1997 Toyota Land Cruiser Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes421.1%
- Tires & wheels315.8%
- Heating & air conditioning315.8%
- Fuel system210.5%
- Engine15.3%
- Airbags15.3%
- Interior & seats15.3%
- Other / unspecified15.3%
- Powertrain (other)15.3%
- Steering15.3%
- Driver assistance15.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP AND FLIPPED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH
FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. ALSO, LOSS OF BRAKES WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A CURVE AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH THERE WAS INDICATION OR PRIOR WARNING.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER. THE VEHICLE HAS INTERCO - TRXUSM/T, SIZE 265/75/16 TIRES. THE DOT#T 4FW8T5M 20504. THE CONTACT PURCHASED 6 SNOW TIRES AND 2 OF THEM HAVE BLOWN OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 62 MPH ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT'S REAR PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. THE RUBBER UNWRAPPED AROUND THE BEAD, AND IT EXPLODED THERE AND RIPPED THROUGH TO THE TREAD. THE TREAD REMAINED INTACT AND EACH OCCURRENCE WASIDENTICAL. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 29, 2006 AND THE WEATHER WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED SIX TIMES. TTHE CONTACT IWASCERTAIN THAT THERE WERE NO OBSTRUCTIONS ON THE HIGHWAY. THE TIRE MILEAGE WAS 1,500. THE TIRES WERE AFTER MARKET SNOW TIRES. THE TIRE DEALER AGREED TO ACCEPT THE TIRE VIA MAIL TO INVESTIGATE THE DAMAGE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE CONTACTWAS UNCERTAIN OF THE RECOURSE WITH THE TIRE DEALER TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED WITH THE AUTO AFTER MARKET TIRES. *AK
PURCHASED TIRES SEPTEMBER 27, 1999, VEHICLE HAD 52,400 MILES. HAD SIDEWALL BLOWOUT ON 1 TIRE ON DECEMBER 8, 2000 AT 71,500 MILES (ABOUT 19,000 MILES ON TIRE). HAD SECOND BLOWOUT ON DECEMBER 20, 2000 AT 72,000 MILES (19,500 MILES ON TIRE). BOTH INCIDENTS OCCURING AT HIGH SPEEDS - 50+MPH. DOT #B73R 171X 349 (DOT NUMBER: B73R171X34 TIRESIZE: 275/70 R16)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS PULLING OUT FROM A STOP WHEN I GOT BLASTED IN THE FACE OUT OF AIR CONDITIONER VENTILATION WITH SOMETHING THAT MADE ME GO BLIND HYPERVENTILATE HAVE SEVER MUSCLE CRAMPS ARMS AND LEGS WENT NUMB. THE AIR IN THE TRUCK WAS TESTED AND IT WAS ISOBUTANE, BUTANE, 2-METHYL BUTANE,PENTANE,TOLUENE, ETHYLBENZENE AND XYLENES BLOWING THROUGHOUT MY TRUCK!!!!
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED ODOR COMING FROM A/C UNIT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
Fuel tank develops crack and leaks when filled more than 10 gallons approx 1/2 full. There is a specific point on the tank where it cracks on top. The metal is very thin at this point and possibly with newer Ethanol fuels the tank expands and contracts far more in hot weather? This problem is well documented on Toyota Land Cruiser websites, specifically IH8MUD.com. The website is telling owners to log complaints with NHTSA. I would think leaking gas is a major safety issue along with being an emissions violation. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection. Manufacturer gives no response. The FJ 60/62 Land Cruiser (model before, did have a recall on the fuel tank) No warning lamps or messages OBD2.
THE FUEL TANK LEAKS FROM A CRACK POTENTIALLY FORMED BY STRESS OF FUEL AND A PRESSURIZED SYSTEM. WHEN FULL OF FUEL, THE SYSTEM ACTIVELY DRIPS AND LEAKS FUEL OUT. EVEN WHEN NOT FULL, THERE IS A VAPOR SMELL PRESENT. HTTP://FORUM.IH8MUD.COM/THREADS/LEAKING-GAS-FROM-TOP-OF-TANK.225705/ THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN PRESENT AND IS DISCUSSED HERE ON THIS FORUM; INCLUDING PICTURES OF THE LOCATION, ATTEMPTED REPAIRS AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF REPAIRS. THIS POSES A SIGNIFICANT FIRE HAZARD, AS ANYTHING AS MINIMAL AS A SPARK COULD LEAD TO A FIRE HAZARD. MY VEHICLE HAS ACTIVE LEAKING WITH A FULL FUEL TANK DRIPPING OF THE FUEL UNTIL A CERTAIN LEVEL, AND A FUEL ODOR PRESENT CONSTANTLY DESPITE FUEL LEVEL. THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY SMELLS LIKE FUEL AS WELL. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON AN OLDER MODEL 60 SERIES LAND CRUISER, AND TOYOTA APPEARS TO ACKNOWLEDGE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE PAST THAT OBVIOUSLY HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED EVEN 10 YEARS LATER IN MANUFACTURING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
OUR 1997 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER IS NOW INOPERABLE DUE TO MULTIPLE FAILURES IN REPAIRS BY FOLSOM LAKE TOYOTA. COOLANT PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN NOTED SINCE 1999 WITH THE ABOVE REPAIR FACILITY FAILING TO CORRECT DEFECT. CURRENT PROBLEMS INVOLVE FOLSOM LAKE TOYOTA REFUSING TO CORRECT FAILED REPAIRS, COOLANT MIXING WITH ENGINE OIL CAUSING AUTO TO BE UNUSABLE. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 35-40MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY, CONSUMER 'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE OTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
AUTOMATIC FRONT SEATS HAVE STOPPED WORKING AND PARTS OF THE MECHANISM ARE FOUND ON THE FLOOR BOARD.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. ALSO, LOSS OF BRAKES WHILE SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A CURVE AT APPROXIMATELY 25MPH THERE WAS INDICATION OR PRIOR WARNING.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THREE OF THE FOUR BOLTS THAT SUPPORT THE STREERING KNUCKLE TO THE HUB AT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WERE SHEARED AND BROKEN OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ACTION RESULTED IN THE RUPTURING OF THE TRANSAXLE SEAL ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SUV. THE RELEASING OF THAT FLUID AND MY NOTICING IT ON THE GROUND AROUND THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WAS THE FIRST SIGN OF ANY PROBLEM. IT WAS ONLY AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE STREERING KNUCKLE WAS DISCOVERED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THREE OF THE FOUR BOLTS THAT SUPPORT THE STREERING KNUCKLE TO THE HUB AT THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WERE SHEARED AND BROKEN OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ACTION RESULTED IN THE RUPTURING OF THE TRANSAXLE SEAL ON THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SUV. THE RELEASING OF THAT FLUID AND MY NOTICING IT ON THE GROUND AROUND THE WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, WAS THE FIRST SIGN OF ANY PROBLEM. IT WAS ONLY AFTER I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP THAT THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE STREERING KNUCKLE WAS DISCOVERED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
VEHICLE STALLS AND SHUTS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. WHEN CONSUMER LIFTS FOOT FROM ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE JUST CUTS OFF. IDLE CONTROL VALVE FAULTY, CAUSES ENGINE TO SHUT DOWN OR RACE. *AK *ML
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .