Land Rover Recalls 500 Vehicles Over Dangerous Faulty Seat Belts

Bad news for people who like to take their cars out on adventures. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) just announced that certain Land Rovers have faulty seat belts. Without properly functioning seat belts, your next off-road adventure or exciting road trip could leave you severely injured or worse. We broke down the NHTSA brief so you can find out which Land Rovers have this issue and how to fix it so that you can return to your regularly scheduled trips as soon as possible.

Why Is Jaguar Land Rover Recalling Vehicles?

According to the NHTSA brief, in the impacted Land Rovers, “the third-row lower seat belt anchorage bracket may have an insufficient weld stud.” The weld is what helps to anchor your seat belt. Without it, you’re in much more danger during a crash. The NHTSA warns that “a seat belt assembly with an insufficient weld may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.” It doesn’t matter how safe a driver you may be. There’s always the possibility of a freak accident occurring, so it’s imperative that you take this recall seriously.

Which Land Rovers Have Faulty Seat Belts?

Per the recall brief, almost 500 2026 Land Rover Defender vehicles have this problem. If you own one, restrict your use of the third row until you have had a chance to confirm whether or not yours has this issue. You can search your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on the NHTSA website to see if your vehicle is included in this recall, or you can wait until you’ve received communication materials directly from Jaguar Land Rover. Either way, it’s best to treat your vehicle as though it does have faulty seat belts until you know for sure. Gambling with the safety of your passengers is not a good idea.

Is There a Fix?

According to the company, “dealers will replace the third-row lower seat belt anchorage bracket, free of charge.” They will be mailing out owner notification letters in mid-May 2026, so if you own a Land Rover Defender, keep an eye on your mailbox. Until you know for certain that your third-row seat belts are properly welded, refrain from having any passengers in those seats.

If you have further questions, you can reach Land Rover’s customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover’s number for this recall is D098, and the NHTSA number for this recall is 26V163000.

Source

Insufficiently Welded Seat Belt Anchorage Bracket, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 2026.

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