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Toyota

Kluger

XU70· 2021-2026 suv-soft Top pick

Top issues

10 known problems

medium

Second-row seat recliner may not fully engage (safety recall)

All engines

Any (2021-2023 build) · Recall (free)

medium

Second-row seat recliner / front seat-back frame recalls

3.5L 2GR-FKS petrol V6

Any (2021-2023 build) · Recall (free)

medium

Hybrid drive-battery degradation

2.5L A25A-FXS hybrid (AWD E-Four)

From 160k+ km / 8-10+ years · ~$2000-5000

All 10 problems ↓ Inspection checklist →

Recalls

1 on record

REC-005813 2023-11-08

Defect: The front seat-back frames were not manufactured to the minimum radius required by Australian Design Rule (ADR) 3/03.

Remedy: Toyota will contact affected owners to arrange a free inspection and repair.

Affected: 36,789 units, Kluger and Kluger Hybrid, built 4 March 2021 to 19 January 2024 (campaign XGG05)

Official notice: www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au · details checked 2026-09-29

Check a specific car by VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.

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.

Generations

Best and worst years for the Toyota Kluger →

Before: Toyota Kluger XU50 (3rd gen, 2014-2021) →

After: Toyota Kluger / Grand Highlander next generation (TNGA, 2026+)

Price (AUD)

$38k-$75k

Body styles

5-door 7-seat wagon

Drivetrain

Front-wheel drive (V6 only), On-demand AWD (V6 with electronic coupling; Hybrid with rear electric motor / E-Four)

Origin

Japan

Built in

USA (Princeton, Indiana) for most AU stock; some early Japan-built

Overview

The fourth-generation Kluger (XU70, launched in Australia mid-2021) is Toyota's big TNGA-K seven-seat soft-roader, sold in GX, GXL and Grande grades. Unlike many rivals it deliberately avoids the high-risk drivetrains of the class: there is NO turbo, NO dual-clutch and NO conventional CVT under the V6, and no diesel was offered. Two AU powertrains only - the long-serving 3.5L 2GR-FKS naturally aspirated petrol V6 (218kW/350Nm) bolted to a conventional 8-speed torque-converter automatic in front- or on-demand all-wheel drive, and the 2.5L A25A-FXS Atkinson-cycle petrol-electric hybrid (142kW engine, 184kW combined system) using a planetary-gear power-split eCVT and AWD-only E-Four (a dedicated rear electric motor, no propshaft). Both share the same Takata-free, chain-driven, port-and-direct dual-injection philosophy, and the hybrid in particular has an outstanding reliability reputation with real-world economy near its 5.6 L/100km claim. The XU70 is one of the safer used large-SUV buys in Australia: the buyer's caveats are mostly recalls (second-row seat recliner, front seat-back frames, front bumper cover, a 2023 driver-airbag wiring issue) and minor quality/electronic niggles rather than catastrophic engine or transmission failures. The hybrid commands a price premium and is the value-and-economy pick; the V6 is the tow-and-tradition pick. Both are rated to tow 2000kg braked.

Engines & variants

3.5L 2GR-FKS petrol V6

Engine

3.5L naturally aspirated DOHC 24-valve V6 with D-4S dual (port + direct) injection and Dual VVT-i

Engine code

2GR-FKS

Config

V6 NA

Displacement

3456cc

Power

218kW @ 6600rpm

Torque

350Nm @ 4700rpm

Drivetrain

FWD or on-demand AWD (electronic coupling)

Economy

8.7 L/100km (FWD) / 8.8-8.9 L/100km (AWD) combined (real-world ~10-12)

Tow (braked)

2000kg

Tow (unbraked)

700kg

Transmission

8AT (8-speed torque-converter automatic)

Timing chain / belt / gear

Timing chain (no scheduled belt replacement)

Pros

Proven, smooth, torquey V6 with no turbo, DPF or DCT to fail
Conventional 8-speed torque-converter auto - not a CVT or dual-clutch
D-4S dual injection greatly reduces the intake-carbon problem of pure direct-injection
Strong 2000kg braked tow rating and effortless highway performance
Timing chain; one of the most reliable engines in the large-SUV class

Cons

Thirsty in town compared with the hybrid (real-world 11-12 L/100km)
Discontinued in Australia from ~2024 as the range went hybrid-only
No diesel torque for heavy/frequent towing despite the 2000kg rating
Higher running costs than the hybrid over a typical family lifetime

Known problems

low

Front bumper cover detachment (recall YGG74)

Recall campaign YGG74 (Nov 2023) covers 2021-23 XU70 Kluger and Kluger Hybrid fitted with a resin front lower bumper cover whose mounting tabs could detach after a minor impact, with a risk the cover comes loose on the road.

Fix: Confirm the YGG74 recall has been completed at a Toyota dealer; rectification is free.

Any (2021-2023 build) · Recall (free)

medium

Second-row seat recliner / front seat-back frame recalls

Campaign XGG05 (Jun 2022) covered 2021 cars whose front seat-back frames were not made to the minimum radius criteria, and a later second-row recliner-mechanism action (~34,000 cars) addressed a recliner that may not fully engage, allowing the seatback to move unexpectedly - a crash-safety concern.

Fix: Run the VIN through Toyota's recall checker and confirm the seat-frame and recliner campaigns were completed.

