2021-2022 Land Rover Defender Turn Signal Recall (21V435)
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC · 2,622 vehicles · Reported June 8, 2021
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC is recalling 2,622 2021-2022 Land Rover Defender vehicles. A voltage spike, triggered by a bright light shining on the rear of the vehicle, can cause the turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights to fail. Turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights that fail to illuminate can reduce visibility to other drivers and increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V435 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V435000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | N598 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | June 8, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Land Rover Defender |
| Units affected | 2,622 |
| Component | Exterior Lighting > Turn Signal |
| Safety risk | Turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights that fail to illuminate can reduce visibility to other drivers and increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Land Rover Defender in recall 21V435?
A voltage spike, triggered by a bright light shining on the rear of the vehicle, can cause the turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights to fail.
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Defender X vehicles equipped with smoked rear light assemblies. A voltage spike, triggered by a bright light shining on the rear of the vehicle, can cause the turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights to fail.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Defender with recall 21V435?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights that fail to illuminate can reduce visibility to other drivers and increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Turn signals, brake lights, and tail lights that fail to illuminate can reduce visibility to other drivers and increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the turn signal.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V435?
Recall 21V435 covers 2,622 vehicles: 2021-2022 Land Rover Defender.
NHTSA lists 2,622 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Land Rover | Defender |
What is the fix for the Defender turn signal recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the rear light assemblies, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the rear light assemblies, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 27, 2021. Owners can contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N598.
When was recall 21V435 announced?
Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC reported recall 21V435 to NHTSA on June 8, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 8, 2021 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V435000. |
| September 27, 2021 | 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 21V435?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V435 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 21V435000. 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 21V435?
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 21V435000 applies to your Defender.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Land Rover dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Keep a simple log of any turn signal symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- 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 115 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 29 of them about the lighting and visibility.
Since recall 21V435 was reported on June 8, 2021, owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility 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 lighting and visibility and were received on or after June 8, 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 lighting and visibility issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 115 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 29 of them involve the lighting and visibility. 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.
- 2022 Land Rover Defender: 73 complaints in total, 13 about the lighting and visibility
- 2021 Land Rover Defender: 42 complaints in total, 16 about the lighting and visibility
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The halo headlight went out, and I have an extended warranty that supposedly doesn't cover it. After researching, this seems to be a national event. The headlights need to be recalled and the manufacturer needs to be held accountable.
2021 Land Rover Defender owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11692392, filed October 9, 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
Both daytime running lights failed simultaneously. Not covered by warranty and told that they would cost >$5,000 to repair.
2021 Land Rover Defender owner, CT, NHTSA complaint 11718497, filed February 17, 2026
Can recall 21V435 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.
Recall 21V435000 does not automatically make your Defender a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
Lighting and visibility defects, such as headlights that fail, wipers that stop or mirrors that do not work, reduce your ability to see and be seen. They are often electrical, and they often come back.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Defender went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
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.
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 21V435
Did the recall 21V435 fix work?
Since recall 21V435 was reported on June 8, 2021, owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA about the lighting and visibility 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.
Is the 21V435000 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 21V435000?
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.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
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 21V435000 (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.