Land Rover Defender, Range Rover Velar Recall R/2023/293: On Affected Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) It Is Possible That The Internal…, Who Is Affected And What To Do
- Urgent
- How serious
- 30 Oct 2023
- Launched
- 770
- vehicles in the UK
- N831
- Manufacturer’s campaign code
Land Rover recalled Defender, Range Rover Velar vehicles built between 3 November 2022 and 23 September 2023. On affected Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) it is possible that the internal combustion engine will not start when required. The recall notice describes the fix as: software update to the Powertrain control module. You won't usually pay for it.1
What’s Wrong
On affected Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) it is possible that the internal combustion engine will not start when required. This may occur whilst the vehicle is in motion and the vehicle will operate in Electric Vehicle (EV) Mode only. When the EV system is no longer able to propel the vehicle the vehicle will unexpectedly slow down and no drive is possible.
DVSA's Original Wording
Concern: On affected Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) it is possible that the internal combustion engine will not start when required. This may occur whilst the vehicle is in motion and the vehicle will operate in Electric Vehicle (EV) Mode only. When the EV system is no longer able to propel the vehicle the vehicle will unexpectedly slow down and no drive is possible. Defect: On affected Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) it is possible that the internal combustion engine will not start when required. This may occur whilst the vehicle is in motion and the vehicle will operate in Electric Vehicle (EV) Mode only. When the EV system is no longer able to propel the vehicle the vehicle will unexpectedly slow down and no drive is possible. Remedy: Software update to the Powertrain control module.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
The Risk
The recall notice describes the concern as: on affected Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV) it is possible that the internal combustion engine will not start when required. This may occur whilst the vehicle is in motion and the vehicle will operate in Electric Vehicle (EV) Mode only. When the EV system is no longer able to propel the vehicle the vehicle will unexpectedly slow down and no drive is possible.
The Fix
The recall notice describes the fix as: software update to the Powertrain control module. The fix is a software update, which usually takes under an hour at the dealer.
Are You Affected?
Defender, Range Rover Velar built between 3 November 2022 and 23 September 2023 may be included. Land Rover estimates 770 vehicles in the UK. Enter your registration to check, then confirm by VIN with Land Rover, because not every car in the date range may be included.
Which Car Is It?
Choose the make and model so we can match recalls to your car.
What To Do Now
- Check your car by registration above, then by VIN with Land Rover.
- Book with any franchised Land Rover dealer, quoting the campaign code N831 or the DVSA reference R/2023/293. See how to get a Land Rover recall fixed.
- Follow the letter's instructions until the repair is done. See can you drive a car with a recall?.
Related Recalls
| Launched | Vehicle and fault | Severity | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defender, Discovery, Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and 1 moreD6 idler pulley clash | Low | R/2026/241 | |
| Defender, Discovery, Range RoverDriver’s airbag potential Non-Deployment | Urgent | R/2026/245 | |
| Defender, DiscoveryDefender and Discovery 2026 model year fuel tank wall thickness | Urgent | R/2026/177 | |
| Defender, Discovery Sport, Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover VelarE-PACE F-PACE Defender Discovery Sport Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Velar PHEV traction battery fire risk | Urgent | R/2025/553 | |
| Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover VelarRange Rover Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Velar audio amplifier water damage | Urgent | R/2026/198 |
This is one of 159 Land Rover recalls in DVSA’s data. The Land Rover recall launched before it was R/2022/236 on 31 Aug 2023, for front axle casing may fail causing the suspension to collapse. The one launched after it was R/2023/338 on 6 Dec 2023, for on affected Range Rover vehicles fitted with V8 Gasoline NC11 engines the fixings used to…. You can also see every Land Rover recall, all recalls launched in 2023 and high-voltage battery recalls across every make.
Source: DVSA recall R/2023/293, launched 30 October 2023. Data updated 15 October 2026. How we grade urgency.
Sources
- The Code does not itself say repairs are free. GOV.UK guidance says "You will not usually have to pay for any repairs or parts under a safety recall." gov.uk Checked 15 Oct 2026.