diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/ClassificationMethodConfig.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/ClassificationMethodConfig.tsx
index bff798314e3..a7af270cf8e 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/ClassificationMethodConfig.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/ClassificationMethodConfig.tsx
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ interface ClassificationMethodConfigProps {
   customTechnicalKeywords?: string[];
   onCustomTechnicalKeywordsChange?: (keywords: string[]) => void;
   showValidationErrors?: boolean;
-  /** Enables the default-model fallback, which the backend rejects without a default model. */
-  hasDefaultModel?: boolean;
+  /** The resolved default model - see resolveComplexityDefaultModel. Names and gates the radio. */
+  defaultModel?: string;
 }
 
 const ClassificationMethodConfig: React.FC<ClassificationMethodConfigProps> = ({
@@ -60,8 +60,9 @@ const ClassificationMethodConfig: React.FC<ClassificationMethodConfigProps> = ({
   customTechnicalKeywords,
   onCustomTechnicalKeywordsChange,
   showValidationErrors = false,
-  hasDefaultModel = false,
+  defaultModel,
 }) => {
+  const hasDefaultModel = Boolean(defaultModel);
   const classifierModelMissing =
     showValidationErrors && value.classifier_type === "llm" && !value.classifier_llm_config?.model;
 
@@ -227,10 +228,14 @@ const ClassificationMethodConfig: React.FC<ClassificationMethodConfigProps> = ({
                 </Radio>
                 <Radio value="default_model" disabled={!hasDefaultModel}>
                   <Tooltip
-                    title={hasDefaultModel ? undefined : "Set a default model on this router to use this option"}
+                    title={
+                      hasDefaultModel
+                        ? "Change it in the Default Model row above the advanced sections."
+                        : "Set a default model on this router to use this option"
+                    }
                   >
                     <span>
-                      <Text>Route to the default model</Text>{" "}
+                      <Text>Route to the default model{defaultModel ? ` (${defaultModel})` : ""}</Text>{" "}
                       <Text type="secondary">— right when your prompt grades something other than complexity</Text>
                     </span>
                   </Tooltip>
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/ComplexityRouterConfig.test.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/ComplexityRouterConfig.test.tsx
index 92dfeab8a7d..2aa1cde95ac 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/ComplexityRouterConfig.test.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/ComplexityRouterConfig.test.tsx
@@ -631,3 +631,76 @@ describe("ComplexityRouterConfig affinity panel", () => {
     expect(screen.getByRole("switch", { name: "Pin a session to one deployment per model group" })).not.toBeChecked();
   });
 });
+
+describe("ComplexityRouterConfig default model", () => {
+  const getDefaultModelSelect = () => screen.getByRole("combobox", { name: "Default model" });
+
+  it("shows what the tiers currently imply, so an untouched router still names its default", () => {
+    renderWithProviders(<ComplexityRouterConfig {...baseProps} />);
+    expect(screen.getByText("Derived from tiers: gpt-3.5-turbo")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("asks for a model rather than naming a derived one when no tier holds one", () => {
+    const noTiers: ComplexityRouterConfigValue = {
+      ...defaultValue,
+      tiers: { SIMPLE: [], MEDIUM: [], COMPLEX: [], REASONING: [] },
+    };
+    renderWithProviders(<ComplexityRouterConfig {...baseProps} value={noTiers} />);
+    expect(screen.getByText("Add a model to the Simple or Medium tier")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("records a pinned model", async () => {
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+    const onChange = vi.fn();
+    renderWithProviders(<ComplexityRouterConfig {...baseProps} onChange={onChange} />);
+
+    await user.click(getDefaultModelSelect());
+    await user.click((await screen.findAllByTitle("claude-3-opus")).slice(-1)[0]);
+
+    expect(onChange).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ default_model: "claude-3-opus" }));
+  });
+
+  it("drops the key when the pin is cleared, so an emptied select reads as tier-tracking", async () => {
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+    const onChange = vi.fn();
+    const pinned: ComplexityRouterConfigValue = { ...defaultValue, default_model: "claude-3-opus" };
+    renderWithProviders(<ComplexityRouterConfig {...baseProps} value={pinned} onChange={onChange} />);
+
+    await user.click(document.querySelector(".ant-select-clear") as HTMLElement);
+
+    expect(onChange).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.objectContaining({ default_model: undefined }));
+  });
+
+  it("shows a pinned model as the selection instead of the tier-derived one", () => {
+    const pinned: ComplexityRouterConfigValue = { ...defaultValue, default_model: "claude-3-opus" };
+    renderWithProviders(<ComplexityRouterConfig {...baseProps} value={pinned} />);
+    expect(
+      within(getDefaultModelSelect().closest(".ant-select") as HTMLElement).getByTitle("claude-3-opus"),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it("unlocks the default model fallback on a pin alone, with no tier to derive from", () => {
+    const pinnedNoTiers: ComplexityRouterConfigValue = {
+      ...defaultValue,
+      classifier_type: "llm",
+      classifier_llm_config: { model: "gpt-3.5-turbo", timeout_ms: 3000 },
+      tiers: { SIMPLE: [], MEDIUM: [], COMPLEX: [], REASONING: [] },
+      default_model: "claude-3-opus",
+    };
+    renderWithProviders(<ComplexityRouterConfig {...baseProps} value={pinnedNoTiers} />);
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText("Advanced: Classification Method"));
+    expect(screen.getByRole("radio", { name: /Route to the default model/ })).toBeEnabled();
+  });
+
+  it("names the resolved default on the fallback option, so the destination is not a guess", () => {
+    const pinned: ComplexityRouterConfigValue = {
+      ...defaultValue,
+      classifier_type: "llm",
+      classifier_llm_config: { model: "gpt-3.5-turbo", timeout_ms: 3000 },
+      default_model: "claude-3-opus",
+    };
+    renderWithProviders(<ComplexityRouterConfig {...baseProps} value={pinned} />);
+    fireEvent.click(screen.getByText("Advanced: Classification Method"));
+    expect(screen.getByRole("radio", { name: /Route to the default model \(claude-3-opus\)/ })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/ComplexityRouterConfig.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/ComplexityRouterConfig.tsx
index 39e6e97bf1d..97d99eb5f90 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/ComplexityRouterConfig.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/ComplexityRouterConfig.tsx
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import React from "react";
 import { ModelGroup } from "@/components/llm_calls/fetch_models";
 import AdaptiveRoutingConfig from "./AdaptiveRoutingConfig";
 import ClassificationMethodConfig from "./ClassificationMethodConfig";
+import { resolveComplexityDefaultModel } from "./complexity_router_tiers";
 import EscalationKeywords from "./EscalationKeywords";
 import KeywordTierRules, { KeywordTierRule } from "./KeywordTierRules";
 import SemanticKeywordMatching from "./SemanticKeywordMatching";
@@ -50,6 +51,8 @@ export type ComplexityTierLabels = Partial<Record<keyof ComplexityTiers, string>
 export interface ComplexityRouterConfigValue {
   tiers: ComplexityTiers;
   tier_labels?: ComplexityTierLabels;
+  /** An explicit pin. Unset means the default tracks the tiers - see resolveComplexityDefaultModel. */
+  default_model?: string;
   classifier_type: ClassifierType;
   classifier_llm_config?: ClassifierLLMConfig;
   classifier_context_window_size?: number;
@@ -135,11 +138,8 @@ const ComplexityRouterConfig: React.FC<ComplexityRouterConfigProps> = ({
   onEscalationKeywordsChange,
   showValidationErrors = false,
 }) => {
-  // The deployment's default model is derived from the tiers on submit, mirroring the order
-  // add_auto_router_tab uses, so the fallback option is offered exactly when one will exist.
-  const hasDefaultModel = Boolean(
-    value.tiers.MEDIUM[0] || value.tiers.SIMPLE[0] || value.tiers.COMPLEX[0] || value.tiers.REASONING[0],
-  );
+  const derivedDefaultModel = resolveComplexityDefaultModel(value.tiers);
+  const defaultModel = resolveComplexityDefaultModel(value.tiers, value.default_model);
 
   // Embedding models can't serve a chat-completion role, so they're excluded here.
   const modelOptions = modelInfo
@@ -156,6 +156,12 @@ const ComplexityRouterConfig: React.FC<ComplexityRouterConfigProps> = ({
     });
   };
 
