Land rover Defender 90 problems

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The Land Rover Defender (initially introduced as the Land Rover 110 / One Ten, and in 1984 joined by the Land Rover 90 / Ninety, plus the new, extra-length Land Rover 127 in 1985) is a series of British off-road cars and pickup trucks. They consistently have four-wheel drive, and were developed in the 1980s from the original Land Rover series which was launched at the Amsterdam Motor Show in April 1948. Following the 1989 introduction of the Land Rover Discovery, the term 'Land Rover' became the name of a broader marque, and thus no longer worked as the name of a specific model; thus in 1990 Land Rover renamed the 90 and 110 as Defender 90 and Defender 110 respectively. The 127 became the Defender 130.

The vehicle, a British equivalent of the Second World War derived (Willys) Jeep, gained a worldwide reputation for ruggedness and versatility. Using a steel ladder chassis and an aluminium alloy bodywork, the Land Rover originally used detuned versions of Rover engines. The original Defender is still being produced in developing countries despite the arrival of the Land Rover Defender (L663).

Though the Defender was not a new generation design, it incorporated significant changes, compared to the series Land Rovers, such as adopting coil springs front and rear, as opposed to all leaf springs on the previous; except for retaining rear leaf springs on high capacity (payload) models. Coil springs offered both better ride quality and improved axle articulation. Adding a lockable centre differential to the transfer case gave the Defender permanent (on-road) four-wheel-drive capability. Both changes were derived from the Range Rover, and the interiors were also modernised.

Externally, a full-length bonnet and full-width integrated grille and headlights, combined with (finally) a single-piece windscreen, plus widened wheel arches that covered new, wider-track axles were the most noticeable changes. Initially the engineering department conserved a part-time 4WD system, like on previous models, but it failed to sell, and this option was dropped in 1984. While the engine was carried over from the Series III, a new series of modern and more powerful engines was progressively introduced.

Even when ignoring the series Land Rovers and perhaps ongoing licence products, the 90/110 and Defender models' 33-year production run were ranked as the sixteenth longest single-generation car in history in 2020.

In 2020, Jaguar Land Rover introduced the first all new generation of Land Rover Defenders, switching from body on chassis to integrated bodywork and from live, rigid axles to all around independent suspension. While starting at a higher base price, the new model brought significant improvements to on road dynamics over the old model, air suspension is available on most trims. The range was originally limited to just two wheelbase lengths before a third, the Defender 130, was announced in 2022. The new Defender series is only available in closed, estate car bodies.

photo of Land rover Defender 90 car production

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Land rover Defender 90 model years

land rover defender 90 1997 photo
Defender 90 1997
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Defender 90 1996
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land rover defender 90 1995 photo
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Common Land rover Defender 90 problems

Based on complaints from owners of the Land Rover Defender 90, several common problems have been highlighted:

  • Mechanical Issues: Defenders may experience poor running due to faults in the fuel-injection loom, ECU connector, fuel pump, or fuel filter. These issues can result in performance issues and require thorough inspection and maintenance.
  • Rust: Rust is a significant concern for Defenders, particularly in the chassis and rear crossmember. Corrosion in these areas can be costly to repair and compromise the structural integrity of the vehicle.
  • Recalls: Land Rover issued multiple recalls for the Defender, addressing various issues like cracked flywheels, brake hoses, service brakes, parking brakes, seat belt mountings, axle tubes, wheel hubs, and auto boxes. These recalls indicate potential safety and reliability issues that owners should be aware of.
  • Electrical Problems: Land Rovers, including the Defender, are known for electrical issues and software faults. While the Defender seems to have fewer problems compared to other models, owners have reported issues related to electrical systems, which can impact the vehicle's performance and reliability.
  • Infotainment System: Some owners have experienced issues with the infotainment system, such as connectivity problems with Bluetooth and software updates. While these may seem minor, they can affect the overall user experience and functionality of the vehicle.
  • Suspension Faults: Reports of suspension faults have been noted, leading to warnings and potential safety concerns. Addressing suspension issues promptly is crucial to ensure the vehicle's stability and driving performance.

By addressing these common problems, owners of the Land Rover Defender 90 can better prepare for maintenance and potential issues, ensuring a smoother ownership experience.

Land rover Defender 90

Is the Land Rover Defender 90 reliable?

Reliability and problems

It's worth noting that the Defender appears to suffer with fewer issues than other Land Rover models, though. Possibly the fact that it's built in a very new factory in Slovakia, rather than in Land Rover's traditional home plants in the midlands, has something to do with that.

What is the most common problem with the Land Rover Defender?

The clutch and gearbox on the Land Rover Defender get a harder time than most, so it's no surprise that the clutch is known to fail on occasion.

Is a Land Rover Defender 90 a good investment?

