RoadVitals

2002 Toyota Land Cruiser Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
12
Latest Jul 9, 2023
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
9
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.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 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

  • Driver assistance425.0%
  • Body & structure212.5%
  • Engine212.5%
  • Interior & seats212.5%
  • Seat belts212.5%
  • Steering16.3%
  • Brakes16.3%
  • Electrical16.3%
  • Visibility16.3%

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

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

A FEW TIMES WHILE TRAVELING AT FWY SPEEDS, AS WE START TO GO UPHILL THE CAR VIOLENTLY SHAKES BACK AND FORTH (STEERING WHEEL HARD TO HOLD ON TO). VSC, TRAC AND THE LIITLE CAR WITH THE SKID MARKS BEHIND IT FLASH ON THE DASH ALONG WITH AN ALARM THAT LASTS FROM 3-5 SECONDS. WE HAVE HAD A HARD TIME KEEPING THE CAR IN THE LANE. ALMOST RAN INTO THE CENTER DIVIDER. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO OUR PERSONAL MECHANIC, CALLED TOYOTA, TAKEN IT TO TOYOTA OF SAN LUIS DEALERSHIP AND NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. IT IS IN OUR OPINION THAT THIS CAR IN UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND UNSAFE TO SELL.

NHTSA ID 11030394 · filed Sep 28, 2017

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 LANDCRUISER FROM A TOYOTA DEALER IN GREENSBORO NC. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLES SUDDENLY STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE GAS PEDAL...THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON BUT THE CAR WAS NO LONGER GETTING POWER. WE HAD TO PULL OVER, STOP THE CAR. I THEN RESTARTED THE CAR...THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, BUT HE CAR WAS RESPONSIVE AND I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE HOUSING THAT NEEDED A CLEANING. THE ISSUE SEEMS SIMILAR TO THE RECENT LEXUS RECALL . WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PULL OVER BUT IT WAS FRIGHTENING NONETHELESS. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO IT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID 10341741 · filed Jul 7, 2010

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I have purchased this vehicle from the dealer at prestige toyota in ramsey NJ 2002- it was a certified dealer car. I have maintained my car and it still rides well, until about 2 weeks ago i felt the back of the car while driving 65mile hr highway that was curvy,felt like i was going to go out of control and it's never done that before. I took it to Toyota june 8th 2023 to get an oil change, and mechanic said my rear stable bar is missing due to excessive rot and the entire frame is rotted out and is not safe to drive, I am spending $1800.00 to get the AC recharged and rear brakes done. Come to find out that Toyota had recalls on the tundra and sequoia but if they used the same frame, why did they not recommend a fix before this happened, thousands of dollars later. I am not ready to give up my car, I have taken it there many times now my car is unsafe to drive. I am very upset and not ready to put out money for a new car. https://app.mykaarma.com/service-cart/mpi/p9qdyu1adwH03b-7zCmYM4OthQMfVtmzGdv-yqYEUMY/check/Your_CAR_CHECK_ID/media/0/view/1 above link is the video of the car

NHTSA ID 11531221 · filed Jul 9, 2023

CAR WAS NEW WHEN I PICKED UP AT DEALER. HAVE BEEN BACK WITH DRIVER DOOR WINDOW PROBLEM OVER SIX TIMES. AT THIS TIME THE WINDOW SEAL IS LOOSE AND THE WINDOW WILL NOT CLOSE. IT IS SAD TO PAY 56K AND STILL CAN'T GET THINGS FIXED...SECURITY IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND I HAVE IT.

NHTSA ID 10206350 · filed Oct 19, 2007

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 LANDCRUISER FROM A TOYOTA DEALER IN GREENSBORO NC. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLES SUDDENLY STOPPED RESPONDING TO THE GAS PEDAL...THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON BUT THE CAR WAS NO LONGER GETTING POWER. WE HAD TO PULL OVER, STOP THE CAR. I THEN RESTARTED THE CAR...THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, BUT HE CAR WAS RESPONSIVE AND I DROVE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID IT WAS THE THROTTLE HOUSING THAT NEEDED A CLEANING. THE ISSUE SEEMS SIMILAR TO THE RECENT LEXUS RECALL . WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PULL OVER BUT IT WAS FRIGHTENING NONETHELESS. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING INTO IT. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID 10341741 · filed Jul 7, 2010

THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN THE SPRING OF 2002 WITH A FULL WARRANTY. IN APPROXIMATELY THE SUMMER OF 2002, THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL CHANGE. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EMIT BLUE SMOKE AND THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THE OIL WAS REPLACED WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR A LONG DRIVE TO BURN OFF THE OIL. WE DID SO. THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THE ENGINE IS RUINED AND WOULD COSTS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.00 TO REPAIR DUE TO OIL PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID 10069895 · filed Jan 15, 2004

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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER RECEIVED TWO COMPUTERIZED KEYS WHEN PURCHASED. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW DAYS THE KEYS DID NOT WORK, AND COMPUTER CHIP FELL OUT. DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT CONSUMER MUST ORDER NEW ONES AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. THE OTHER KEYS TO ANOTHER VEHICLE WERE ALSO DEFECTIVE.*AK

NHTSA ID 10087265 · filed Aug 5, 2004

THE POWER DOOR LOCKS INTERMITTENTLY LOCK WITHOUT MY PARTICIPATION.*AK

NHTSA ID 10028666 · filed Jul 20, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FIRST, MIDDLE SEAT BELT AT THE BACK WERE THE FIRS ONE THAT GOT STUCK, MEANT THE PERSON HAD FASTEN SEAT BELT AND WHEN HE TRIED TO UNFASTEN THE LOCK GOT STUCK WON'T OPEN AND SO WE HAD TO PULL HIM OUT ON THE SIDE TO GET OUT FROM THE SEAT BELT. AND NOW ALMOST ALL THE SEAT BELTS AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID 10760775 · filed Sep 1, 2015

SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE DEAR SIRS, THIS MONDAY OF THIS WEEK (13 AUGUST 2007) WHEN I WAS PUTTING MY 3-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER'S CARSEAT IN MY TOYOTA, THE PASSENGER SEATBELT JAMMED IN THE FULLY EXTENDED POSITION. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALER (TUSCALOOSA TOYOTA) AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT BELT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AND WAS NOT COVERED BY A CRADLE-TO-GRAVE WARRANTY, MERELY A 5-YEAR, 60K WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF NEARLY $300. I BELIEVE THAT LEGALLY REQUIRED SAFETY ISSUES ON AUTOMOBILES NEED TO BE COVERED CRADLE-TO-GRAVE AS THEY HAVE PROFOUND IMPLICATIONS IN THE SAFETY OF DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. AS A SIDE NOTE, AFTER 21 YEARS OF SERVICE MY 86 HONDA CRX NEEDED SIMILAR SERVICE. THIS WAS IMMEDIATELY REMEDIED BY MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER (TOWNSEND HONDA) AT NO COST, WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED. JAMES WESTON *TR

NHTSA ID 10199891 · filed Aug 17, 2007

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN EARLY DECEMBER 2004, 60 MPH AND CAR WENT COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL AS IF A FRONT TIRE HAD BLOWN. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN 3 DAYS LATER, UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. THOUGHTS WERE THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WAS KICKING ON (FOR NOT APPARENT REASON) DUE TO A WIRING/COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. THIS MALFUNCTION HAS OCCURED AT LEAST 15-20 TIMES WITH US ON THE HIGHWAY - WE HAVE THE CAR PARKED, EXCEPT TO TAKE IT BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO CANNOT SEEM TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP HAD IT 4 DAYS THE FIRST TIME AND 2-3 WEEKS THE SECOND AND THIRD TIMES. TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DUPLICATED PROBLEM WITHIN THE FIRST 15 MILES OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE (WHICH IS A 2002 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER). NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP, AS THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T "DUPLICATE CUSTOMER'S REQUEST". MANUFACTURER TOOK CLAIM BUT HAS DONE NOTHING. LOCAL MECHANIC NOTED ON HIS WORK ORDER THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY NOT BE FIXABLE AND THAT VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. HE ALSO "DIAGNOSED" PROBLEM, AS IN FACT, BEING A MALFUNCTION IN THE AUTOMATIC TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM" AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL IS HAVING THE BREAKS APPLIED (AT HIGH SPEEDS, FOR NO REASON) AND SYSTEM COMES ON MOMENTARILY, SOUNDING ALARM AND CAR SWERVES OUT OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ID 10118661 · filed Apr 28, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DURING NORMAL LOCAL DRIVING, TRYING TO STOP MY 2002 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER REQUIRES AN IMPOSSIBLE AMOUNT OF PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. ON THE PHONE THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SAID ELECTRIC BRAKE BOOSTER HAS FAILED, AND THE COST TO FIX IT IS ABOUT $4500--A HUGE AMOUNT FOR A 18-YEAR-OLD CAR THAT IS WORTH ONLY $7,000 OR $8,000. IT'S AN AMOUNT THAT IS DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO AFFORD. SO WHEN I NEED TO DRIVE, I HAVE TO DRIVE VERY SLOWLY.

NHTSA ID 11323157 · filed May 4, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN EARLY DECEMBER 2004, 60 MPH AND CAR WENT COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL AS IF A FRONT TIRE HAD BLOWN. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN 3 DAYS LATER, UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. THOUGHTS WERE THAT THE AUTOMATIC TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WAS KICKING ON (FOR NOT APPARENT REASON) DUE TO A WIRING/COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. THIS MALFUNCTION HAS OCCURED AT LEAST 15-20 TIMES WITH US ON THE HIGHWAY - WE HAVE THE CAR PARKED, EXCEPT TO TAKE IT BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO CANNOT SEEM TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP HAD IT 4 DAYS THE FIRST TIME AND 2-3 WEEKS THE SECOND AND THIRD TIMES. TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DUPLICATED PROBLEM WITHIN THE FIRST 15 MILES OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE (WHICH IS A 2002 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER). NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP, AS THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T "DUPLICATE CUSTOMER'S REQUEST". MANUFACTURER TOOK CLAIM BUT HAS DONE NOTHING. LOCAL MECHANIC NOTED ON HIS WORK ORDER THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY NOT BE FIXABLE AND THAT VEHICLE IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. HE ALSO "DIAGNOSED" PROBLEM, AS IN FACT, BEING A MALFUNCTION IN THE AUTOMATIC TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM" AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL IS HAVING THE BREAKS APPLIED (AT HIGH SPEEDS, FOR NO REASON) AND SYSTEM COMES ON MOMENTARILY, SOUNDING ALARM AND CAR SWERVES OUT OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ID 10118661 · filed Apr 28, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CAR WAS NEW WHEN I PICKED UP AT DEALER. HAVE BEEN BACK WITH DRIVER DOOR WINDOW PROBLEM OVER SIX TIMES. AT THIS TIME THE WINDOW SEAL IS LOOSE AND THE WINDOW WILL NOT CLOSE. IT IS SAD TO PAY 56K AND STILL CAN'T GET THINGS FIXED...SECURITY IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND I HAVE IT.

NHTSA ID 10206350 · filed Oct 19, 2007

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

Data on this page last refreshed .