Used Land Rover Defender (L663) review

Maybe this is just a Land Rover thing that we don’t fully grasp, but often owner’s group discussion threads will feature Defender owners passionately declaring their love for their Defenders, while simultaneously listing all the issues they’ve had. And it’s important to remember, the Defender is not some old , well-worn off-roader with a quarter-million kilometres on the clock, these are relatively new vehicles, and while some teething issues are expected in the first couple of years of production, by now, everything should be sorted out. But that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Exterior:

• If you’re new to researching the Defender, one issue becomes immediately apparent: electronic gremlins. With most used vehicles your considering buying, testing electrical components is a good idea, but with the Defender, it’s an absolute necessity.
• Owners have reported bizarre power window and sunroof problems, sometimes refusing to open fully, sometimes refusing to close at all, even after a full restart.
• Even something as simple as opening and closing the doors can cause major headaches. As ridiculous as it sounds, multiple owners have reported that if you repeatedly open and close the doors without starting the engine (like what you’d do while camping) it can drain the battery completely, rendering the car a glorified garden ornament.
• The reason? When the vehicle detects doors being opened and closed, various modules and computers power on, consuming battery power. Eventually, the power runs out.
• But this is where the real nightmare begins. A simple jump-start won’t fix it. A software override is required, meaning a technician needs to plug in a laptop. If you’re deep in the bush, far from a dealership, this could become a serious problem.
• And if the battery dies completely, towing the Defender is a challenge. It can’t be towed in the conventional sense, only on a flatbed. Towing it with all four wheels on the ground is technically possible, but only forward, for no more than 50 km, and at a maximum of 50 km/h. Otherwise, you risk serious transmission damage.
• The problem gets worse, after 10 minutes of being towed, the parking brake, which operates as a transmission brake, automatically engages. If you keep towing it after that, you’ll likely cause catastrophic transmission damage.
• Replacing the battery might sound like an easy solution, but it’s not. We’ll get into that when we discuss the interior.
• If the Defender loses power off-road, far from a flatbed tow truck or dealership, you’re in serious trouble. To be fair, requiring a flatbed is not exclusive to the Defender, many modern 4WDs have similar limitations.
• Windscreens have also been reported to crack for no apparent reason. Some owners say warranty replacements fix the issue, but others have experienced repeat failures. If the vehicle is out of warranty or insurance won’t cover it, a new windscreen can cost over $2,000.
• Lighting issues are another problem, with some owners experiencing complete front light module failures, something you only tend to notice at night.
• Trim issues have also been reported, with exterior A-pillar trim pieces working loose or even flying off at highway speeds.
• Owners have complained about squeaky door seals and the bonnet release cable getting stuck.
• Also be warned, factory accessories can be absurdly expensive if added later. The tow hitch, for example, costs around $1,500 when optioned from the factory but can be over $4,000 if fitted afterwards.
• Finally, some owners have reported issues with the rear washer system developing leaks.

Interior:

• Some unlucky owners have dealt with black infotainment screens, unresponsive displays, and a glitchy PiviPro system. Connection issues with phones and the companion app are common as well.
• Some of these problems can be resolved with a hard reset, software update, or an over-the-air update. Others have had to restart the vehicle after an update or let it fully enter sleep mode (which takes about 15 minutes after double-locking the vehicle). In the worst cases, hardware repairs are required and these will be very expensive if the Defender is out of warranty.
• In relation to the earlier issue about opening and closing the doors draining the battery, in some Defenders, replacing the battery can trigger system-wide resets that take up to three days for all the computers to normalise, leading to drive mode delays, camera failures, and slow infotainment login times. Some owners have even reported steering wheels that turn on their own. It’s rare, but it has happened.
• Before buying, test every button, especially on the steering wheel, as some seem to confuse the infotainment system or fail to function entirely.
• Some sound systems randomly lose all sound, usually requiring a software update, though not always. Play bass-heavy music at high volume too, loose speaker bolts are a known issue, but at least it’s an easy fix.
• Interior durability seems to vary by spec. Some owners find it tough and resilient, while others report cracked leather, easily scratched plastics, and rapid wear if not properly maintained.

Mechanically:

Petrol Engines:

• The 4 and 6-cylinder petrol engines are modular in design, meaning they share a lot of parts, and understandably, a lot of problems.
• Timing chain issues are well-documented. Chains stretch, guides wear, and in some cases, they snap entirely, leading to catastrophic and incredibly expensive failures. The chains are located at the rear of the engine, so repairs require removing the engine and transmission and much of the front of the vehicle, this will be time-consuming and very costly.
• Excessive oil consumption is frequently reported, often leading to turbo failures due to oil starvation.
• Boost leaks are common, caused by plastic engine components cracking due to fatigue.
• Carbon build-up on the valves is also an issue, though it won’t necessarily stop the car, it just makes it inefficient. A media blast usually fixes it.
• Water pump leaks are common. The pump itself is overly complicated, with an internal sliding cover that restricts coolant flow, and it tends to fail.
• The 5.0L Supercharged V8 suffers from similar timing chain issues. While less prone to catastrophic failure than the smaller engines, the guides and tensioners can wear out, potentially leading to the chain skipping teeth and causing serious problems.
• The supercharger’s drive coupling can also wear out, causing an annoying rattle. Better aftermarket couplings exist and are both cheaper and more durable than the OEM parts.
• The 4.4L twin-turbo BMW V8 is exclusive to the top-spec OCTA model. If you’re buying that, you have more money than sense.

Diesel Engines:

• The 4 and 6-cylinder diesels are also modular, meaning they share similar timing chain issues such as rattling, premature wear, and at worst catastrophic failure.
• EGR coolers and valves frequently fail, often leading to overheating.
• DPF issues are common, though they’re sometimes misdiagnosed. Blocked sensors or boost leaks can trigger similar fault codes.
• Oil dilution is a major problem, accelerating timing chain wear and turbo failure.

Suspension:

• Like almost every vehicle with air suspension, costly repairs are inevitable at some point. Some owners have already reported “Suspension Fault” warnings on the dash, preventing the system from adjusting until the vehicle is locked, left alone for a few minutes, and restarted. Sometimes this works, sometimes an over-the-air update is required, and sometimes that doesn’t work either.
• Suspension sensors can also fail, causing the system to jack itself into extended lift mode when it shouldn’t.
• The air compressors are another weak point, with some already failing outright.
• Owners’ forums strongly suggest learning how to fix these issues yourself to avoid the high fees some dealerships charge. If DIY isn’t an option, finding a reputable independent mechanic and using aftermarket parts is highly recommended, many of which are more reliable and cost-effective than Land Rover’s OEM replacements.

Overall:

Many owners assume they’re doing the right thing by following Land Rover’s extended service intervals, but 30,000 km or two-year intervals will destroy these engines. Service every 10,000 km or 12 months (5,000 km and 6 months if towing or off-roading).

Some owners tolerate the Defender’s “quirks and gremlins,” but are they just desensitised? Blinded by brand loyalty? Or have they never owned a truly reliable 4WD like a LandCruiser, Patrol, or Pajero?