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Are Toyota Land Cruisers Reliable? Here are The Most Common Problems

August 30, 2022 3 Min read

Toyota Land Cruiser is one of the most powerful and sought-after SUVs worldwide, as made evident by the fact that it has sold over 10 million units because of its durability and luxury. 

However, buying a Land Cruiser is costly, starting at $85,000. Compare this to the Cadillac Escalade, which costs upwards of $76,000, and the GMC Yukon, that has a starting price of $52,000.

Land Cruiser is one of the most expensive in its category. 

The high price is justified by the stellar durability, luxury, and reliability, but there are some problems you will face if you own a Land Cruiser or are planning to buy a new model. 

Is the Toyota Land Cruiser reliable?

Land Cruiser is considered a reliable SUV with a reliability score of 83 out of 100, considered a good score. Land Cruiser is primarily famous for its reliability, offering a smooth drive in urban areas and durable off-road driving. 

According to this study, Toyota Land Cruiser is possibly the longest-lasting vehicle in its category. Moreover, 2021 consumer reports divulge that Toyota Land Cruiser to considered more reliable and durable than many new cars on the market. 

We can confidently say that Land Cruiser is a dependable SUV, and you can trust it to perform well on different terrains. 

Are Land Cruisers Expensive to maintain?

As mentioned above, the Land Cruiser is an expensive SUV, and its maintenance is also considerable. Land Cruiser maintenance costs about $6,783 during the first ten years.

Average Maintenance Cost  

The average yearly maintenance cost for Land Cruiser is around $800 to $900. This seems like a lot at first compared to regular cars and SUVs. But when looking for luxury and resilience, Land Cruisers stand equal to giants like Lexus LX and Cadillac Escalade. These vehicles have extensive annual maintenance compared to Land Cruiser, driving up ownership expenses considerably.

SUVAnnual Maintenance Cost
Toyota Land Cruiser$700 – $850
Cadillac Escalade $1000 – $1200
Range Rover $1000 – $5000
Lexus LX$2,444
GMC Yukon$750
Chevrolet Tahoe$744

Land Cruiser Parts That Commonly Need Repair Or Replacement

Land Cruiser is a robust SUV, and its design is to perform well in rugged and off-road environments. One of the main reasons for Land Cruiser’s popularity is its durability. However, it is not immune to damages or repairs and often faces the below problem and repairs

  • Clutch 

People who own a manual variant of Land Cruiser are familiar with the clutch-related issue. The clutch’s purpose is to disconnect the wheel function from the engine, so it faces a lot of friction and has many moving parts; in Land Cruiser, it is typical for the clutch not to work correctly. 

  • Brake Pad Replacement (Front) 

 Brake pad replacements are a common problem in almost every vehicle. However, the replacement frequency depends on the terrain, load, and driving styles. In Toyota Land Cruiser, brake pads need replacement multiple times in their lifespan.

  • Timing Belt

Timing belts also needed to be replaced with time; their purpose is to coincide with the camshaft and crankshaft in your engine. It is essential to replace your timing belt from time to time. If your Land Cruiser is through a tough drive and you haven’t changed your timing belt in years, you better change it to avoid troubles

  • Other Issues

The older land cruiser model has sudden rough shifting, engine stop, and oil issues. These problems vary from the mileage and traveling conditions.

Conclusion 

Land Cruiser is an iconic SUV that has been in the market for a long time, and with years Toyota has done its best to improve its durability and luxury. Like every other vehicle, it needs some repairs and has some challenges. If you have the budget, buying the Land Cruiser is worth the money.

For more information, see Toyota Land Cruiser: Interesting Facts And Stats To Know

SUVs

Frequently Asked Questions

Apart from the annual repairs, Land Cruisers have a 16% chance of getting a serious repair problem. It depends on the user on how they maintain the SUV; if they skip annual repairs, there are high chances that your Land Cruiser can have a significant issue. Moreover, Land Cruisers are designed for better off-road drives, but they also put pressure on the parts after every trip to ensure adequate service and repairs; otherwise, it could lead to a major problem. 

Toyota has officially discontinued Land Cruiser in the United States, so there will not be a 2022 model because of low demand and high competition. Land Cruisers are also unavailable in Canada; they have an alternative, Lexus LX.

The land cruiser is indeed a durable and heavy-duty vehicle, but it does not come bulletproof from Toyota. However, because of its durability, all-terrain, and all-weather drive, many NGOs, government, and security organizations get them bulletproof and use them for VIP safety.

The terrain is not much of a problem for the Land Cruiser. Organizations like United Nations trust Land Cruiser to reach remote areas. Toyota has designed the SUV to outperform in rugged and urban regions without compromising its reliability.