Any (2021-2023 build) · Recall (free)

low

Direct/port (D-4S) intake and oil-consumption housekeeping

The 2GR-FKS is robust, but the broader 2GR family is known for some oil consumption and, on pure-DI use, intake-valve carbon. The D-4S dual-injection on this engine washes the valves and largely avoids the carbon issue, but high-km cars should be checked for oil use.

Fix: Check oil level and for consumption on inspection; keep to clean oil and 15,000km/12-month intervals; intake clean only if symptomatic.

From 120k+ km · ~$200-1500

2.5L A25A-FXS hybrid (AWD E-Four)

Engine

2.5L Atkinson-cycle DOHC 16-valve petrol four (D-4S dual injection) with front + rear motor-generators and a NiMH/Li-ion hybrid drive battery

Engine code

A25A-FXS

Config

I4 Atkinson + electric (series-parallel hybrid)

Displacement

2487cc

Power

142kW @ 6000rpm (petrol) / 184kW combined system

Torque

242Nm @ 4400rpm (petrol)

Drivetrain

AWD only (E-Four - dedicated rear electric motor, no propshaft)

Economy

5.6 L/100km combined (real-world ~6-7)

Tow (braked)

2000kg

Tow (unbraked)

700kg

Transmission

eCVT (planetary-gear power-split, electronically controlled)

Timing chain / belt / gear

Timing chain (no scheduled belt replacement)

Pros

Outstanding real-world economy (~6 L/100km) in a large 7-seat AWD SUV
Toyota HSD power-split eCVT is NOT a belt/pulley CVT - it has no clutches or belts and is exceptionally reliable
E-Four AWD via rear motor avoids propshaft/coupling wear of mechanical AWD
Atkinson D-4S engine resists intake carbon; proven Toyota hybrid mechanicals
Still rated to 2000kg braked towing; quiet, refined drivetrain

Cons

Hybrid drive battery will eventually degrade and is costly to replace out of warranty
Price premium over the V6 when new; AWD-only (no FWD hybrid)
eCVT droning under hard acceleration; less outright urge than the V6
Regenerative-brake feel and rare brake-system niggles reported by some owners

Known problems

medium

Hybrid drive-battery degradation

Like all Toyota hybrids the high-voltage drive battery slowly loses capacity, eventually reducing EV assist and economy. Toyota's hybrid battery warranty (up to ~10 years with annual health checks) covers most cars, and real-world failures on this generation are rare and late, but it is the defining long-term cost of any used hybrid.

Fix: Keep up the annual hybrid health check to extend the warranty; reconditioned/replacement batteries are available; budget for it on very high-km cars.

From 160k+ km / 8-10+ years · ~$2000-5000

low

Front bumper cover detachment (recall YGG74)

Same YGG74 recall as the V6 - the resin front lower bumper cover on 2021-23 Kluger Hybrid can detach at the mounting tabs after a minor impact.

Fix: Confirm YGG74 has been completed via Toyota's VIN recall check; free rectification.

Any (2021-2023 build) · Recall (free)

medium

Driver-airbag wiring / seat-recliner recalls

Campaign YGG39 (Oct 2023) addressed a driver-side airbag wiring-harness connection issue on 2023 Klugers that could prevent the airbag deploying, and the second-row recliner action also applies to hybrid grades.

Fix: Run the VIN through Toyota recall checks and confirm the airbag-wiring and recliner campaigns are completed.

Any (2021-2023 build) · Recall (free)

Common problems (all variants)

medium

Second-row seat recliner may not fully engage (safety recall)

A large recall (~34,000+ AU cars) covered a second-row seat recliner mechanism that might not fully engage when the seatback is adjusted, allowing the seat back to move inadvertently - a restraint/crash-safety concern on this family-focused SUV.

Fix: Confirm the recliner recall has been completed through Toyota's VIN recall checker before purchase.

Any (2021-2023 build) · Recall (free)

low

Door seal / dust ingress

Owners on AU review sites report dust entering through door seals on unsealed-road use, with dust accumulating inside doors and around lower trim.

Fix: Inspect and replace/realign door seals under warranty if affected; clean drain points.

Any · ~$0-400

low

Lane-keeping / driver-assist intrusiveness

Some owners find the lane-trace/lane-departure and pre-collision assist over-eager or distracting on Australian roads and lane markings, a common Toyota Safety Sense complaint rather than a fault.

Fix: Adjust or switch off the relevant assist via menus; software updates have refined behaviour on later cars.

Any · ~$0

low

Interior rattles, trim and key-fob battery niggles

Reported quality niggles include dashboard/trim rattles, occasional leather-stitching complaints, and smart-key fob batteries failing within about a year.

Fix: Have rattles traced and trim re-secured under warranty; replace the key-fob coin cell (cheap DIY).

Any · ~$10-300

low

Infotainment / connectivity glitches

The 8-inch (GX/GXL) and 12.3-inch (Grande) Toyota infotainment can suffer Bluetooth/Apple CarPlay-Android Auto dropouts, occasional freezes and laggy responses, typical of this Toyota head-unit generation.

Fix: Apply software/map updates at the dealer; re-pair phones; head-unit replacement only if hardware-faulty under warranty.

Any · ~$0-500

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