MotorCaliberNHTSA Safety Index

MODEL

Land Rover Defender 90

NHTSA safety across every Land Rover Defender 90 model year we cover.

Across the 4 model years of the Land Rover Defender 90 we cover (2022 to 2025), no year has an NHTSA crash-test score on record. No recalls are on record across those years.

THE MOTORCALIBER REVIEW
MotorCaliber editorial Reviewed against NHTSA data 2026-07-03

The Land Rover Defender 90 is a two-door, short-wheelbase off-road SUV that sits at the premium end of the body-on-frame-adjacent adventure segment. Revived for the modern era, it targets affluent buyers who want genuine trail capability wrapped in a design-forward, upscale package. It competes in a rarified space where ruggedness and luxury are expected to coexist.

From a pure safety-data standpoint, the 2022-2025 Land Rover Defender 90 presents a picture that is notably thin on verified federal benchmarks. NHTSA has not crash-tested this model in any of the years we cover, which means shoppers cannot lean on star ratings or a MotorCaliber Safety Index to anchor their confidence. That absence is not a condemnation, but it is a real gap worth acknowledging before you write a six-figure check. On the positive side of the ledger, the Defender 90 carries zero recalls across the 2022 through 2025 model years in our dataset. For a relatively low-volume, freshly redesigned nameplate, that is a meaningful data point. Owner complaints total 160 across those four years, a modest figure for any vehicle sold in the United States over that span. Within those complaints, two allege a crash, one involves a fire, and one involves an injury. NHTSA treats all complaints as unverified allegations, and 160 reports does not suggest a systemic, widespread problem pattern. The honest bottom line: the Defender 90 has avoided the recall chaos and has generated relatively few owner complaints, but the complete lack of federal crash-test data leaves a meaningful blind spot. Buyers should factor that gap into their decision and monitor NHTSA actively for any future testing.

WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally praise the Defender 90 for its distinctive styling, strong off-road capability, and a cabin that mixes premium materials with a purposeful, almost utilitarian character. Most find the driving dynamics competent on-road if not class-leading in refinement, and the overall experience is considered well-suited to buyers who prioritize adventure credibility alongside upscale comfort.

WHAT TO KNOW
  • The Defender 90 has not been crash-tested by NHTSA for any model year from 2022 through 2025, so there are no federal star ratings or a MotorCaliber Safety Index score available to guide your purchase.
  • Zero recalls have been issued across the 2022-2025 model years covered in our data, which is a positive indicator for a recently redesigned, low-volume premium off-roader.
  • Owner complaints total 160 across four model years, a relatively low count, but two complaints allege a crash and one alleges a fire. All NHTSA complaints are unverified allegations, though shoppers should check the NHTSA portal for any updates before buying.
  • Because federal crash-test data is absent, shoppers who prioritize verified occupant-protection benchmarks should monitor NHTSA and IIHS for any future Defender 90 test results before finalizing their decision.

BY YEARDefender 90 by model year