Thread: New Defender reliability?

All I can say is: 62,000 km in a 2010 D90 without any significant issue. I would be happy to drive one out of the showroom and into the bush but to be sensible, I would do a 1,000 km first to find the loose nuts and bolts!

Cheers
KarlB

Hi Adam, I bought my Puma new in 2010 and drove it strait out of the showroom to ARB for some add ons and then with 300km on the clock strait to the Vic High Country and did 800km on tracks from moderate to very difficult over 7 days not seeing a made road or track total trip miles over 3,000km - no problem. Also, like you, I use it for work. It was a replacement for my 300Tdi which did 300,000km for me without letting me down. Sure the Puma has had some issues, the biggest frustration of which was fighting with LRA to repair under warranty, but the extra power and comfort of the new Defender has been awesome - especially towing our little off road van on holidays. My issues so far: dust, replaced front diff, replaced rear diff pinion seal (twice), replaced brake booster pump (the new ones have better seals), intercooler hose rubbed through (now silicone hoses and zipped tied out of the way of the steering), rear transfer case seal leak (warranty re-call), front transfer case seal leak (no felt washer in it from new), a switch repair and I think thats it. It has done Googs Track, West Coast sand dunes, most of the 4WD tracks in the Flinders, heaps of paddock work, and 40,000km total now. I love it, but do sometimes wonder if I should have kept the 300Tdi and spent a whole lot less money modifying it to deliver the power of the new one....... still long for the days of no electrics although it is nice to re-map the new one...... Hope that helps

If you want to believe the knockers don't buy one. Pat

Adam, I bought a 2012 defender in Feb this year. drove it out of the showroom and got 32 Ks and it had an electrical issues and blew a fuse. and stopped. They found a crimped wire. Since then have done 14,000 Ks with no problems. Went to Nth Q'land and back towing a Cub camper and not one problem. I have owned all models of defenders since 1992 and this is the best one. Plenty of knockers around but you need to concentrate on the facts.
Lindsay.

I have Puma 110 2011, warranty work has been 2 slightly loose door handles and a temperature sensor on the aircon.

I think you will find them no better nore worse than anything else out there. You could get the best or worst of the bunch. Atleast with LR, most owners are honest about faults, which inturn lets new owners learn. There are a few areas of the New Landrover Defenders to look at if you buy one. But no big deal

Guys like Pat have a good handle on them

My Puma is two years old with 70k on the clock, only issues to date have been a rear diff seal and gearbox output seal replacement which the dealer did under warranty. She is still in her standard trim and I take her anywhere and everywhere. I had a Hilux previously which had big wheels and all the trim, the standard defender is much more capable of the show room floor IMHO.

Cheers Simon.

Hi Adam

probably not the right person to reply to your question, I just bought a 2012 model 110 and couldn't be more pleased with it. I think I've put just over a thousand kilometres on it its its first week, but I headed straight out bush with it -to my house in fact- and it was covered in dust by the end of the first day.

I guess its still early days, but having struggled with uncertainties after reading the nay-sayers on this and other forums I'm so glad I bought it. Its far more refined than the old series and Tdi and V8 I used to drive, but its still a Land Rover, and brand new one! I have a feeling I'm going to have it a long while.

Cheers

Alan