I've just noticed I missed a comma out so try this
SELECT
count(Defect_Title),
tbl_Assembly_Holds.Record_Date
FROM
tbl_Assembly_Hold_Defects
join tlkp_Defects on tbl_Assembly_Hold_Defects.Defect_ID = tlkp_Defects.Defect_ID
join tbl_Assembly_Holds on tbl_Assembly_Holds.TagNumber = tbl_Assembly_Hold_Defects.TagNumber
WHERE
tbl_Assembly_Holds.Record_Date BETWEEN '8/12/2009' AND '8/14/2009'
GROUP BY
tbl_Assembly_Holds.Record_Date