Recall 21V499 affects 603 2021 Land Rover Defender vehicles with front seat tracks that fail to lock. Repair is free at a franchised Land Rover dealer.
Land Rover is recalling 603 2021 Defender SUVs with manually adjustable front seats under recall 21V499 because the front seat track end-stop bracket can deform and stop the seat from locking into place. A loose seat can move during a crash and raise the risk of injury, and Land Rover dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The front seat track on the 2021 Land Rover Defender lets a manually adjustable front seat slide forward and back, then lock in place. The locking pins are supposed to drop into the seat track so the seat holds its selected position after adjustment.
On affected Defenders, the end-stop bracket at the front of the track can deform when the seat is pushed hard into its forward-most position. That can happen when the front seat is moved quickly forward to reach the second row. Once the bracket is bent, it can block the locking pins from fully engaging when the seat is near the front of its travel.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is mechanical, so an owner notices it only if the front seat does not latch firmly after being moved forward.
Who's affected?
| 2021 Land Rover Defender | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 603 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2021 Land Rover Defender is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific SUV is included.
What's the safety risk?
A front seat that is not locked into place can move unintentionally during a crash, increasing injury risk. There is no listed warning sign tied to the defect, so use the VIN result to decide whether this Defender needs service. Repair is free at any franchised Land Rover dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2021 Land Rover Defender is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Land Rover dealer to schedule the free front seat track replacement that fixes the deformed end-stop bracket and seat-latch problem.
- Bring the owner letter if you have it, or reference recall number 21V499 when you call.
- Check that the front seat is locked in place before driving, and stop using that seat if it will not latch.
- Call Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837 with questions about recall number 21V499.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Land Rover technician replaces the front seat tracks on the 2021 Defender covered by recall 21V499. The work is free under the recall, and parts and labor are covered. Out of pocket repairs already paid are handled through Jaguar's new vehicle warranty program, not through a separate reimbursement program, because the affected vehicles are still under warranty. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have prior repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| July 1, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 15, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| July 15, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 27, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| October 28, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V499?
Recall 21V499 covers 603 2021 Land Rover Defender 90 vehicles with manually adjustable front seats. The front seat track end-stop bracket can deform and keep the seat from locking in place. Land Rover dealers will replace the front seat tracks for free.
What should I do if my 2021 Land Rover Defender is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Defender is included in recall 21V499. If it is, contact a franchised Land Rover dealer to schedule the front seat track replacement. Reference recall 21V499 or Land Rover recall N609 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Land Rover's remedy says dealers will replace the front seat tracks free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised Land Rover dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is unintended seat movement during a crash. If the front seat does not lock into place, it can move when crash forces hit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. The dealer repair replaces the seat tracks to correct the locking problem.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V499000 |
|---|---|
| Land Rover customer service | 1-800-637-6837 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V499 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V499000 |
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 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →