land rover defender reliability 2023

The 2023 Land Rover Defender is tougher than a tradie’s thermos, but it’s still a Land Rover—so keep an eye on the electrics. Later builds are notably better than the early 2020 launch cars, with many glitches ironed out via software updates. Servicing and a proper pre-purchase inspection are your best mates here, and in Australia it’s backed by a 5-year, unlimited kilometre warranty, which helps the blood pressure. Here are the usual grumbles owners report:

• Infotainment (Pivi Pro) freezes or slow boot; over-the-air updates fix most of it.
• Electrical gremlins: warning lights, sensors, and camera quirks.
• Air suspension hiccups or compressor faults on higher-spec models.
• Occasional water ingress around seals and roof accessories if poorly fitted.
• Diesel DPF complaints on short-trip cars; keep it on proper runs.

Overall reliability sits mid-pack: better than the memes suggest, not quite bulletproof like a Prado. Buy on condition and history, and it’ll do the outback and the school run without drama.