+  // Clearing the select drops the key entirely rather than storing "", so an emptied pin reads as
+  // "track the tiers" everywhere downstream instead of as a blank model name.
+  const handleDefaultModelChange = (model: string | undefined) => {
+    onChange({ ...value, default_model: model || undefined });
+  };
+
   const handleTierLabelChange = (tier: keyof ComplexityTiers, label: string) => {
     onChange({
       ...value,
@@ -242,6 +248,36 @@ const ComplexityRouterConfig: React.FC<ComplexityRouterConfigProps> = ({
             </div>
           );
         })}
+        <Divider style={{ margin: "16px 0" }} />
+
+        <div className="mb-2">
+          <div className="flex items-center gap-2 mb-2">
+            <Text strong style={{ fontSize: 16 }}>
+              Default Model
+            </Text>
+            <Tooltip title="Leave empty to follow the tiers. A model chosen here is pinned: it stays the default however the tiers change.">
+              <InfoCircleOutlined className="text-gray-400" />
+            </Tooltip>
+          </div>
+          <AntdSelect
+            value={value.default_model || undefined}
+            onChange={handleDefaultModelChange}
+            placeholder={
+              derivedDefaultModel
+                ? `Derived from tiers: ${derivedDefaultModel}`
+                : "Add a model to the Simple or Medium tier"
+            }
+            aria-label="Default model"
+            showSearch
+            allowClear
+            style={{ width: "100%" }}
+            options={modelOptions}
+          />
+          <Text type="secondary" style={{ display: "block", marginTop: 4, fontSize: 12 }}>
+            Used when the tier the request lands in has no model, and when the classifier fails with &quot;Route to the
+            default model&quot; selected.
+          </Text>
+        </div>
       </Card>
 
       <Divider />
@@ -265,7 +301,7 @@ const ComplexityRouterConfig: React.FC<ComplexityRouterConfigProps> = ({
                 customTechnicalKeywords={customTechnicalKeywords}
                 onCustomTechnicalKeywordsChange={onCustomTechnicalKeywordsChange}
                 showValidationErrors={showValidationErrors}
-                hasDefaultModel={hasDefaultModel}
+                defaultModel={defaultModel}
               />
             ),
           },
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/add_auto_router_tab.test.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/add_auto_router_tab.test.tsx
index 7d42d85ccfb..4c834022291 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/add_auto_router_tab.test.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/add_auto_router_tab.test.tsx
@@ -600,6 +600,71 @@ describe("AddAutoRouterTab", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe("default model pin", () => {
+    const PINNED_MODEL = "pinned-default-model";
+
+    const waitForPresetEnabled = async (label: string) => {
+      openTemplateDropdown();
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(isOptionDisabled(optionByLabel(label)!)).toBe(false);
+      });
+    };
+
+    const applyPresetAndPin = async (user: ReturnType<typeof userEvent.setup>) => {
+      await waitForPresetEnabled("Anthropic Family");
+      fireEvent.click(optionByLabel("Anthropic Family")!);
+
+      // Applying a preset collapses Detailed Configuration, so the default model row is behind it.
+      expandDetailedConfiguration();
+      await user.click(screen.getByRole("combobox", { name: "Default model" }));
+      await user.click((await screen.findAllByTitle(PINNED_MODEL)).slice(-1)[0]);
+    };
+
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      mockFetchAvailableModels.mockResolvedValue([...ALL_FAMILY_MODELS, { model_group: PINNED_MODEL, mode: "chat" }]);
+    });
+
+    it("submits the pinned model in place of the one the tiers derive", async () => {
+      const user = userEvent.setup();
+      renderWithProviders(<Harness />);
+
+      await applyPresetAndPin(user);
+      await user.type(screen.getByPlaceholderText(/smart_router/i), "pinned-router");
+      await user.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /add auto router/i }));
+
+      await waitFor(() => expect(handleAddAutoRouterSubmit).toHaveBeenCalled());
+      const submitted = vi.mocked(handleAddAutoRouterSubmit).mock.calls.at(-1)?.[0];
+      // The pin rides on litellm_params for the backend and is recorded in the config so the edit
+      // modal can read it back as a pin rather than guessing from the tiers.
+      expect(submitted).toMatchObject({
+        auto_router_default_model: PINNED_MODEL,
+        complexity_router_config: { tiers: ANTHROPIC_TIERS, default_model: PINNED_MODEL },
+      });
+      expect(PINNED_MODEL).not.toBe(ANTHROPIC_TIERS.MEDIUM[0]);
+    });
+
+    it("blocks a submit whose pinned model is no longer available", async () => {
+      const user = userEvent.setup();
+      const { container } = renderWithProviders(<Harness />);
+
+      await applyPresetAndPin(user);
+      fireEvent.change(screen.getByPlaceholderText(/smart_router/i), { target: { value: "stale-pin-router" } });
+      expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /add auto router/i })).toBeEnabled();
+
+      // Only the pinned model disappears - the tier models all survive, so nothing but the pin can
+      // be what blocks the submit.
+      testQueryClient.setQueryData(["availableModels", "autoRouter", "token"], ALL_FAMILY_MODELS);
+      await waitFor(() => expect(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /add auto router/i })).toBeDisabled());
+
+      fireEvent.submit(container.querySelector("form")!);
+
+      await waitFor(() =>
+        expect(NotificationManager.fromBackend).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining(PINNED_MODEL)),
+      );
+      expect(handleAddAutoRouterSubmit).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    });
+  });
+
   describe("deployment-matched presets", () => {
     const renamedDeploymentsFor = (presetKey: string) =>
       [...getRequiredModelsInPreset(getPresetByKey(presetKey)!)].map((model, index) => ({
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/add_auto_router_tab.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/add_auto_router_tab.tsx
index 7b6403f250c..8aabfa57ab6 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/add_auto_router_tab.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/add_auto_router_tab.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import {
   getSemanticConfigError,
   getTierLabelsError,
 } from "./build_complexity_router_config";
+import { resolveComplexityDefaultModel } from "./complexity_router_tiers";
 import { buildAutoRouterTestTargets, AutoRouterTestTarget } from "./build_auto_router_test_targets";
 import AutoRouterConnectionTest from "./auto_router_connection_test";
 import AutoRouterRoutingTest from "./AutoRouterRoutingTest";
@@ -89,9 +90,6 @@ const isPresetHintAlarming = (availability: PresetAvailability): boolean => avai
 // this is resolved once at import time rather than re-called from inside the component every render.
 const presets = getAllPresets();
 
