Vehicle recall R/2001/017

Land Rover Defender and Land Rover Freelander recall: Insecurity of front seat backrest.

DVSA recall R/2001/017 names the Land Rover Defender and Land Rover Freelander. It was launched 22 October 2001. It covers vehicles built 1 August 2000 to 28 February 2001.

Recall data updated 22 September 2026

Recall: R/2001/017
Launched: 22 October 2001
Issued by: LAND ROVER
Manufacturer reference: 237
Vehicles: DVSA lists 4,368 on each model line

What can go wrong

The front seats may not latch positively following operation of the seat tip lever. In consequence the seat squab (backrest) could attempt to fold forward if the vehicle should be brought to a very rapid stop.

The fix

Affected vehicles will be recalled for examination of the operation and integrity of the front seat tip lever and latching mechanism. In cases where the mechanism is found to bind a new seat frame assembly will be fitted.

Models and build dates

As listed in the DVSA recall file. DVSA lists the same vehicle number on each line: 4,368. It may be a figure per line or for the whole recall.
Model	Built	Vehicles
Land Rover Defender	1 August 2000 to 28 February 2001	4,368
Land Rover Freelander	1 August 2000 to 28 February 2001	4,368

Is a specific car affected? A recall lists models and build dates, not individual vehicles, so these pages cannot tell you whether one car is included. Enter the registration on the DVSA vehicle recall checker on GOV.UK, or give the vehicle identification number (VIN) to the manufacturer or one of its dealers. Buying used? Ask the seller for proof that any recall work was done.

Other recalls for these models

R/2001/171 Left hand front brake flexible hose concern 22 April 2002, Land Rover Defender
R/2002/041 Diagnostic connector concern. 5 November 2002, Land Rover Freelander
R/2000/038 Engine flywheel may fragment 5 June 2000, Land Rover Discovery, Land Rover Defender
R/2003/180 Possible loss of service brake 31 March 2004, Land Rover Defender, Land Rover Discovery
R/2004/076 Possibility of the left hand child lock disengaging 11 August 2004, Land Rover Freelander
R/1998/080 Possible failure of rear suspension locating links 6 November 1998, Land Rover Freelander

Found one you might buy?

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Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA vehicle recall records (RecallsFile.csv), recalls launched 1992 to 2026. Recall data updated 22 September 2026.

Recall wording is DVSA's, with capitals and punctuation tidied and American spellings such as tire, center and windshield given in British English. We list a recall when its make and model match a car or van family with at least 1,000 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2025, and when the maker of the vehicle issued it.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA. Methodology · Data sources