NHTSA Halts Sales of Land Rover Defender, Discovery, and Range Rover as 250,857 SUVs Are Recalled

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has ordered an immediate stop-sale for several of Land Rover’s most popular SUVs after a major safety issue prompted a recall affecting 250,857 vehicles across the United States.

The recall covers 2020-2026 Defender, 2021-2026 Discovery, and 2022-2026 Range Rover models. According to the investigation, the problem centers on the steering wheel’s clock spring connector, which carries electrical signals to the driver's airbag.

Land Rover's internal review found that the first warning signs appeared in August 2025, when dealers began reporting an unusual increase in airbag warning lights. Engineers traced the issue to corrosion developing on the connector's metal terminals. As resistance builds inside the circuit, the driver's airbag could fail to deploy properly—or may not deploy at all during a crash—significantly increasing the risk of serious injury.

Because of the safety risk, U.S. dealers have been instructed to stop selling affected vehicles immediately and not deliver any units currently sitting on dealership lots until the repair has been completed.

Fortunately, the repair itself is relatively simple. Dealers will apply a specially formulated protective grease to the connector terminals, creating a barrier against moisture and air to prevent further corrosion from developing.

Land Rover plans to begin notifying owners in August 2026. An initial recall notice will explain the issue, while a second letter will be mailed once dealerships receive sufficient quantities of the repair materials. Owners will then be able to schedule the repair free of charge.

The automaker has not yet confirmed whether vehicles sold in other markets, including China, are affected by the same defect. Owners outside the United States are encouraged to monitor announcements from their local safety authorities and check their VIN to determine whether their vehicle is included in any future recall campaign.