1998 Toyota Land Cruiser

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 16 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes4
100
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2
000
Power Train › Driveline2
000
Wheels1
101
Structure › Frame and Members1
000
Structure › Body1
000
Steering › Column Locking › Anti-theft Device1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
000
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage1
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Jul 9, 2021UT

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.

Service BrakesCrash
Filed Jun 18, 2020177,224 milesCA

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

Structure › Body
Filed May 4, 2020200,000 milesCO

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.

Service Brakes
Filed Nov 21, 2019265,000 milesCO

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.

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Jan 11, 2017130,000 milesPA

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.

Service Brakes
Filed May 11, 2016220,000 milesCA

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???

Power Train › Driveline
Filed Jul 6, 201170,000 milesCA

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

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 15, 2010140,000 milesCO

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.

Power Train › Driveline
Filed Feb 23, 200980,000 milesCA

MY 1998 LC470 HAS HAD TWO FRONT DIFFS. FAIL NOW. BOTH TIMES THE RING GEAR FAILED, ONCE GOING THROUGH THE HOUSING. I TRIED TO CONTACT TOYOTA BUT NO ANSWER. ANYONE ELSE WITH THIS PROBLEM???? *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Jan 17, 200750,428 milesFL

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHE APPLIES THE BRAKES OF HER 1998 TOYOTA LAND-CRUISER THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY IN MAY ' JULY OF 2006 WHILE DRIVING AT 60 - 70 MPH. THE VIBRATION NOW OCCURS AT 30 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THERE ARE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,428. THE CONTACT HAS REPEATEDLY TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO VIBRATE AND THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REPLACED, AND BALANCED THE TIRES, AS WELL AS, HAVING THE VEHICLE ALIGNED. THE CONTACT HAS RESEARCHED AND FOUND SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH TOYOTA SUV'S. *JB

Steering › Column Locking › Anti-theft Device
Filed Oct 29, 1999NJ

ANTI THEFT CHIP IN THE REMOTE FELL OUT AND THE ONLY WAY TO FIX PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE ENTIRE COMPUTER UNIT DUE TO DESIGN FLAW. MJS

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 19, 1999NM

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A LIGHT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY OVERRIDEN AND IT DID NOT MAKE ANY DIFERENCE IF THE CAR WAS PUT IN PARK OR REVERSE, THE CAR STILL WAS BUCKING FORWARD. IT STOPPED WHEN THE IGNITION WAS KILLED. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED AND THE MOST SEVERE CASE. THE FIRST TIME IT ONLY STARTED TO REV BUT DID COME TO A STOP AT THE LIGHT. THE INCIDENTS WERE APPROXIMATELY 2-3 WEEKS APART.

WheelsCrash1 injured1 killed
Filed Aug 2, 1999CA

MY FATHER WAS DRIVING A 1998 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER WHICH HE HAD HAD FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS, AND HAD ALREDY TAKEN ON COUPLE OF LONG TRIPS. IN THE POLICE REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT IT SITED THAT THE CAUSE OFTHE ACCIDENT WAS THAT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL OF THE CAR BROKE OFF DUE TO A FAULT IN THE MANUFACTURING OF THE CAR. I HAVE WRITTEN AND FAXED AND CALLED TOYOTA A NUMBER OF TIMES BUT THEY DO NOT RESPOND. I HAVE READ OF TWO OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH THE SAME CAR, ONE IN ITALY AND ONE IN INDIA - REPORTED BECAUSE SOME PROMENENT PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED IN THE CRASHES, AN AMBASSADOR AND A SINGER. WHEN I HEARD ON CNN ABOUT TOYOTA RECALLING A NUMBER OF ITS MODELS, THE PROBLEM THEY SITED SOUNDED A LOT LIKE WHAT HAPPENED TO MY FATHER'S CAR. THE PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER MODELS THEY SAID WAS THAT THE HEAT OF THE FRICTION FROM LONG OR BUMPY RIDING CAUSES THE FRONT WHEEL CONNECTIONS TO BECOME LOOSE AND MAYBE FALL OUT. CAN YOU HELP ME? OR DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR THINGS I MIGHT DO TO FIGURE OUT WHY THE WHEEL OF MY FATHERS CAR BROKE OFF ON A FLAT STRAIGHT ROAD WITHOUT ANY OTHER CARS INVOLVED. I ALSO HAVE LOTS OF PICTURES OF THE CAR AND THE PART THAT BROKE OFF, AS WELL AS THE CAR ITSELF, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO SEND THEM. THANK YOU.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 22, 1999CA

WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR ,RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS REPLACED VARIOUS PARTS OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT FAILED.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Dec 10, 1998LA

WHENEVER BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PEDAL WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER 2-3 DIFFERENT TIMES FOR BRAKES. WAITING TO HEAR FROM MANUFACTURER ABOUT THE BRAKE PROBLEM.*AK

16 of 16 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20211000Routine
20190300Routine
20184200Routine
20174100Routine
20164300Routine
20152400Routine
20142400Routine
20136200Routine
20120200Routine
20114500Routine
20103600Routine
20096700Routine
20088500Routine
20073100Routine
20069200Routine
20059300Routine
20045100Routine
200310100Routine
200212000Routine
20019000Routine
200025011Fatalities reported
199923010Routine
1998 — this page16001Fatalities reported
199717000Routine
199612000Routine
19958000Routine
199420000Routine
19938100Routine
199210100Routine
199111100Routine
19905100Routine

Compare every Land Cruiser year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.