Land RoverDefender 1302023Overview/land-rover/defender-130/2023/base/

2023 Land Rover Defender 130

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2023 Defender 130.

Transmission Automatic (S8)

The 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 is a configuration in the Defender lineup, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and returning EPA fuel economy of 17 mpg city, 21 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. For a researcher approaching this model year, the reliability profile is the headline consideration: 75 owner complaints have been filed against the population, with the electrical system leading the complaint categories, and 9 recalls have been issued for the 2023 build. This combination of complaint volume and recall count means anyone tracking the Defender 130's quality trajectory will treat 2023 as a baseline year that subsequent model years will need to improve upon.

Model year20252023

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque103.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy17/21/19 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter LR133457. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tire size255/60R20/XL 113VOEM · verified
Wheel / rim8.5; Optional: 8.5, 9 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterLR133457 alt LR010735
Engine air filterLR129322
Spark plugLR178881
Battery429123482
Front wiper bladesLR162053
ThermostatLR180316
Cabin air filterLR171252 alt LR133345

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S8)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length200.8 in
Overall width79.1 in
Overall height77.6 in
Wheelbase118.9 in
Curb weight5525 lb
Track (front / rear)67.3 / 66.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)48/52

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 21 / 19 mpg
Drivetrain4-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

Torque lug nuts to 103.0 ft-lbs.

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts103.0 ft-lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 21,000 mi; spark plugs every 63,000 mi; coolant at 105,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 105,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 21,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Keyless Entry Remote Battery (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (inspect)
Every 42,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 63,000 miBrake Line (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
Every 84,000 miDrive Belt (replace)
At 105,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

In the 2023 model year the Defender 130 logged 75 consumer complaints, the highest figure in the two‑year federal record and more than three times the 21 complaints reported for 2024. Recall activity also peaked in 2023 with nine recalls, compared with six the following year, while investigations were absent in 2023 but appeared in 2024. The most frequent complaint categories for 2023 centered on the Electrical System (25 reports) and Visibility/Wiper issues (12 reports), with smaller counts for Engine and Steering/Lane‑Departure (five each). Notably, the 2023 data show zero crash‑related or fire‑related complaints, and the Technical Service Bulletins (394) far exceed the 222 issued in 2024, indicating a larger volume of documented service concerns for that year. Because 2023 sits at the high‑complaint, high‑recall end of the short‑term trend, it suggests the model may have had more unresolved issues than the subsequent year, making 2024 a comparatively cleaner choice.

9
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
394
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
75
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 75 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System25
Visibility/Wiper12
Engine5
Steering,Lane Departure5
Electrical System,Engine4
Power Train4
Unknown Or Other3
Exterior Lighting2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 394 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
N869 Defender 16JUN262026-06-16Unknown Or OtherSoftware Over The Air (SOTA) updates are failing to complete. Specifically Vehicle Domain…
D061 Defender 16JUN262026-06-16EngineTurbocharger Coolant Feed / Return Leak
D011 Defender 16JUN262026-06-16Unknown Or OtherCoolant Bypass Hose Leak
N869 Defender 15MAY262026-05-15Unknown Or OtherSoftware Over The Air (SOTA) updates are failing to complete. Specifically Vehicle Domain…
D061 Defender 15MAY262026-05-15EngineTurbocharger Coolant Feed / Return Leak

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Defender 130. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2023 Defender 130 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Defender 130 get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 21 highway / 19 combined mpg.