Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Jul 9, 2021
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
2 injuries, 1 deaths reported
Overview
Our database contains 16 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Toyota Land Cruiser, most frequently naming the brakes, body & structure and powertrain (other) categories. 90 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
Monthly complaints peaked at 2 in Aug 1999. Most recent month: 1.View as table
Monthly owner complaints for the 1998 Toyota Land Cruiser
Month
Complaints filed
Cumulative
Dec 1998
1
1
Feb 1999
1
2
Jul 1999
1
3
Aug 1999
2
5
Oct 1999
1
6
Jan 2007
1
7
Feb 2009
1
8
Mar 2010
1
9
Jul 2011
1
10
May 2016
1
11
Jan 2017
1
12
Nov 2019
1
13
May 2020
1
14
Jun 2020
1
15
Jul 2021
1
16
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Brakes736.8%
Body & structure315.8%
Powertrain (other)210.5%
Seat belts15.3%
Steering15.3%
Suspension15.3%
Airbags15.3%
Transmission15.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I live in Utah, The incident occurred in San Francisco with children in car. going down one of the steeper roads towards fisherman wharf. the ABS alarm went off and I lost all breaking power. I immediately downshifted(automatic trans), used the emergency break almost killed some pedestrians.. pulled over. I checked all fuses, breaks. etc. I did not have any money, so as nightfall came upon us, with ABS glaring in our ears. I drove through the night back to Utah when the traffic was the lowest and used the emergency break all the way home, it was a horrific experience. The repair on this was not cheep where I had the ABS/brakes fixed so the breaks would work at our local dealer where I live, This was about 8-10 years ago, I am still pretty upset someone cold have been killed, why would the breaks fail if the ABS fails.. this could have killed my family and/or someone else. I would have to check with Menlove Bountiful Toyota for an exact date of repair.
NHTSA ID
11424136
Incident
Apr 26, 2013
Brakes
Filed Jun 18, 2020
Crash reported
I WAS IN A DRIVE THRU AND AS I APPROACHED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I PRESSED MY BRAKE PEDAL AND HAD ZERO RESISTANCE AS MY PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD AND ZERO RESPONSE FROM BRAKES. AS I DEPRESSED PEDAL, MY ABS LIGHT WENT ON THE DASHBOARD AND A BEEP ALARMED. I TRIED HITTING THE PEDAL AGAIN TO NO AVAIL AND TURNED TO ATTEMPT TO MISS THE VEHICLE AND PULLED MY EMERGENCY BRAKE. I WAS MOVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND HAD ZERO HISTORY OF BRAKE SYSTEM ISSUES. AFTER SOME HOMEWORK ONLINE, I AM SEEING IT IS IN LINE WITH A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAVING AN ABS MOTOR FAILURE, BOOSTER MOTOR FAILURE, AND/OR AN ACCUMULATOR FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ID
11329566
Incident
Jun 17, 2020
Mileage
177,224 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 4, 2020
EXPERIENCED SPONTANEOUS SUNROOF EXPLOSION. DRIVING FROM ESTES PARK, CO TO LOUISVILLE, CO WITH MY 9 YEAR OLD SON IN BACK SEAT. HEARD LOUD EXPLOSION OVERHEAD ABOUT 5 MILES NORTH OF BOULDER, CO ON HWY. 93. NEAREST CAR WAS 6-7 LENGTHS IN AHEAD AND TRAVELING AT 60 MPH. IT WAS A WARM SEPTEMBER DAY WITH INTENSE 2:00P SUN. WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER AFTER 5 MINUTES. THERE WAS A NICKLE SIZED HOLE IN THE SUNROOF.
NHTSA ID
11323307
Incident
Sep 28, 2019
Mileage
200,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 21, 2019
FOR THE SECOND TIME, A COMPLETE BRAKING FAILURE DUE TO MASTER CYLINDER MOTOR FAILURE. OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY WAS GOING UNDER 20 MPH ON A VACANT STREET AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COAST TO A STOP.
NHTSA ID
11281613
Incident
Nov 19, 2019
Mileage
265,000 mi
Body & structureSuspension
Filed Jan 11, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER. WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT PART OF THE FRAME WAS CORRODED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CROSS MEMBER THAT ATTACHED NEAR THE SUSPENSION MOUNT AND TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER AND THE FRAME RAIL WERE ALL CORRODED THROUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ID
10944453
Incident
Jan 11, 2017
Mileage
130,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 11, 2016
TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING - WHEN THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BUZZER SOUNDED THERE WERE ZERO BRAKES. JUST STARTING OUT IN THE MORNING. AS WE LIVE ON A LONG TWISTING ROAD THAT IS MOSTLY DOWNHILL INTO TOWN, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. WHO DESIGNS A BRAKE SYSTEM THAT FAILS TO ZERO???
NHTSA ID
10864483
Incident
May 9, 2016
Mileage
220,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 6, 2011
MY 1998 LAND CRUISER IS ALSO ON ITS THIRD FRONT DIFFERENTIAL. BOTH HAD RING FAILURE WITH ONE OF THEM GOING THROUGH THE CASE. THIS HAS TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT WHICH THE DEALERS WILL NOT ADDRESS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10410772
Incident
Feb 15, 2002
Mileage
70,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 15, 2010
Crash reported1 injury reported
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH UNDER BLACK ICE ROAD CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLIDE UNCONTROLLABLY AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE SUPPORT COLUMN. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES. THERE WERE FRACTURES TO THE RIBS, STERNUM AND LEFT TIBIA. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE OCCUPANT WAS NOT IN THE PROPERLY SEATED POSITION FOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 140,000.
NHTSA ID
10319845
Incident
Feb 14, 2010
Mileage
140,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
T-SB-0043-14
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
OBSOLETE NOTICE January 22, 2024: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0057-18.
TSB003220
AIR BAGS; EQUIPMENT; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.
TTT063620
BACK OVER PREVENTION; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions
POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Toyota.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.
Toyota Safety Re
AIR BAGS
Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
T-TT-0636-20 Rev
BACK OVER PREVENTION; SERVICE BRAKES
TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.