-const resolveDefaultModel = (tiers: ComplexityTiers): string | undefined =>
-  tiers.MEDIUM[0] || tiers.SIMPLE[0] || tiers.COMPLEX[0] || tiers.REASONING[0];
-
 // A one-line summary of what's configured, shown when the detailed section is collapsed so a
 // caller can see the shape of the config without opening it.
 const tierConfigSummary = (tiers: ComplexityTiers): string => {
@@ -272,6 +270,7 @@ const AddAutoRouterTab: React.FC<AddAutoRouterTabProps> = ({
     classifierLlmConfig: complexityRouterConfig.classifier_llm_config,
     semanticMatchingEnabled,
     embeddingModel,
+    defaultModel: complexityRouterConfig.default_model,
   };
 
   const submitBlockedReason = getSubmitBlockedReason(
@@ -283,6 +282,7 @@ const AddAutoRouterTab: React.FC<AddAutoRouterTabProps> = ({
 
   const complexityRouterConfigParams: BuildComplexityRouterConfigParams = {
     tiers: complexityRouterConfig.tiers,
+    defaultModel: complexityRouterConfig.default_model,
     tierLabels: complexityRouterConfig.tier_labels,
     classifierType: complexityRouterConfig.classifier_type,
     classifierLlmConfig: complexityRouterConfig.classifier_llm_config,
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ const AddAutoRouterTab: React.FC<AddAutoRouterTabProps> = ({
       return;
     }
 
-    const defaultModel = resolveDefaultModel(tiers);
+    const defaultModel = resolveComplexityDefaultModel(tiers, complexityRouterConfig.default_model);
 
     form.setFieldsValue({
       custom_llm_provider: "auto_router",
@@ -621,7 +621,10 @@ const AddAutoRouterTab: React.FC<AddAutoRouterTabProps> = ({
           <AutoRouterRoutingTest
             accessToken={accessToken}
             config={buildComplexityRouterConfig(complexityRouterConfigParams)}
-            defaultModel={resolveDefaultModel(complexityRouterConfig.tiers)}
+            defaultModel={resolveComplexityDefaultModel(
+              complexityRouterConfig.tiers,
+              complexityRouterConfig.default_model,
+            )}
             routerName={form.getFieldValue("auto_router_name")}
             teamId={requiresTeamScope ? form.getFieldValue("team_id") : undefined}
           />
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/build_complexity_router_config.ts b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/build_complexity_router_config.ts
index 503390aa238..1692c6b0244 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/build_complexity_router_config.ts
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/build_complexity_router_config.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ export const normalizeClassifierLlmConfig = (config: ClassifierLLMConfig): Class
 
 export interface BuildComplexityRouterConfigParams {
   tiers: ComplexityTiers;
+  defaultModel: string | undefined;
   tierLabels: ComplexityTierLabels | undefined;
   classifierType: ClassifierType;
   classifierLlmConfig: ClassifierLLMConfig | undefined;
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ export interface BuildComplexityRouterConfigParams {
 
 export interface ComplexityRouterConfigPayload {
   tiers: ComplexityTiers;
+  default_model?: string;
   tier_labels?: ComplexityTierLabels;
   classifier_type: ClassifierType;
   classifier_llm_config?: ClassifierLLMConfig;
@@ -131,6 +133,7 @@ export const getSemanticConfigError = ({
 
 export const buildComplexityRouterConfig = ({
   tiers,
+  defaultModel,
   tierLabels,
   classifierType,
   classifierLlmConfig,
@@ -158,6 +161,7 @@ export const buildComplexityRouterConfig = ({
 
   return {
     tiers,
+    ...(defaultModel?.trim() && { default_model: defaultModel }),
     ...(cleanedTierLabels && { tier_labels: cleanedTierLabels }),
     classifier_type: classifierType,
     ...(classifierType === "llm" &&
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/complexity_router_tiers.test.ts b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/complexity_router_tiers.test.ts
index d4604265d3a..8f75b26f250 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/complexity_router_tiers.test.ts
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/complexity_router_tiers.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 
-import { normalizeTierModels } from "./complexity_router_tiers";
+import { normalizeTierModels, resolveComplexityDefaultModel } from "./complexity_router_tiers";
+
+import type { ComplexityTiers } from "./ComplexityRouterConfig";
 
 // The backend types a tier as `str | list[str]` and widens with
 // `models if isinstance(models, list) else [models]`
@@ -28,3 +30,43 @@ describe("normalizeTierModels", () => {
     expect(normalizeTierModels(value)).toEqual([]);
   });
 });
+
+// router.py derives the default as `MEDIUM or SIMPLE` and raises when neither holds a model, so
+// the resolver must not invent a COMPLEX/REASONING fallthrough the backend would never take.
+describe("resolveComplexityDefaultModel", () => {
+  const tiers: ComplexityTiers = {
+    SIMPLE: ["simple-model"],
+    MEDIUM: ["medium-model"],
+    COMPLEX: ["complex-model"],
+    REASONING: ["reasoning-model"],
+  };
+  const noTiers: ComplexityTiers = { SIMPLE: [], MEDIUM: [], COMPLEX: [], REASONING: [] };
+
+  it("derives from MEDIUM first when nothing is pinned", () => {
+    expect(resolveComplexityDefaultModel(tiers)).toBe("medium-model");
+  });
+
+  it("falls back to SIMPLE when MEDIUM is empty", () => {
+    expect(resolveComplexityDefaultModel({ ...tiers, MEDIUM: [] })).toBe("simple-model");
+  });
+
+  it("derives nothing from COMPLEX or REASONING, which the backend never falls through to", () => {
+    expect(resolveComplexityDefaultModel({ ...tiers, MEDIUM: [], SIMPLE: [] })).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+
+  it("lets a pin beat the tiers rather than merely filling in for them", () => {
+    expect(resolveComplexityDefaultModel(tiers, "pinned-model")).toBe("pinned-model");
+  });
+
+  it("stands alone as the default when no tier holds a model", () => {
+    expect(resolveComplexityDefaultModel(noTiers, "pinned-model")).toBe("pinned-model");
+  });
+
+  it.each([[""], ["   "], [undefined]])("reads %o as no pin and goes back to the tiers", (pinned) => {
+    expect(resolveComplexityDefaultModel(tiers, pinned)).toBe("medium-model");
+  });
+
+  it("resolves to nothing when neither a pin nor a tier offers a model", () => {
+    expect(resolveComplexityDefaultModel(noTiers)).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/complexity_router_tiers.ts b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/complexity_router_tiers.ts
index bb34d221b2d..2e7859964bc 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/complexity_router_tiers.ts
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/add_model/complexity_router_tiers.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+import type { ComplexityTiers } from "./ComplexityRouterConfig";
+
 /**
  * A complexity tier maps to `str | list[str]` on the backend
  * (litellm/router_strategy/complexity_router/config.py: "string = pin; list = random pick"),
@@ -12,3 +14,11 @@ export const normalizeTierModels = (value: unknown): string[] => {
   if (typeof value === "string" && value) return [value];
   return [];
 };
+
+/**
+ * Mirrors `init_complexity_router_deployment` (litellm/router.py): an explicit pin wins, otherwise
+ * the default is `MEDIUM or SIMPLE`. Deriving past SIMPLE would name a model the backend never
+ * picks, and it raises rather than falling through to COMPLEX/REASONING.
+ */
+export const resolveComplexityDefaultModel = (tiers: ComplexityTiers, pinned?: string): string | undefined =>
+  pinned?.trim() || tiers.MEDIUM[0] || tiers.SIMPLE[0];
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/edit_auto_router/edit_auto_router_modal.test.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/edit_auto_router/edit_auto_router_modal.test.tsx
index 74dea8cc2ed..208a63d37df 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/edit_auto_router/edit_auto_router_modal.test.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/edit_auto_router/edit_auto_router_modal.test.tsx
@@ -548,3 +548,111 @@ describe("EditAutoRouterModal custom classifier prompt and fallback", () => {
     expect(savedConfig().classifier_llm_config).not.toHaveProperty("system_prompt");
   });
 });
+
+describe("EditAutoRouterModal default model", () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    modelPatchUpdateCall.mockClear();
+  });
+
+  const savedDefaultModel = () => {
+    const [, payload] = modelPatchUpdateCall.mock.calls.at(-1) ?? [];
+    return payload?.litellm_params?.complexity_router_default_model;
+  };
+
+  const renderWithStoredPin = (default_model?: string) =>
+    renderWithProviders(
+      <EditAutoRouterModal
+        isVisible
+        onCancel={vi.fn()}
+        onSuccess={vi.fn()}
+        modelData={{
+          ...MODEL_DATA,
+          litellm_params: {
+            ...MODEL_DATA.litellm_params,
+            complexity_router_config: { ...STORED_CONFIG, ...(default_model && { default_model }) },
+          },
+        }}
+        accessToken="token"
+        userRole="Admin"
+      />,
+    );
+
+  it("preserves a stored pin through an untouched open-and-save", async () => {
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+    renderWithStoredPin("out-of-band-default");
+
+    await user.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: /save changes/i }));
+
+    await waitFor(() => expect(modelPatchUpdateCall).toHaveBeenCalled());
+    expect(savedDefaultModel()).toBe("out-of-band-default");
+    expect(savedConfig()).toMatchObject({ default_model: "out-of-band-default" });
+  });
+
+  it("shows a stored pin as the selection, so the saved value is not a hidden one", async () => {
+    renderWithStoredPin("out-of-band-default");
+
+    const select = await screen.findByRole("combobox", { name: "Default model" });
+    expect(within(select.closest(".ant-select") as HTMLElement).getByTitle("out-of-band-default")).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  // The pin is recorded in the config rather than inferred by comparing the stored default to a
+  // re-derivation, so pinning the model the tiers already imply still reads back as a pin.
+  it("keeps a pin that matches what the tiers derive", async () => {
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+    renderWithStoredPin(STORED_CONFIG.tiers.MEDIUM[0]);
+
+    const select = await screen.findByRole("combobox", { name: "Default model" });
+    expect(
+      within(select.closest(".ant-select") as HTMLElement).getByTitle(STORED_CONFIG.tiers.MEDIUM[0]),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    await user.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /save changes/i }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(modelPatchUpdateCall).toHaveBeenCalled());
+    expect(savedConfig()).toMatchObject({ default_model: STORED_CONFIG.tiers.MEDIUM[0] });
+  });
+
+  // This modal only requires one non-empty tier, so a COMPLEX-only router is reachable here even
+  // though the backend raises on it. The block keeps that failure at save time instead of init.
+  it("blocks a save when neither the tiers nor a pin give the backend a default", async () => {
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+    renderWithProviders(
+      <EditAutoRouterModal
+        isVisible
+        onCancel={vi.fn()}
+        onSuccess={vi.fn()}
+        modelData={{
+          ...MODEL_DATA,
+          litellm_params: {
+            ...MODEL_DATA.litellm_params,
+            complexity_router_config: {
+              ...STORED_CONFIG,
+              tiers: { SIMPLE: [], MEDIUM: [], COMPLEX: ["complex-model"], REASONING: [] },
+            },
+          },
+        }}
+        accessToken="token"
+        userRole="Admin"
+      />,
+    );
+
+    await user.click(await screen.findByRole("button", { name: /save changes/i }));
+
+    await waitFor(() =>
+      expect(NotificationsManager.fromBackend).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining("Simple or Medium tier")),
+    );
+    expect(modelPatchUpdateCall).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it("leaves a router with no stored pin tracking its tiers", async () => {
+    const user = userEvent.setup();
+    renderWithStoredPin();
+
+    const select = await screen.findByRole("combobox", { name: "Default model" });
+    expect(select.closest(".ant-select")?.querySelector(".ant-select-selection-item")).toBeNull();
+
+    await user.click(screen.getByRole("button", { name: /save changes/i }));
+    await waitFor(() => expect(modelPatchUpdateCall).toHaveBeenCalled());
+    expect(savedDefaultModel()).toBe(STORED_CONFIG.tiers.MEDIUM[0]);
+    expect(savedConfig()).not.toHaveProperty("default_model");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/edit_auto_router/edit_auto_router_modal.tsx b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/edit_auto_router/edit_auto_router_modal.tsx
index 6818d3b850c..7d98d758de7 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/edit_auto_router/edit_auto_router_modal.tsx
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/components/edit_auto_router/edit_auto_router_modal.tsx
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { TextInput } from "@tremor/react";
 import { modelAvailableCall, modelPatchUpdateCall } from "../networking";
 import { fetchAvailableModels, ModelGroup } from "@/components/llm_calls/fetch_models";
 import RouterConfigBuilder from "../add_model/RouterConfigBuilder";
-import { normalizeTierModels } from "../add_model/complexity_router_tiers";
+import { normalizeTierModels, resolveComplexityDefaultModel } from "../add_model/complexity_router_tiers";
 import { isComplexityRouter } from "../add_model/auto_router_strategies";
 import {
   getKeywordTierRulesError,
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ interface EditAutoRouterModalProps {
 // actually renders a control that can set it.
 const MANAGED_COMPLEXITY_ROUTER_KEYS = new Set([
   "tiers",
+  "default_model",
   "tier_labels",
   "classifier_type",
   "classifier_llm_config",
@@ -81,6 +82,9 @@ const toRecord = (value: unknown): Record<string, unknown> => {
     : {};
 };
 
