". I HAD IT TESTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND ANTI FREEZE WAS FOUND IN THE OIL CAP, WHICH PROVES ANTI FREEZE WAS IN THE OIL. ALSO, THEY CLAIMED A WHEEL BEARING WAS GOING OUT AND THEY WOULD ORDER THE PART AND FIX IT 'UNDER WARRANTY'. THEY SEEM CONFUSED THAT THEIR 'WARRANTY IS NOT A PICK AND CHOOSE TYPE WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE IS OBVIOUSLY A LEMON. *JB

Other Land Rover Defender model years

Check your 2003 Land Rover Defender VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Land Rover Defender at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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