Thread: New Defender reliability?

2009 110 - 80,000ks so far.

No show stoppers - but a few replacement parts (mostly cos' I'm pedantic about drive train lash):

rear axles and seals

transfer case

rear diff

Also a couple of water leaks and a few little bits and pieces.

Everything done during services (with the exception of of the transfer case which took 4 weeks and a crap load of back and forth with LR). Mine's spent a fair bit of time in the Alps, also done a 14,000k (in 3 weeks towing a trailer) round trip to WA as a rallye support vehicle (fair bit of nasty corrugated dirt in that one - as in enough to break the driver's seat frame) and been bashed around the Watagans and Stockton dunes too. Next up is a Simpson run and then maybe the CSR.

I'd guarantee you'll have some issues but, notwithstanding the recent 2.2 hose clamp fiasco, odds on they won't be show stoppers.

PS no clutch issues either...
PPS two friends just got new 70 series, so will be interesting to see their experiences first hand.

Thanks everyone, seems like I'm on the right track. Normal new car issues, to be expected, some problem vehicles but not widespread dramas.

Looking forward to having a new one, but will be sad to part with the old one... Perennial problem for Landy owners I think!

Cheers,

Adam

2011 Crew Cab ute. 25+k on the clock.
Have been on a few trips, both road/track, performed faultlessly.
The only issue it's had was a dodgy ECU (I think) they replaced it along with all the injectors, which they had to do because they couldn't reprogram the old ones, (don't know why).
Had a minor issue with the window guides and also door seals.

Overall, I love it, and I really don't care about the "little" issues. She'll perform better than everything else as a standard unit, then you can do some mods.

knockers and naysayers? i'd say first hand experience from repairers and owners, personally.

jc

They've certainly had a few issues, but on the positive spin that means there's a wealth of experience with them already. The experience of others on here has already saved me from at least one disaster.

Things to check from new have to include the clearance between all hose clamps and adjacent hoses under the bonnet, all hose clamps under the bonnet for tightness, a general check around, under and through for loose bolts (I've found bolts missing, bolts with the nut only just on the thread and bolts cross threaded).

It's quite "different" to drive, and I didn't so much like it the very first time I drove it (the drivetrain slop takes some getting used to and the way the throttle "hangs" in the revs while you make your gear change), but I love it more and more all the time now. I can't wait to take it on a decent trip and do some camping again and I love the camaraderie of the Landy owners. I love it when "non-believers" comment on how nice my old Land Rover looks and the look on their faces when I say it's only 3 months old and only has 3,500 k's on the clock! I love the lazy power and the ability to slot it in 6'th gear and leave it there if I want to.

There are also plenty of "quirks" that maybe aren't so great. The steering lock was terrible when new (I've adjusted that now and it's much, much better), I don't like the fact the air-con outlets are only in the centre so your right hand and leg don't get any benefit - heat or cold (I prefer the bulkhead vent flaps on the S2a) and ... and ... actually maybe not "plenty of quirks" - just a couple. I suppose you could throw in the small fuel tank (60 litre) range (+/- 500 km) from standard, but I've fixed that ((150 litres, +/- 1,250 km). Just thought of another quirk - the lack of sound insulation from the road stones flicking under the rear wheel arches. It's like someone firing a handgun behind your head when a stone finally works it's way out of the tread as you're driving down the freeway!

I'm now really struggling with the decision as to whether to drive the S2a or the new kid on the block! (So I alternate)

Ciao

Originally Posted by akelly

Hi All,

I've been reviewing the threads about late model defender issues with interest. I'm planning to buy a new one in Jan/Feb but starting to wonder if that's such a good idea.

I have a 2000 model 130 at the moment, it has had it's share of minor issues. Generally it's very good though, and I do a lot of km (an average work trip will clock up 3000km).

What's the general feeling about the latest model - could I drive one out of the showroom and head into the wilderness? Mainly touring style work, getting from A-B including remote tracks and whatnot, but not rockcrawling or across the Simpson.

Cheers,

Adam

Sorry Adam I'm a knocker, no you cant drive it from the show room floor without issues. 90% chance it will fail large or small unfortunately. I guess most failings aren't show stoppers though some of mine where.

90% chance you will love the truck, but there will always be 10% hanging over your head something stupid will fail on it. I know that is for any vehicle, but we are talking Land Rover here.

I love my truck, but get frustrated with the large ticket items that need replacing, often with the same stock as the first failed part. Why else do people have several diffs, g boxes, tranferes' replaced. LR are doing something wrong and warranty doesn't last past 3 years.
If you're old girl is going well but has a few km on it so what. It will leak like a puma and not go as spritely, but I'd say repair it don't replace it.

The $80K mine coats me sure would have got a nice Tdi sorted, even with replaced panels.

I drove mine from the showroom to the bush,after 40K it's done the Gunbarrel,great Central,Gibb River and a few others and is still showroom stock,it's just returned from Perth for it's 40K service,no faults logged,no issue's other than the heater control needed the cable adjusted,it drives better than any 4wd I drive and I drive alot of them,the 40K service was $990 drive away which is excellent value and all up the only thing that worries me is that the 130 would be the better choice for the driving I do so it'll be replaced buy one after 3 years. Pat

The bigger items are sad really, JC may be able to yes or no this comment: T/Case failer is probably mostly due to oil level, ie to low on delivery. It is a proven T/case. Also, front Propshaft could be dodgy and the T/case gets blaimed

Rear diff: while it sint the best design, the Factory set up (ie back lash) is poor and inconsistant. Unfortunatly, the dealers are just swapping out the 3rd members for another off the shelf, set up from the same factory

Now you should not have to check oil levels on your brand new can, and certainly not the diff set up

I personally would check all oil levels on delivery and keep a close ear on the rear diff...