Model year guide

2002 Land Rover Defender

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2002 Land Rover Defender is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 14 on record.

2002 Land Rover Defender — representative photo
Representative photo

2002 Land Rover Defender at a glance

Safety recallsNone
Owner complaints3

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2002 Land Rover Defender recalls 0

No NHTSA safety-recall campaigns are on record for the 2002 Land Rover Defender.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2002 Land Rover Defender common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 2

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered.

Presentation from Dealer Shop Foreman Conference Call

Bulletin SFCC-14SEP17 · Equipment · Sep 2017

Software Update.

Bulletin SSM71360 · Electrical System · May 2014

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the DEFENDER. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Land Rover Defender

The Land Rover Defender is a series of British off-road cars and pickup trucks. They have four-wheel drive, and were developed in the 1980s from the Land Rover series which was launched at the Amsterdam Motor Show in April 1948. Following the 1989 introduction of the Land Rover Discovery, "Land Rover" became the name of a broader marque, no longer the name of a specific model; thus, in 1990, Land Rover renamed them Defender 90, Defender 110 and Defender 130 respectively.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2002 Land Rover Defender vehicles on record

2002 Land Rover Defender 2002 Land Rover DefenderSALLDVB582A636784 2002 Land Rover Defender 2002 Land Rover DefenderSALLDVA782A631098 2002 Land Rover Defender 2002 Land Rover DefenderSALLDHF582A640770 2002 Land Rover Defender 2002 Land Rover DefenderSALLDKH582A643664 2002 Land Rover Defender 2002 Land Rover DefenderSALLDKA582A630825 2002 Land Rover Defender 2002 Land Rover DefenderSALLDHM582A642934 2002 Land Rover Defender 2002 Land Rover DefenderSALLDVB881A621904 2002 Land Rover Defender 2002 Land Rover DefenderSALLDHM582A633427 2002 Land Rover Defender 2002 Land Rover DefenderSALLDHM782A634366 2002 Land Rover Defender 2002 Land Rover DefenderSALLDHMV8YA182541 2002 Land Rover Defender 2002 Land Rover DefenderSALLDHM583A649716 2002 Land Rover Defender 2002 Land Rover DefenderSALLDHM582A631768 2002 Land Rover Defender 2002 Land Rover DefenderSALLDVA572A638064 2002 Land Rover Defender 2002 Land Rover DefenderSALLDVB583A649394

Other Land Rover Defender model years

2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1989 1986 1985

2002 Land Rover Defender — frequently asked questions

Does the 2002 Land Rover Defender have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists no safety-recall campaigns for the 2002 Land Rover Defender. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Land Rover Defender?

Across all 3 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine and engine cooling, power train.

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.