Toyota LandCruiser: best and worst years

5 generations sold in Australia, rated from our guides

Best bets: 80 Series (1990-1998), J100 (1998-2007), 70-Series (1999-2024), J200 (2007-2021), J300 (2021-2026) (top pick in our guides).

1990-199880 Series (J80)

Top pick

Our top pick: 19 known problems, 6 high-severity. Worst to watch for: Chassis cracking near the steering box / panhard mount; Cooling system neglect causing engine damage.

Full 80 Series guide →

1998-2007J100 (100 / 105 Series)

Top pick

Our top pick: 13 known problems, 2 high-severity. Worst to watch for: Cracked cylinder head; Overdue timing belt.

Full J100 guide →

1999-202470-Series (78 / 79)

Top pick

Our top pick: 12 known problems, 2 high-severity. Worst to watch for: Oil filter housing spout failure; Oil pick-up plastic strainer.

Year-specific notes in the guide
  • Pre-2010High oil consumption (early units) (Pre-2010)
Full 70-Series guide →

2007-2021J200 (200 Series)

Top pick

Our top pick: 13 known problems, 1 high-severity. Worst to watch for: Injector over-fuelling / excessive smoke.

Year-specific notes in the guide
  • 2015+DPF clogging on short trips (2015+)
Full J200 guide →

2021-2026J300 (300 Series)

Top pick

Our top pick: 14 known problems, 3 high-severity. Worst to watch for: Vehicle theft / keyless security flaw; Machining-debris engine recall (bearings).

Year-specific notes in the guide
  • 2021-2025Transmission control (TCM/ECT-ECU) software recall (Any (2021-2025 builds))
Full J300 guide →

Verdicts are the ratings in each FlamingCars guide; reasons and year notes come from the problems those guides list. Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection.