2003 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 2003 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
- Brakes337.5%
- Airbags225.0%
- Body & structure225.0%
- Steering112.5%
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
Braking system failed. Unable to stop operating vehicle traveling 30 MPH without downshifting and allowing vehicle’s momentum to dissipate. Vehicle towed to repair facility. Repair has been completed. Repair facility, Love Field Auto, in Dallas, TX diagnosed concern (master cylinder +’ABS system failure) and replaced components. Vehicle had approximately 155K miles.
AS I WAS DRIVING, THE VEHICLE'S ABS, VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, AND BRAKE LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME, WITH AN AUDIBLE BUZZER. ONCE I APPROACHED THE INTERSECTION, I REALIZED THAT THE VEHICLES BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING AND HAD TO PUSH THE PEDAL HARD ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND PRAYED THAT THE VEHICLE STOPPED. I HAD JUST DROPPED MY SON AND MY NEIGHBOR'S CHILD OFF AT SCHOOL. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO ONE IN FRONT OF ME AT THE LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND DRIVER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DURING THE CRASH THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK, BACK, HEAD, AND HIP INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 307,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE SIDE/ CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THERE HAD BEEN NO PRIOR ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT NO DEFECT WAS DETERMINED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURES WHEN THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND WAS SEEN BY HOSPITAL AND PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN. *AK
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
EXCESSIVE UNDERBODY RUSTING. I HAVE A TUNDRA WHOSE UNDERBODY WAS CHANGED UPON RECALL BY TOYOTA. CAR IS GARAGED OR LEFT IN DRIVEWAY. EVERY MECHANIC COMMENTS ON EXCESSIVE RUSTING INCLUDING PRESTIGE TOYOTA BUT THEY MAINTAIN IT'S SATISFACTORY. I HAD TO CHANGE THE THING HOLDING THE TIRE BECAUSE IT RUSTED THROUGH CREATING THE DANGER THE SPARE COULD BREAK LOOSE. AAA WOULD NOT CHANGE A SPARE TIRE BECAUSE OF RUSTING THROUGH. TOYOTA THINKS THE RUST IS OK. I DON'T AND WORRY ABOUT SAFETY.I CANNOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHEN THIS HAPPENED.I CAN'T ACCURATELY RECALL MILEAGE WHEN I NOTICED THIS
FROM THE TOYOTA INVOICE: "CUSTOMER STATES THE BACK OF THE CENTER CONSOLE FACING THE REAR SEATS GETS VERY, VERY HOT...ALMOST BURNING FINGERS." AND THIS STATEMENT IS CORRECT. THE FOLKS AT CLEARWATER, TOYOTA SAY THERE IS NOTHING MECHANICALLY INCORRECT WITH MY AUTOMOBILE, BUT I AM TELLING THEM, CLEARLY THERE IS SOMETHING INCORRECT WITH MY VEHICLE. THUS MY REASON FOR THIS COMPLAINT.*AK
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA LAND CRUISER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED BUT THE WHEELS DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT THE STEERING SHAFT WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
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 .