2021 Land Rover Defender Seat Recall (21V499)

Recall 21V499 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Land Rover Defender in recall 21V499?

The front seat track end-stop bracket may become deformed, which could prevent the seat from locking into place.

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2021 Defender 90 vehicles equipped with manually-adjustable front seats. The front seat track end-stop bracket may become deformed, which could prevent the seat from locking into place.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 Defender with recall 21V499?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A seat that is not properly locked into place can move unintentionally during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A seat that is not properly locked into place can move unintentionally during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

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 seats.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V499?

Recall 21V499 covers 603 vehicles: 2021 Land Rover Defender.

NHTSA lists 603 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Defender seat recall?

Yes. Dealers will replace the front seat tracks, free of charge.

Dealers will replace the front seat tracks, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 28, 2021. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N609.

When was recall 21V499 announced?

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC reported recall 21V499 to NHTSA on July 1, 2021.

This recall was filed 63 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 21V499?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V499 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 21V499000. 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 21V499?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V499000 applies to your Defender.
2. Call a Land Rover dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. 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.
4. Keep a simple log of any seats symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are Defender owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 1 of them about the body, doors and seats.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the body, doors and seats have been filed since recall 21V499 was reported (1) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 42 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 1 of them involve the body, doors and seats. 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, 1 about the body, doors and seats

Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):

The contact owns a 2021 Land Rover Defender. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds, the driver-side windshield exterior A-pillar trim detached from the vehicle and blocked the driver-side rearview mirror, obstructing rear visibility.

2021 Land Rover Defender owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11748533, filed July 6, 2026

Can recall 21V499 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 seats 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)).

Door latch, seat and body structure defects can affect safety in a crash and everyday use. If the recall repair does not solve the problem, the repeat visit is part of your record.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Land Rover Defender has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 21V499