Today's trail report

Land Rover expands a DC-DC converter recall covering Defender and Discovery — power loss is the risk, a software update is the fix

By The OffRoading.News Desk

Good morning. Jaguar Land Rover North America is recalling certain SUVs over a DC-DC converter that may malfunction, filed with NHTSA as campaign 26V-599. Per the NHTSA summary, the converter may malfunction from an electrical overload that can occur during high power demand, and a software error can cause it to stop functioning at start-up under certain circumstances. NHTSA lists the affected populations as certain 2019–2024 Range Rover Sport, 2020–2024 Range Rover Evoque, Range Rover, Discovery Sport and Defender, and 2021–2024 Range Rover Velar, Jaguar E-Pace, F-Pace and Land Rover Discovery. Of those, the off-road machines on NHTSA's covered list are the Land Rover Defender (2020–2024) and Land Rover Discovery (2021–2024). This is not a stop-ride order. Dealers will update the vehicle software free of charge; interim letters are expected to be mailed November 13, 2026, with further letters once the final remedy is ready. Land Rover's customer service is 800-637-6837, and its internal number for the recall is E008. NHTSA notes this campaign expands earlier recall 26V248. Car and Driver, reporting the same filing, said the DC-DC converter issue causes a loss in drive power and lights and framed it as a second recall affecting about 24,000 vehicles. If you run a Defender or Discovery in these years, contact a dealer about the software update; do not guess whether yours is included — the campaign number is the way to confirm it.

On land use, the Bureau of Land Management announced two temporary closures effective September 29. BLM Utah is temporarily closing public lands in Iron County for special recreation events. BLM Alaska is temporarily closing the Wickersham Dome Trailhead in the White Mountains National Recreation Area for trailhead improvement construction. Both were decided by the respective BLM state offices; check with that office before you plan around either. Separately, Off-Road.com reported that the American Motorcyclist Association and Backcountry Discovery Routes signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on protecting trail access.

In products and industry, Powersports Business reported that Titan International introduced the ITP Kinetic UTV tire line, an all-terrain line for larger UTVs aimed at hard-packed surfaces, loose dirt and rocky terrain — check the maker's fitment and specifications before buying. Powersports Business also reported CFMOTO sold almost 200,000 motorcycles in the first half of 2026, a 30% increase, with overseas sales roughly half the total. Dirt Bike Magazine reported Yamaha will display and run its YE-01 Racing Concept electric motocross bike at the Motocross of Nations in Ernée, France, from October 2, and covered the WORCS Series Round 8 results from Bunker Hill MX. Off-Road.com also reported an all-new Mitsubishi Pajero with a 2.4L diesel and 4WD, a Hyundai patent for a system to prevent getting stuck off-road, the 2027 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon dropping its V8, 2027 GMC Sierra 1500 pricing, and a 1953 Dodge Power Wagon restomod with a 6.7-liter Cummins swap.