+export const hydratePinnedDefaultModel = (stored: unknown): string | undefined =>
+  typeof stored === "string" && stored.trim() ? stored : undefined;
+
 export interface KeywordMatchingState {
   keywordTierRules: KeywordTierRule[];
   escalationKeywords: string[];
@@ -109,6 +113,7 @@ export const buildUpdatedComplexityRouterConfig = (
   return {
     ...preservedConfig,
     tiers: value.tiers,
+    ...(value.default_model?.trim() && { default_model: value.default_model }),
     ...(serializedTierLabels && { tier_labels: serializedTierLabels }),
     classifier_type: value.classifier_type,
     ...(value.classifier_type === "llm" && value.classifier_llm_config
@@ -243,6 +248,7 @@ const EditAutoRouterModal: React.FC<EditAutoRouterModalProps> = ({
             COMPLEX: normalizeTierModels(parsedConfig.tiers?.COMPLEX),
             REASONING: normalizeTierModels(parsedConfig.tiers?.REASONING),
           },
+          default_model: hydratePinnedDefaultModel(parsedConfig.default_model),
           tier_labels: hydrateTierLabels(parsedConfig.tier_labels),
           classifier_type: parsedConfig.classifier_type || "heuristic",
           classifier_llm_config: parsedConfig.classifier_llm_config,
@@ -362,7 +368,19 @@ const EditAutoRouterModal: React.FC<EditAutoRouterModalProps> = ({
           return;
         }
 
-        const defaultModel = tiers.MEDIUM[0] || tiers.SIMPLE[0] || tiers.COMPLEX[0] || tiers.REASONING[0];
+        // Unlike the create form, this modal only requires one non-empty tier, so a router can reach
+        // here with nothing the backend would pick as a default. init_complexity_router_deployment
+        // raises in that case (litellm/router.py), so block it rather than saving a router that
+        // fails at init.
+        const defaultModel = resolveComplexityDefaultModel(tiers, complexityRouterConfig.default_model);
+        if (!defaultModel) {
+          setShowValidationErrors(true);
+          NotificationsManager.fromBackend(
+            "Add a model to the Simple or Medium tier, or pin a default model, so requests have somewhere to route.",
+          );
+          return;
+        }
+
         const updatedLitellmParams = {
           ...modelData.litellm_params,
           complexity_router_config: buildUpdatedComplexityRouterConfig(
diff --git a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/lib/autorouter_presets.ts b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/lib/autorouter_presets.ts
index 5caff6fe714..7ef0e06e2e6 100644
--- a/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/lib/autorouter_presets.ts
+++ b/ui/litellm-dashboard/src/lib/autorouter_presets.ts
@@ -40,10 +40,18 @@ export const getPresetByKey = (key: string): AutoRouterPreset | undefined => PRE
 // bundled config or a caller's actually-built config - the two need to agree, since a preset only
 // prefills once and the config is edited freely after (see AddAutoRouterTab.submitBlockedReason).
 export const getRequiredModels = (
-  config: Pick<ComplexityRouterConfigPayload, "tiers" | "classifier_llm_config" | "embedding_model">,
+  config: Pick<ComplexityRouterConfigPayload, "tiers" | "classifier_llm_config" | "embedding_model" | "default_model">,
 ): Set<string> => {
-  const { tiers, classifier_llm_config: classifier, embedding_model: embedding } = config;
-  const models = [...tiers.SIMPLE, ...tiers.MEDIUM, ...tiers.COMPLEX, ...tiers.REASONING, classifier?.model, embedding];
+  const { tiers, classifier_llm_config: classifier, embedding_model: embedding, default_model: pinned } = config;
+  const models = [
+    ...tiers.SIMPLE,
+    ...tiers.MEDIUM,
+    ...tiers.COMPLEX,
+    ...tiers.REASONING,
+    classifier?.model,
+    embedding,
+    pinned,
+  ];
   // Boolean(), not != null: an empty-string placeholder (e.g. classifier_llm_config seeded before a
   // model is chosen) is never a real model reference either.
   return new Set(models.filter((model): model is string => Boolean(model)));
@@ -164,7 +172,7 @@ const resolveAvailableModel = (requiredModel: string, availability: ModelAvailab
 };
 
 export const getMissingModels = (
-  config: Pick<ComplexityRouterConfigPayload, "tiers" | "classifier_llm_config" | "embedding_model">,
+  config: Parameters<typeof getRequiredModels>[0],
   availability: ModelAvailability,
 ): string[] =>
   [...getRequiredModels(config)].filter((model) => resolveAvailableModel(model, availability) === undefined).sort();
@@ -188,12 +196,14 @@ export const getReferencedModelsError = (
     classifierLlmConfig: ClassifierLLMConfig | undefined;
     semanticMatchingEnabled: boolean;
     embeddingModel: string | undefined;
+    defaultModel?: string;
   },
   availability: ModelAvailability,
 ): string | null => {
   const missing = getMissingModels(
     {
       tiers: params.tiers,
+      default_model: params.defaultModel,
       classifier_llm_config: params.classifierType === "llm" ? params.classifierLlmConfig : undefined,
       embedding_model: params.semanticMatchingEnabled ? params.embeddingModel : undefined,
     },