Daily Briefing
Today's trail report
Land Rover recalls ~24,000 SUVs, Defenders included, for a converter fault that can cut drive power
Good morning. Lead with the recall, because it is the only item that changes what you should do with a vehicle. Jaguar Land Rover North America is recalling certain Land Rovers under NHTSA campaign 26V-599. Car and Driver reports this is a second recall over a DC-DC converter issue that causes a loss in drive power and lights. NHTSA states the DC-DC converter may malfunction from an electrical overload during high power demand, and that a software error can stop it functioning at start-up under certain circumstances.
For the off-road audience specifically, NHTSA lists the Land Rover Defender for model years 2020 through 2024 and the Land Rover Discovery for model years 2021 through 2024 among the covered vehicles. The wider campaign also names Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover Velar, Discovery Sport, and Jaguar E-Pace and F-Pace models across various years — check your own VIN against NHTSA rather than assuming a year is in or out, since the covered years differ by model.
The remedy is a free dealer software update. NHTSA says interim letters warning owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed November 13, 2026, with further letters once the final remedy is available. Owners can reach Land Rover customer service at 800-637-6837; the manufacturer's number for this recall is E008, and it expands previous NHTSA recall 26V248. NHTSA does not list a stop-ride instruction for this campaign.
In racing, Dirt Bike Magazine reported Round 8 of the 2026 WORCS Series, the Rabbit Run GP hosted by Bunker Hill MX, with Sunday's 90-minute Pro races delivering a mid-race lead change and late-race trouble that had contenders pushing bikes to the finish. Dirt Wheels reported Team USA sweeping all three motos at the 2026 FIM Quadcross of Nations in France to reclaim the title — its seventh — with Zack Decker, Joel Hetrick and Max Lindquist.
On the trail-craft side, Off-Road.com detailed a field repair, using ratchet straps, of a 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee ZJ whose driver's-side bracket had torn away completely on a Moab trail after a loud clunk. Dirt Bike Magazine also ran a look-back "Coyote Tales" wrap ahead of the 2026 3 Bros. 24 Hours of Glen Helen. None of the racing or repair coverage carries a safety action for your machine — only the JLR recall does.
Zoom out: The day's off-road news was a single recall against a backdrop of race results and field-repair coverage, so the one item that acts on a machine is the one to read first.
Recall in focus
NHTSA campaign 26V-599.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER: Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, Land Rover Range Rover, Land Rover Discovery Spo
Remedy: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed November 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Land Rover's customer service at 800-637-6837. Land Rover's number for this recall is E008. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 26V248.
What we're tracking
- Car and Driver: Land Rover Defender Among 24K JLR SUVs Recalled for Power Loss Read it
- Dirt Bike Magazine: 2026 WORCS SERIES, ROUND 8 RESULTS Read it
- Dirt Wheels: AMA U.S. ATV MOTOCROSS TEAM RECLAIMS FIM QUADCROSS OF NATIONS TITLE Read it
- Off-Road.com: Fixing a Torn ZJ Axle Bracket With Ratchet Straps on Trail Read it
Sources
- Land Rover Defender Among 24K JLR SUVs Recalled for Power Loss Car and Driver
- 2026 WORCS SERIES, ROUND 8 RESULTS Dirt Bike Magazine
- AMA U.S. ATV MOTOCROSS TEAM RECLAIMS FIM QUADCROSS OF NATIONS TITLE Dirt Wheels
- Fixing a Torn ZJ Axle Bracket With Ratchet Straps on Trail Off-Road.com
- COYOTE TALES OF THE 24 HOURS OF GLEN HELEN: THE WRAP Dirt Bike Magazine
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Summarized from the linked reports and the recall record by the desk. Verify against the original sources before citing.
Nothing here replaces your service manual. Torque values, capacities and pressures must come from the manufacturer's published data for your exact machine. Recall coverage is the agency's statement — check your VIN with the agency before acting on it.
Previous briefings
- Sep 26, 2026 — A Land Rover software recall lands the day's only safety item; everything else is gear, racing and auctionsNHTSA campaign 26V-599 covers a DC-DC converter fault on Land Rover's off-road line, while the rest of the day was product reviews, race sign-ups and collector sales.
- Sep 24, 2026 — Land Rover recalls Defender and Discovery over DC-DC converter failure — software fix coming, no stop-ride orderNHTSA campaign 26V-599 leads a day that also brought two Utah trail actions, a West Virginia restoration, and a run of new off-road hardware.
- Sep 23, 2026 — Land Rover recalls Defender and Discovery over a converter that can quit at start-up — software fix, no stop-ride orderA DC-DC converter fault brings the day's one safety recall for off-road machines, alongside a Wyoming fire-restriction lift and a run of product and industry news.
- Sep 22, 2026 — Four Ford recalls hit the F-150 and Bronco, Land Rover expands a converter fix — check your VIN before your next driveThe day's off-road record was dominated by recalls affecting the trucks and SUVs many readers actually run — none stop-ride, but several serious enough to schedule now.
- Sep 21, 2026 — Four Ford recalls headline the day, led by an F-150 fuel tank that may leak or detach while drivingNHTSA posted four Ford safety campaigns and the BLM's Lakeview District announced a fire prevention order; the rest of the day was product and racing news.