Recall 21V435 affects 2,622 2020-2022 Land Rover Defender vehicles for rear light assemblies that can fail. Repair is free at any franchised Land Rover dealer.
Land Rover is recalling 2,622 2020-2022 Defender X vehicles with smoked rear light assemblies because a voltage spike from bright light at the rear can shut off the turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights. That failure can reduce visibility to other drivers and increase crash risk; Land Rover dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The rear tail lamp assembly on the 2020-2022 Land Rover Defender holds the turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights. Those lamps tell drivers behind you when you are braking, turning, or driving in low light. On Defender X vehicles with smoked rear lamp assemblies, that normal lighting function depends on the lamp electronics staying powered and awake.
A bright light shining directly at the rear lamps can create a voltage spike inside the LED components. The lamps react as if the circuit is seeing too much voltage, then the self-protection logic shuts the rear lamp down to protect the electronics. When that happens, the stop lamp, turn signal, tail lamp, or more than one rear lighting function stops working.
There is no warning sign before failure. Because these lamps are at the back of the vehicle, the driver has no direct view of the missing brake, turn signal, or tail light while driving.
Who's affected?
The scope spans three model years and three exterior lighting functions tied to the same tail lamp assembly.
| 2020 Land Rover Defender | Turn signal |
|---|---|
| 2020 Land Rover Defender | Brake lights |
| 2020 Land Rover Defender | Tail lights |
| 2021 Land Rover Defender | Turn signal |
| 2021 Land Rover Defender | Brake lights |
| 2021 Land Rover Defender | Tail lights |
| 2022 Land Rover Defender | Turn signal |
| 2022 Land Rover Defender | Brake lights |
| 2022 Land Rover Defender | Tail lights |
| Units affected | 2,622 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
Failed turn signals, brake lights, or tail lights make the Defender harder for other drivers to see and increase the risk of a crash. Check exterior lights before driving, use extra space in traffic, and schedule the repair soon if your VIN is included. Repair is free at any franchised Land Rover dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2020-2022 Land Rover Defender is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Land Rover dealer to schedule the free rear-light-assembly replacement that fixes the turn signal, brake light, and tail light failure.
- Bring the recall notice if Land Rover mailed one. If you do not have it, reference recall number 21V435 when you call.
- Call Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837 with questions about the recall or dealer scheduling.
- Drive with extra caution until the repair is complete, especially when other drivers need to see your rear lights.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Land Rover technician replaces the rear light assemblies covered by the recall. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. Land Rover has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for a related repair before the recall work was completed. Bring prior repair paperwork and payment documentation to the service desk, or contact Land Rover customer service to ask how to submit the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 8, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 22, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| June 22, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 3, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| September 27, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V435?
Recall 21V435 covers 2,622 2020-2022 Land Rover Defender X vehicles with smoked rear light assemblies. A voltage spike from bright light at the rear of the vehicle can make the turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights fail. Land Rover dealers replace the rear light assemblies for free.
What should I do if my 2020-2022 Land Rover Defender is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Defender is included in recall 21V435. If it is, contact a franchised Land Rover dealer and schedule the rear light assembly replacement. Reference recall number 21V435 or Land Rover recall N598 when you call. The repair is free.
Does the recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Land Rover will replace the rear light assemblies free of charge at any franchised Land Rover dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced visibility to other drivers. If the turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights fail to illuminate, other drivers have less information about your braking, turning, or vehicle position, increasing crash risk. The dealer repair replaces the affected rear light assemblies.
When did Land Rover notify owners about recall 21V435?
Land Rover mailed owner letters on September 27, 2021. If you bought the Defender used or never received a letter, check your VIN and call a franchised Land Rover dealer with recall number 21V435 or Land Rover recall N598.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V435000 |
|---|---|
| Land Rover customer service | 1-800-637-6837 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V435 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V435000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →