2023 Land Rover Defender Vehicle Tether Anchor Recall (23V137)

Recall 23V137 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2023 Land Rover Defender in recall 23V137?

The third-row seatback latch may not latch properly, reducing the strength of a child seat installed to the top tether.

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The third-row seatback latch may not latch properly, reducing the strength of a child seat installed to the top tether.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Is it safe to drive a 2023 Defender with recall 23V137?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A child seat with reduced strength may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A child seat with reduced strength may not properly restrain the occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

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 vehicle tether anchor, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 23V137?

Recall 23V137 covers 812 vehicles: 2023 Land Rover Defender.

NHTSA lists 812 vehicles in this campaign, built July 11, 2022 to October 26, 2022. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Defender vehicle tether anchor recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect and replace the third-row seat frame and components, as necessary, free of charge.

Dealers will inspect and replace the third-row seat frame and components, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 24, 2023. Owners may contact Land Rover customer service at 1-800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is N768.

When was recall 23V137 announced?

Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC reported recall 23V137 to NHTSA on March 2, 2023. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as April 24, 2023.

This recall was filed 43 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 107 days. 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 23V137?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V137 is open on your Defender, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2023 Defender vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should Defender owners do about recall 23V137?

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 23V137000 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 vehicle tether anchor 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 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 82 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 4 of them about the other equipment.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the other equipment have been filed since recall 23V137 was reported (4) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 82 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 4 of them involve the other equipment. 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.

• 2023 Land Rover Defender: 82 complaints in total, 4 about the other equipment

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

– The windshield began to crack without anything impacting the car (No rocks, pepples, or debris hit the windshield.) – A cracked windshield can lead to several safety issues.

2023 Land Rover Defender owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11542584, filed September 5, 2023

The cover over the ADAS sensors above the rear view mirror detached and fell into the driver area causing loss of control. This has happened before (without accident or loss of control) but I don't remember the date.

2023 Land Rover Defender owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11551142, filed October 21, 2023

Windshield issue having to replace Windshield twice in 4 months if rock hit it spread .

2023 Land Rover Defender owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11589308, filed May 17, 2024

Can recall 23V137 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.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Even an equipment recall can matter in a lemon law claim if the problem keeps coming back or the 2023 Land Rover Defender spends many days at the dealer.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2023 Land Rover Defender has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have 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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 23V137