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Foton

Tunland

4th-gen (original AU Tunland) (unverified)· 2012-2022 ute Value

Top issues

6 known problems
medium
Body parts supply thinness
Any · Varies
medium
Turbo VGT actuator carbon-sticking
From 100,000km+ · ~$800-1600
medium
EGR cooler internal failure
From 80,000km-130,000km · ~$700-1400
All 6 problems ↓ Inspection checklist →

At this odometer

See which of this car's known problems are due at that mileage, which should already have been dealt with, and what's coming up.

Before and after

Before: (none AU-delivered)
Price (AUD)
$8k-$22k
Body styles
Single Cab, Dual Cab
Drivetrain
RWD, 4WD part-time
Origin
China
Built in
China (Beijing)

Overview

The original AU-delivered Foton Tunland is built around a genuine Cummins ISF 2.8L turbo-diesel - real commercial truck engine pedigree, not a Chinese knockoff. The Cummins core is genuinely tough but the surrounding vehicle suffers from weak peripheral components, cheap cabin trim, and an AU dealer/parts network that was thin during sale and is largely gone now. Body parts and Foton-specific trim can be extremely hard to source.

Engines & variants

2.8L Cummins ISF 2.8 turbo diesel

Engine
Cummins ISF 2.8L four-cylinder turbo diesel
Engine code
ISF 2.8
Config
I4 turbo
Displacement
2780cc (unverified)
Power
120kW @ 3600rpm (unverified)
Torque
360Nm @ 1800-3000rpm (unverified)
Drivetrain
RWD / Part-time 4WD
Economy
8.3 L/100km combined (unverified)
Tow (braked)
2500kg
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
5MT, 6AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven (no service interval - inspect 250,000km+)

Pros

  • Genuine Cummins commercial engine heritage
  • Chain-driven - no service interval
  • Cheap to buy used
  • Strong bottom end - high-km Cummins keeps going

Cons

  • Dealer/parts network largely gone
  • Cheap cabin plastics
  • Vulnerable peripheral sensors and electronics

Known problems

medium
Turbo VGT actuator carbon-sticking
The VGT actuator gets jammed or sticky from carbon soot, particularly on short-trip usage. Symptoms: loss of boost, erratic power delivery, limp mode.
Fix: Specialist manual clean of the turbo vanes, or full turbo replacement if vanes are too far gone.
From 100,000km+ · ~$800-1600
medium
EGR cooler internal failure
EGR cooler develops internal thermal-stress fractures, allowing coolant to seep into the exhaust manifold. Symptoms: white smoke trailing, overheating, mysterious coolant loss.
Fix: Replace the cracked EGR cooler. Flush coolant system fully.
From 80,000km-130,000km · ~$700-1400
medium
Fuel filter intolerance to poor diesel
Common-rail injection is highly intolerant of fuel contamination. Bad diesel quickly plugs the primary filter, causing hard starts, hesitation, and stumbling.
Fix: Strict filter replacement schedule. Install an aftermarket pre-filter with water separator as cheap insurance.
From 40,000km+ · ~$300-650
low
Cabin electrical gremlins
Foton-specific electrical defects: erratic central locking, failed power window switches, loose harness pins behind the dash. Annoying but rarely catastrophic.
Fix: Re-seat connectors, clean primary earth terminals, replace failed switches as needed.
From 60,000km+ · ~$250-600

Common problems (all variants)

low
Paint and clear coat UV degradation
Factory paint and clear coat have poor long-term UV resistance. Peeling clear coat on bonnet, roof, and tray sides is common on older examples.
Fix: Localised panel prep and respray, or protective wrap on affected areas.
From 50,000km+ · ~$500-1200
medium
Body parts supply thinness
Foton-specific body panels, lights, mirrors, and trim are hard to source in AU. The Cummins drivetrain has good parts support; the rest of the vehicle does not.
Fix: Pre-purchase body inspection essential. Source from wreckers proactively if you find any.
Any · Varies
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