Back to catalog
Top issues
13 known problems · 2 high
high
Cracked cylinder head
4.2L 1HD-FTE turbo diesel
high
Overdue timing belt
4.2L 1HD-FTE turbo diesel
medium
A442F 4-speed auto - towing overheat / wear
All engines
Recalls
3 on recordREC-002445
2002-06-12
Defect: On vehicles regularly driven on rough, corrugated roads at high speed for long distances, the spare wheel winch wire cable may fray from road-transmitted vibration.
Hazard: Spare wheel could detach if the winch cable fails.
Remedy: Toyota dealer rectification, free of charge.
Affected: 86,360 units; Toyota & Lexus Land Cruiser 100 & 105, HiLux, LX470, built 7 Jan 1998 - 2 Sep 2001
Official notice: www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au · details checked 2026-10-01
REC-002883
2006-06-27
Defect: Welds on bullbar adaptor mounting brackets may fracture during heavy winching operations.
Hazard: Bullbar could detach from the vehicle.
Remedy: Toyota dealer inspection/repair of affected bullbar mounting brackets, free of charge.
Affected: 2,024 units; bullbar mounting adaptor brackets manufactured Dec 1997-Oct 2004 (PRA 2006/8591)
Official notice: www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au · details checked 2026-10-01
REC-002962
2007-03-01
Defect: Under severe use with repetitive, forceful braking, excessive force on the brake rotor may loosen the front brake rotor retaining bolt(s).
Hazard: Loose bolts can produce a rattling noise; continued driving in this condition risks further loosening of the front brake assembly.
Remedy: Toyota dealer inspection/torque or replacement of front brake rotor bolts, free of charge.
Affected: 137,179 units; Lexus LX470, Land Cruiser 78, 79, 100 & 105 Series, built 30 Sep 1997 - 5 Dec 2005 (PRA 2007/9087, campaign 7531A)
Official notice: www.vehiclerecalls.gov.au · details checked 2026-10-01
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
Price (AUD)
$15k-$55k
Body styles
5-door wagon
Drivetrain
Full-time 4WD (Torsen) - 100 series IFS, Part-time 4WD (live front axle) - 105 series
Origin
Japan
Built in
Japan
Overview
Two distinct trucks share this body: the 100 series (independent front suspension, full-time 4WD) and the live-front-axle 105 series (part-time 4WD, beloved by remote/outback owners for its solid-axle simplicity). The standout engine is the 4.2L 1HD-FTE turbo diesel; the 105 also offered the indestructible naturally-aspirated 1HZ. Petrol buyers got the 4.5L 1FZ-FE six (early) then the 4.7L 2UZ-FE V8. All are revered for longevity but they are now old, high-km vehicles - condition and service history matter enormously, and the diesel's timing belt and the V8's belt are scheduled items, not lifetime.
Engines & variants
4.2L 1HD-FTE turbo diesel
Engine
4.2L turbo-intercooled diesel I6 (CT20B turbo)
Engine code
1HD-FTE
Config
I6 turbo
Displacement
4164cc
Power
151kW @ 3400rpm
Torque
430Nm @ 3200rpm
Drivetrain
Full-time 4WD (Torsen)
Economy
12-14 L/100km combined
Tow (braked)
3500kg
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
5MT, 4AT, 5AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Belt-driven camshaft (replace ~100,000km) with gear-driven ancillary train
Pros
- Strong, torquey and genuinely long-lived (400k+ km common)
- Pre-DPF, common-rail-free simplicity
- Huge touring/aftermarket support
- Excellent tow vehicle
Cons
- Timing belt is a scheduled service item - overdue belts are a real risk
- Cracked cylinder heads are a known high-km / chipped / hard-towing failure
- All are old now with very high km
- Thirstier than the smaller modern diesels
Known problems
high
Cracked cylinder head
The 1HD-FTE head can crack between valve seats/injector bores, especially on chipped engines or those worked hard towing in heat - coolant loss and combustion gases in the cooling system are the tells.
Fix: Replacement head (often upgraded). Keep cooling system healthy and avoid over-aggressive tunes.
high
Overdue timing belt
The cam timing belt must be replaced on schedule; a neglected belt risks valve damage.
Fix: Replace belt with tensioner/idlers on interval - confirm history before buying.
medium
Injector and turbo wear
Injectors and the CT20B turbo wear at high km, causing smoke and lost power.
Fix: Diesel-specialist injector service; turbo rebuild/replacement.
4.2L 1HZ NA diesel (105)
Engine
4.2L naturally-aspirated indirect-injection diesel I6
Engine code
Config
I6 NA
Displacement
4164cc
Power
96kW @ 3800rpm
Torque
285Nm @ 2200rpm
Drivetrain
Part-time 4WD (live front axle, 105)
Economy
12-14 L/100km combined
Tow (braked)
3500kg
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
5MT, 4AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Gear-driven timing - extremely robust
Pros
- Mechanically simple, gear-driven, near-indestructible
- Live front axle (105) loved for remote/outback simplicity
- Will run on poor fuel and minimal electronics
- Very easy to repair anywhere
Cons
- Genuinely slow - struggles loaded or in hills
- Noisy and agricultural
- Often aftermarket-turbo'd (verify install quality)
Known problems
medium
Overheating if cooling neglected (esp. aftermarket turbo)
The NA 1HZ runs cool and reliable; many are turbo'd aftermarket, which can cause head/cooling stress if done cheaply.
Fix: Verify any turbo install (intercooler, EGT/boost gauges); maintain cooling system.
medium
Injector pump wear
Mechanical injection pump and injectors wear at very high km.
Fix: Diesel-specialist pump/injector rebuild.
4.5L 1FZ-FE petrol
Engine
4.5L DOHC petrol I6
Engine code
Config
I6 NA
Displacement
4477cc
Power
165kW @ 4600rpm
Torque
387Nm @ 3600rpm
Drivetrain
Full-time / part-time 4WD (by series)
Economy
18-22 L/100km real world
Tow (braked)
3500kg
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
5MT, 4AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven
Pros
- Bulletproof, smooth big petrol six
- Chain-driven, simple, tough
- Cheap to buy; takes LPG well
Cons
- Very thirsty on petrol
- Only on early 100/105; all very high km
- Poor range unless on gas
Known problems
low
Fuel thirst
18-22 L/100km; most run LPG to make it viable.
Fix: Quality LPG conversion or accept the cost.
medium
Age-related cooling/electrical wear
Old vehicles - radiators, hoses, seals and wiring need attention.
Fix: Refresh consumables; thorough pre-purchase inspection.
4.7L 2UZ-FE V8 petrol
Engine
4.7L DOHC V8
Engine code
2UZ-FE
Config
V8 NA
Displacement
4664cc
Power
170kW @ 4800rpm
Torque
410Nm @ 3400rpm
Drivetrain
Full-time 4WD (Torsen)
Economy
16-18 L/100km real world
Tow (braked)
3500kg
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
5AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Belt-driven (replace ~150,000km)
Pros
- Bulletproof Toyota V8, smooth and quiet
- Cheaper to buy than the diesel
- Simple ownership, no diesel emissions gear
Cons
- Thirsty
- Timing belt is a scheduled item
- Lower resale than the 1HD diesel
Known problems
medium
Timing belt interval
The 2UZ uses a timing belt that must be replaced on schedule.
Fix: Replace belt with water pump/tensioner on interval; confirm history.
low
Fuel thirst
16-18 L/100km, worse towing.
Fix: Accept or fit LPG.