High Resale Value

Every car loses value over time. However, the Land Rover Defender still maintains a high resale value. In other words, while the initial price tag is high, owners can still recover some of their investment when they sell their used Defender.

Why are Defender 90 so expensive?

Over the last 10 years

This is due to a combination of factors, including increasing demand, limited supply, and the reputation of Defenders as durable, capable, and iconic vehicles. Additionally, the design of the Defenders is timeless and has become an icon.

Percentage distribution of complaints by Land rover Defender 90 years

We have researched Land rover problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Land rover Defender 90 cars and compiled the top 3 most problematic Land rover Defender 90 model years:

Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Land rover Defender 90 model years.

Distribution of the number of complaints by Land rover Defender 90 years

We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:

Land rover Defender 90 car problems categorized by type of issue

After analysing all complaints related to Land rover Defender 90 , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:

  • Electrical system problems
  • Service brakes problems
  • Hydraulic problems
  • Structure problems
  • Equipment problems

The graph below shows statistics for all Land rover Defender 90 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

The NHTSA has received 7 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Land rover Defender 90 . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Land rover Defender 90 vehicles.

List of Land rover Defender 90 complaints

Land rover Defender 90 1997
  • Date Of Incident: 2010-01-01
  • Date Complaint: 2010-06-07
  • VIN: SALDV3249VA
  • Components: STRUCTURE
  • Summary: THE VEHICLE FRAME IS PREMATURELY RUSTING TO THE POINT IT MAY FAIL. *TR
Land rover Defender 90 1997
  • Date Of Incident: 2010-03-30
  • Date Complaint: 2010-04-10
  • VIN: SALDV3249VA
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT
  • Summary: THE ODOMETER IN MY 1997 LAND ROVER DEFENDER 90 BLINKS AT 135000 KM AND IT STOP SHOWING THE NUMBERS. NOW I CANT READ HOW MANY KILOMETERS I DRIVE THEREFORE I M WORRY ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DRIVE TRAIN. I M AFRAID BY NOT KNOWING HOW MANY KM I M DRIVING MAY LEAD TO ENGINE DAMAGE AS I MAY NOT CHANGE ENGINE OIL AT THE REQUIRED INTERVAL RESULTING IN COSTLY REPAIR. *TR
Land rover Defender 90 1995
  • Date Of Incident: 2007-07-16
  • Date Complaint: 2007-09-07
  • VIN: SALDV2282SA
  • Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
  • Summary: EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE: DRIVING THE VEHICLE. FAILURE: ONE OIL LINE FROM THE ENGINE TO THE FRONT RADIATOR BURST. CONSEQUENCE: OIL WAS SPRAYED ALL OVER THE ENGINE BAY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. PART REPAIRED / REPLACED: OIL LINE REPLACED BY STRONGER MODELS (BRAIDED TO AVOID OIL SPRAYING IN CASE OF FAILURE) AND ROUTED _AWAY_ FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WHILE FIRE WAS AVOIDED FOR THIS INSTANCE, IT CAME TO MY ATTENTION THAT ALL LAND ROVER 90 AND 110 VEHICLES ARE PRONE TO THIS TYPE OF FAILURE (AND MAYBE LAND ROVER DISCOVERY VEHICLES). A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THOSE VEHICLES HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB UPDATED 06/25/08 *BF UPDATED 06/26/08
Land rover Defender 90 1996
  • Date Of Incident: 2001-06-18
  • Date Complaint: 2001-06-22
  • VIN: SALJY1248TA
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
  • Summary: HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES SINCE PURCHASE. BRAKES FAILED AFTER DEALER ASSURED ME THAT THEY WERE SAFE DESPITE A SQUEAL.
Land rover Defender 90 1995
  • Date Of Incident: 2000-05-18
  • Date Complaint: 2000-05-22
  • VIN: SALDV2286RA
  • Components: POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: WHILE PARKING VEHICLE AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO BACK UP UP IN REVERSE, NOT ABLE TO DISENGAGE SHIFT LEVER. HIT CURB AND WENT OVER IT. TURNED VEHICLE OFF. VEHICLE IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. *AK *ML
Land rover Defender 90 1995
  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • Date Complaint: 1999-07-15
  • Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
  • Summary: IGNITION FASTNER THAT HOLDS SWITCH TOGETHER FELL APART, CAUSING IGNITION SWITCH TO COME LOOSE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Land rover Defender 90 1997
  • Date Of Incident: 1997-07-01
  • Date Complaint: 1997-11-10
  • VIN: FALDX3243BA
  • Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
  • Summary: CONSUMER STATES MOISTURE IS ENTERING IN THE TAIL LIGHTS ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE TAIL LIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED PARTS. CONSUMER STILL EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

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