Known APK problem
Land Rover Defender (2020): lights
On the Land Rover Defender (2020) the APK inspector finds lights problems 60% more often than on cars of the same age: at 3–4 years 9.9%, against about 6.2% nationally.
Window: Oct 2025 – Sep 2026 · Updated: 16 Oct 2026
What is it?
Broken bulbs, misaligned headlights or damaged light units.
How to check it at the viewing
Walk around with the lights, indicators, brake lights and rear fog light on. Look for moisture in the headlights.
Ask the seller: Have the headlights been aligned, and has there been moisture in the light units?
By age
Share of inspected Land Rover Defender (2020)s with this defect, compared with all cars of the same age.
| Age | Type | Defender (2020) | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 – 4 years | B | 9.9% | 6.2% | 1.6× |
A = structure, safety or costly mechanics; B = fail, usually simple; C = advisory. An age is missing when this defect is not among the most common there.
Comparable cars at 3–4 years
| Model | Lights | Vs. national |
|---|---|---|
| Land Rover Defender (2020) | 9.9% | 1.6× |
| Mazda CX-60 | 2.1% | 0.3× |
| Land Rover Range Rover Sport II | 8.6% | 1.3× |
| Toyota RAV4 V Plug-in | 2.0% | 0.3× |
| Mercedes-Benz GLC X253 | 4.0% | 0.6× |
| Jeep Compass II | 6.2% | 1.0× |
Looking at a Land Rover Defender (2020)? Check that car
Enter the plate and see the APK history, open recalls and how this car compares with other Land Rover Defender (2020)s of the same age.
All weak spots of the Land Rover Defender (2020) · Lights: which models more often · Checklist for this model
Frequently asked questions
Does the Land Rover Defender (2020) often have lights problems?
Yes, more often than average at the APK. At 3–4 years the inspector found a lights defect on 9.9% of inspected Land Rover Defender (2020)s, against about 6.2% of all cars of the same age (1.6×). Source: RDW Open Data, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026.
How do you check the lights on a used Land Rover Defender (2020)?
Walk around with the lights, indicators, brake lights and rear fog light on. Look for moisture in the headlights.
Repair indication: small, medium or large. An indication of the usual repair, not a quote: the real cost depends on the car, the cause and the garage.
Source: RDW Open Data (CC0), analysis CarXray.nl. 6,857,004 inspected passenger cars aged 3 years and older, Oct 2025 – Sep 2026. Each car counts once. How we know