how are they in the realworld

[discomatt69]

I frequent another forum that is so anti LR and full of absolute BS it is astounding, according to the know it all there it would seem no LR actually drives anywhere under its own power without continual brake downs.
I know we have our fair share of issues and without question have reliability issues, I am not one of those owners who look through rose colored glasses.
What I am after here is real world experience of new Defender ownership, how many niggly issues, how many trips back to the dealer, has it broken down, has anything come loose and rattled?
There are several videos on the net that detail issues and some very serious ones , what have owners here found, I am not on crapbook and have no interest in joining it so can not check the owners page there, what is the vibe on FB?

[ramblingboy42]

read through all the threads here discomatt

you will see what you are looking for

[100inch]

Join the two major OZ-FB groups or DEFENDER2.NET - Index (https://www.defender2.net/forum/) ,where some of the members here are regular contributors.
You will find the ratio between L663 owners and knuckle draggers much more favourable....m

[mowog]

There are always pub talk experts.

I have a 2010 Discovery 4 that I have owned from new. It has never left me stranded on the side of the road. Yes it has had its problems. I have a Defender P400 S 110 on order.

Ignore the pub talk experts.

[Xtreme]

I've had over 30 Land Rovers over almost 60 years of motoring and have never been in a situation where I was unable to drive home. Never been on a lift truck or needed to be towed home and I've travelled Australia extensively including remote areas such as the Matigan Line (northern Simpson Desert), the Kimberley, Gunbarrel Hwy, Victorian High Country etc.

A few returns to the dealer with a couple of new vehicles but only for minor issues.
Things do sometimes come loose and rattle - as is the case with any machine - however, if attended to promptly don't usually develop into anything major.

I think I'll stick with what has given me good service and ignore the LR knockers. :whistling:
.

[scarry]

There was a post on here recently on D5 issues.
I know its not what the OP asked,but as we know,built in the same country and probably same factory?
And its been out a little while longer than the Defender,so probably a more accurate answer.

Have a look at the thread,from memory around half went back for some sort of issue.

I have just been through the file i have on our old D4,it went back for 11 issues over the first 18 months,two issues they didnt ever fix,one annoying dash rattle/vibration,and the dash read out for L/100 never accurate,often 30% out.

So hopefully there have been improvements,with the L663.

[grey_ghost]

I bought my Defender 90 P300 in September 2021. I have done 31,000km so far - absolutely zero issues.

There have been some trim issues in the 2020 defenders.
And the heated windscreen seems to have a few issues.

I am extremely happy with my Defender.

There are always bad stories out there - anyone want to talk about Toyota and the DPF issues (that they lost in court) ..?

Anyway - many owners on FB love their Defenders, but you only ever hear from the people that complain.

[Discodicky]

I frequent another forum that is so anti LR and full of absolute BS it is astounding, according to the know it all there it would seem no LR actually drives anywhere under its own power without continual brake downs.
I know we have our fair share of issues and without question have reliability issues, I am not one of those owners who look through rose colored glasses.
What I am after here is real world experience of new Defender ownership, how many niggly issues, how many trips back to the dealer, has it broken down, has anything come loose and rattled?
There are several videos on the net that detail issues and some very serious ones , what have owners here found, I am not on crapbook and have no interest in joining it so can not check the owners page there, what is the vibe on FB?

You'll have to go onto crapbook as there is a very good one called "The New Defender Owners Group" and it is very interesting. Worldwide Group.
Overall, they are receiving excellent reports, just a coupla minor issues incl occasional cracked windscreen.
The Yanks absolutely love 'em.
Many have very high mileage, so thoroughly sorted.
Frankly, Crapbook is your best bet as it is easy enough to post therefore you'll most likely get short, honest posts as people don't have time/can't be bothered to submit anything anywhere else which takes time.......

[scarry]

The Yanks absolutely love 'em.
Many have very high mileage, so thoroughly sorted.

Noting they don't get the Diesels.

The 4cyl Ingenium Diesels haven't been the best,hopefully they are now sorted.
Although they have been dropped in some models including the Defender.

[scarry]

This one looks like its a $2.00 part that has caused the issue.[bigsad]
Probably made in China,the part that is.

The other reports are a good read.

Land Rover Defender 90 - long-term review - Report No:5 2022 | Top Gear (https://www.topgear.com/long-term-car-reviews/land-rover/defender/30-d250-x-dynamic-hse-90-3dr-auto/report-5?fbclid=IwAR2iDJv2ff0ETdOYrRcJnEqQJy50e3y99-GHt9meG-HG57TYA1SgNqKWA70)

[spudfan]

This one looks like its a $2.00 part that has caused the issue.[bigsad]
Probably made in China,the part that is.

The other reports are a good read.

Land Rover Defender 90 - long-term review - Report No:5 2022 | Top Gear (https://www.topgear.com/long-term-car-reviews/land-rover/defender/30-d250-x-dynamic-hse-90-3dr-auto/report-5?fbclid=IwAR2iDJv2ff0ETdOYrRcJnEqQJy50e3y99-GHt9meG-HG57TYA1SgNqKWA70)


Regarding the above. If checking for coolant leaks which would include removing the cap from the coolant reservoir, it would make sense to examine the cap. If coolant was escaping through a crack there would be evidence of coolant where the crack is. Well that's what I would do. I always check the basics first.