Land Rover Defender Recall: 24,000 JLR SUVs Face Power Loss Risk
Jaguar Land Rover is recalling nearly 24,000 vehicles in the United States because a software issue involving the DC-DC converter could cause a loss of drive power and exterior lighting. The recall includes the Land Rover Defender, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and several other JLR models.
Jaguar Land Rover is recalling 23,677 vehicles in the United States after identifying a software-related problem that can affect the operation of the vehicle's DC-DC converter.
According to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the issue can potentially lead to a loss of electrical power, drive power and exterior lighting under certain conditions. The affected vehicles use 48-volt mild-hybrid electrical systems.
The recall is particularly notable for owners of the Land Rover Defender, with more than 8,000 vehicles identified in the affected population.
JLR plans to address the problem with a software update that will be installed free of charge by authorized dealers.
Which Land Rover and Jaguar Models Are Recalled?
The recall covers nine model ranges equipped with 48-volt hybrid systems.
The affected model years include:
| Brand | Model | Model Years |
|---|---|---|
| Land Rover | Discovery Sport | 2020–2024 |
| Land Rover | Range Rover Evoque | 2020–2024 |
| Land Rover | Range Rover | 2020–2024 |
| Land Rover | Defender | 2020–2024 |
| Jaguar | E-Pace | 2021–2024 |
| Jaguar | F-Pace | 2021–2024 |
| Land Rover | Range Rover Velar | 2021–2024 |
| Land Rover | Discovery | 2021–2024 |
| Land Rover | Range Rover Sport | 2019–2024 |
NHTSA's official recall documentation identifies the affected vehicles as having mild-hybrid systems and lists the DC/DC converter as the affected component.
Land Rover Defender Is One of the Most Affected Models
The Land Rover Defender represents a significant portion of the vehicles covered by the recall.
JLR identified 8,100 Defenders within the U.S. recall population described in the latest information.
The NHTSA documentation for the earlier 2026 recall involving the same general converter issue identifies a much larger Defender population—53,644 potentially involved vehicles in that campaign—illustrating that JLR has been addressing the DC-DC converter issue through multiple recall actions.
For Defender owners, the latest campaign is therefore particularly important because the problem involves an electrical component responsible for maintaining the vehicle's 12-volt electrical system from the higher-voltage mild-hybrid system.
How Can the DC-DC Converter Problem Affect the Vehicle?
The DC-DC converter plays an important role in a modern mild-hybrid vehicle.
In these JLR vehicles, the 48-volt electrical system works alongside the conventional 12-volt electrical system. The DC-DC converter helps transfer electrical energy between the systems.
According to the recall information, insufficient electrical load balancing can allow the converter to experience an overload during periods of high electrical demand.
If the converter fails, the vehicle can display warning messages to the driver.
The vehicle may then begin relying on the remaining battery charge. If that charge is eventually depleted, the vehicle can lose drive power and potentially coast to a stop.
The exterior lighting system can also be affected.
That combination makes the issue more than a simple software inconvenience because loss of propulsion or exterior lighting can increase the risk of a crash.
What Happens If the Converter Fails?
According to the recall documentation, drivers may receive warnings instructing them to stop when it is safe to do so.
If the DC-DC converter is no longer operating correctly, the vehicle's electrical systems can continue drawing power from the battery.
As the available charge decreases, several consequences can occur:
- Loss of drive power
- Vehicle may coast to a stop
- Loss of exterior lighting
- Warning messages or warning lights
- Reduced electrical functionality
The specific sequence can depend on the condition of the vehicle and the electrical load at the time of the converter failure.
How Many Vehicles Are Affected?
The latest recall covers 23,677 vehicles in the United States.
JLR's identified populations include:
| Model | Potentially Affected Vehicles |
|---|---|
| Range Rover Sport | 10,973 |
| Defender | 8,100 |
| Range Rover | 3,849 |
| Discovery | 552 |
| Jaguar F-Pace | 79 |
| Range Rover Velar | 76 |
| Range Rover Evoque | 35 |
| Jaguar E-Pace | 10 |
| Discovery Sport | 3 |
| Total | 23,677 |
The Defender and Range Rover Sport account for the overwhelming majority of vehicles in this particular recall population.
No Injuries or Crashes Reported
According to the information provided in the recall documentation, JLR received 393 claims and field reports between April and September 2026 related to the issue.
At the time of the recall filing, no injuries or crashes had been reported in connection with the defect.
That does not eliminate the potential safety concern. NHTSA explains that safety recalls are intended to address defects that create an unreasonable risk to safety, and the agency maintains recall information so vehicle owners can identify and repair affected vehicles.
This Is Not JLR's First DC-DC Converter Recall in 2026
The latest recall is smaller than another JLR recall filed earlier in 2026.
In April, JLR notified NHTSA of a recall involving approximately 170,169 vehicles over a related DC-DC converter problem.
