Today's trail report

Land Rover recalls 2024 Defenders over badly stitched second-row belts — inspection, no stop-ride

By The OffRoading.News Desk

Good morning. Lead with the recall, because it is the only item that can hurt you. Jaguar Land Rover North America is recalling certain 2024 Land Rover Defender vehicles because the second-row seat belt may be improperly stitched — NHTSA campaign 26V-615, Land Rover's own number D130. This is not a stop-ride: dealers will inspect the second-row belt's serial number and replace the belt as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters warning owners of the risk are expected to go out November 20, 2026, with more letters once the final remedy is ready. If you own a 2024 Defender, you can reach Land Rover customer service at 800-637-6837. Only the 2024 model year is named in this campaign.

On land and trails, the BLM Butte Field Office and the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest have temporarily closed Big Southern Butte Road for repairs, effective October 1, per a BLM press release. The managers who decided it are the two to watch for a reopening date — don't take anyone else's word on when it's back. Separately, Off-Road.com reports that Houlton Police in Maine have warned ATV riders over speeding and reckless riding on a trail behind the Region Two School of Applied Technology, following a run of complaints. If you ride near there, that is a trail getting attention from local enforcement.

For stewardship, RideApart reports the Gambler 500, working with Sons of Smokey, pulled nearly 400,000 pounds of trash out of public land in a single event — the kind of work that keeps access open for the rest of us.

On the product and industry side it was a busy day. Car and Driver covered Toyota's Grand Highlander Woodland Edition; Off Road Xtreme detailed the 2027 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk with low-range 4x4 and Trail Rated hardware; RideApart looked at the roughly $3,000 Massimo mini truck pitched at teenagers; and Off-Road.com argued that many new SUVs now outweigh a two-decade-old V8 four-wheel-drive pickup. In powersports, Powersports Business reported Yamaha's YE-01 electric motocross concept, built with Electric Motion, set to run at the Motocross of Nations, and Turn 14 Distribution headlining the UTV Takeover in Utah. Off-Road.com also reported Segway Powersports making its SCORE Baja 1000 debut with two Super Villain side-by-sides. Dirt Bike Magazine published the 2027 AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross schedules, and Dirt Wheels reviewed FXR's Evolution vest for UTV and ATV riders. For any of these machines, confirm the specifics against the maker's own service manual before you turn a wrench.