MODEL
Land Rover Defender 130
NHTSA safety across every Land Rover Defender 130 model year we cover.
Across the 3 model years of the Land Rover Defender 130 we cover (2023 to 2025), no year has an NHTSA crash-test score on record. No recalls are on record across those years.
The Land Rover Defender 130 is a three-row, extended-wheelbase SUV that slots above the standard Defender 90 and 110 in Land Rover's lineup. It targets adventure-minded families and affluent buyers who want genuine off-road capability without sacrificing seating for up to eight passengers. It competes in the premium large SUV segment against rivals like the Mercedes-Benz GLS and the Cadillac Escalade.
From a pure safety-data standpoint, the Land Rover Defender 130 presents a picture that is genuinely thin on hard evidence. NHTSA has not crash-tested any model year of the Defender 130 in the 2023-through-2025 window we cover, which means there are no federal star ratings to anchor our assessment. That is a significant gap for a vehicle carrying a premium price and up to eight occupants. Shoppers cannot lean on independent federal crash scores the way they can with many mainstream rivals. On the positive side of the ledger, the Defender 130 carries zero recalls across the three model years we track. That is a clean record worth acknowledging, though the absence of recalls does not substitute for the absence of crash-test data. Owner complaints number 96 across the covered years, a modest figure for a low-volume, high-priced vehicle. Within those complaints, NHTSA records zero crashes, zero injuries, and zero deaths attributed to the vehicle. One fire allegation is on file. All complaints are unverified allegations, and the relatively small sales volume means the complaint pool is inherently limited in statistical weight. The honest bottom line: the Defender 130 has no red flags in the recall or complaint data, but the complete absence of NHTSA crash-test results leaves a real hole in the safety picture. Buyers prioritizing verified crash protection should weigh that gap seriously before signing.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally praise the Defender 130 for its distinctive styling, commanding road presence, and impressive off-road composure. Most find the interior materials and refinement a step above what the original Defender ever offered, though some note that the third-row access and overall packaging can feel compromised compared to purpose-built three-row SUV rivals. Driving dynamics on pavement draw mixed reactions, with ride comfort rated as adequate rather than exceptional.
- NHTSA has not crash-tested the Defender 130 for any model year from 2023 to 2025, so there are no federal star ratings available. Shoppers cannot compare its structural performance against rivals using government data.
- The Defender 130 carries a perfect recall record across the 2023-2025 model years covered, with zero recalls issued by NHTSA during that period.
- Ninety-six owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA across the covered model years. NHTSA records zero crashes, zero injuries, and zero deaths within those complaints, though one fire allegation is on file. All are unverified allegations.
- Because the Defender 130 is a low-volume premium vehicle, the complaint dataset is relatively small. That limits the statistical confidence of any trend analysis, making the lack of crash-test data an even more important factor to consider when evaluating safety.