That earlier campaign covered several of the same vehicle lines, including the:
- Land Rover Defender
- Range Rover
- Range Rover Sport
- Range Rover Evoque
- Range Rover Velar
- Land Rover Discovery
- Land Rover Discovery Sport
- Jaguar F-Pace
- Jaguar E-Pace
NHTSA's April documentation identifies the campaign as NHTSA Campaign No. 26V248 and describes the affected component as the vehicle's electrical-system propulsion-system DC/DC converter.
The April recall involved a substantially larger population than the latest campaign.
What Is JLR Doing to Fix the Problem?
JLR's remedy is a software update.
Dealers will install the update at no cost to vehicle owners.
The software is designed to:
- Correct the identified software bug.
- Improve electrical load balancing.
- Prevent conditions that could overload the DC-DC converter.
- Add a "limp home" mode if the converter goes offline.
The objective is to prevent the converter from being overloaded and provide an additional operating strategy if the converter becomes unavailable.
When Will Owners Be Notified?
JLR plans to notify owners of vehicles identified in the recall.
According to the recall information, notification letters are expected to be sent by November 13, 2026.
However, owners do not necessarily have to wait for a letter to determine whether their vehicle is affected.
How Can Land Rover Owners Check for a Recall?
The easiest way to determine whether a specific vehicle is affected is to check its 17-character VIN through the official NHTSA recall system.
NHTSA recommends that vehicle owners use its recall lookup service to check for open recalls. The agency also says recall repairs performed by the manufacturer's dealership are free of charge.
Owners can check their vehicle's recall status using the official NHTSA recall lookup tool.
Check Your Vehicle for Recalls — NHTSA
What Should Owners Do If Their Defender Is Recalled?
If your Land Rover Defender, Range Rover or another affected JLR vehicle is included in the recall, contact an authorized dealer and schedule the software update.
The repair is expected to be performed free of charge.
If the vehicle is displaying warning messages related to the electrical system, propulsion or battery, owners should follow the vehicle's instructions and contact a dealer rather than ignoring the warning.
NHTSA specifically advises vehicle owners to follow manufacturer instructions associated with an open safety recall, including any instructions concerning whether the vehicle should be driven or parked.
Why Software Recalls Are Becoming More Important
Modern vehicles increasingly depend on software to control electrical systems, battery management, power distribution and vehicle operating modes.
That means a software defect can sometimes produce consequences that previously would have been associated primarily with mechanical or hardware failures.
The JLR case is an example of how a software problem can interact with a sophisticated electrical architecture.
The vehicles involved use 48-volt mild-hybrid technology, which adds electrical components and control strategies to conventional gasoline-powered vehicles.
As automakers add more electronic systems, software updates have become an increasingly important part of vehicle safety campaigns.
Land Rover Defender Recall: Key Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Automaker | Jaguar Land Rover |
| Market | United States |
| Vehicles recalled | 23,677 |
| Main issue | DC-DC converter software problem |
| Potential consequence | Loss of drive power and exterior lighting |
| Technology | 48-volt mild-hybrid system |
| Defender model years | 2020–2024 |
| Defenders identified in latest population | 8,100 |
| Repair | Software update |
| Repair cost | Free |
| Expected owner notification | By November 13, 2026 |
| Reported injuries | None reported |
| Reported crashes | None reported |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Land Rover Defender being recalled in the United States?
Yes. Certain 2020–2024 Land Rover Defender models equipped with the affected 48-volt mild-hybrid system are included in the recall.
How many Land Rover Defenders are affected?
JLR identified 8,100 Defender vehicles in the latest U.S. recall population.
What is wrong with the Land Rover Defender?
The issue involves software controlling the vehicle's DC-DC converter. Under certain conditions, insufficient electrical load balancing can contribute to converter overload or cause the converter to go offline.
Can the problem cause a Defender to lose power?
Yes. According to the recall documentation, a DC-DC converter failure can eventually result in a loss of drive power as the vehicle's available battery charge is depleted.
Can the problem affect the headlights or exterior lights?
The recall documents state that a converter failure can also result in the loss of exterior lighting.
Is the Land Rover recall repair free?
Yes. The planned remedy is a software update that dealers will install at no cost to vehicle owners.
When will Land Rover owners receive recall notices?
JLR expects to notify owners of affected vehicles by November 13, 2026, according to the recall information.
How can I check whether my Land Rover is affected?
Owners can enter their vehicle identification number into NHTSA's official recall lookup system.
The Bottom Line
The latest JLR recall affects 23,677 vehicles in the United States, including the Land Rover Defender, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Discovery and several Jaguar models.
The underlying issue involves the DC-DC converter and software controlling the vehicle's 48-volt mild-hybrid electrical system. In certain circumstances, the problem can lead to loss of drive power and exterior lighting.
JLR's planned remedy is a software update designed to improve electrical load management and provide a fallback operating mode if the converter goes offline.
For owners of affected vehicles, checking the VIN and completing the recall repair is the most direct way to determine whether the vehicle requires attention. NHTSA maintains the official U.S. recall database and recommends that consumers address open safety recalls promptly.
Updated September 29, 2026.
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