2021 Land Rover Defender Electrical Software Recall (21V424)
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC · 163 vehicles · Reported June 3, 2021
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC is recalling 163 2021 Land Rover Defender vehicles. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) may unexpectedly switch off while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in an engine stall with no warning. An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
Recall 21V424 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V424000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | N599 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | June 3, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021 Land Rover Defender |
| Units affected | 163 |
| Component | Electrical System > Software |
| Safety risk | An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Over-the-air software update |
What is wrong with the 2021 Land Rover Defender in recall 21V424?
The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) may unexpectedly switch off while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in an engine stall with no warning.
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Land Rover Defender vehicles equipped with 6-cylinder engines. The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) may unexpectedly switch off while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in an engine stall with no warning.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Defender with recall 21V424?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Defender shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the software, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V424?
Recall 21V424 covers 163 vehicles: 2021 Land Rover Defender.
NHTSA lists 163 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Land Rover | Defender |
What is the fix for the Defender electrical software recall?
Yes. The fix is an over-the-air software update.
The Connected Diagnostic Services (CDS) and the Over-the-air (OTA) diagnostics functionality will be disabled, either by a dealer or through an OTA update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 28, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N599.
When was recall 21V424 announced?
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC reported recall 21V424 to NHTSA on June 3, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as July 28, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 3, 2021 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V424000. |
| July 28, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 64 months ago. If your Defender was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Defender is part of recall 21V424?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V424 is open on your Defender, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V424000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Defender owners do about recall 21V424?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V424000 applies to your Defender.
- Call a Land Rover dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the software happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Defender owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 5 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 21V424 was reported on June 3, 2021, owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the electrical system and were received on or after June 3, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related electrical system issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 42 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 5 of them involve the electrical system. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Land Rover Defender: 42 complaints in total, 5 about the electrical system
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
On or about August 7 or 8, my wife was driving our vehicle when it suddenly stalled and stopped running. Prior to this incident, we received a warning that the battery was low and that the vehicle needed to be started immediately. On August 9, I replaced the battery.
2021 Land Rover Defender owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11682718, filed August 24, 2025
The daytime running lights (DRL) have failed in the passenger side. After some quick research, it's apparent that this is a widespread issue with the "Signature" halo lights in the Defender headlamp assembly. Reddit discussion: [XXX] ) Here is a Youtube video showing the issue and "fix".
2021 Land Rover Defender owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11701653, filed November 26, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Land Rover Defender. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V248000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
2021 Land Rover Defender owner, AZ, NHTSA complaint 11754833, filed August 4, 2026
Can recall 21V424 make my Defender a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this software recall means their Defender qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Electrical faults are hard to diagnose, so dealers often try several fixes before one works, if one works at all. That pattern of repeat visits for the same software problem is common in lemon law claims.
Because the remedy is an over-the-air update, there may be no repair order unless you take the 2021 Land Rover Defender in. If the symptom continues after the update, get it documented at the dealer so it counts.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Defender been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Land Rover Defender recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V424
Did the recall 21V424 fix work?
Since recall 21V424 was reported on June 3, 2021, owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed July 28, 2021.
Is the 21V424000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Defender is part of recall 21V424000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V424000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Land Rover. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.