What's Wrong with the 5th Generation (2008–2020) Land Cruiser?

Land Cruiser owners have made 19 complaints about the 2008–2020 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 15th out of 81 Toyota generations in overall reliability, with some transmission and hvac concerns.

Compare With Other Land Cruiser Generations

Common 2008-2020 Toyota Land Cruiser Problems

Some of the worst issues 5th generation Land Cruiser owners have to deal with.

  2. Rodents Chew Soy-Coated Wires

    Somewhere in the mid-2000's there was an industry-wide push by automakers to replace plastic and glass-based wiring insulation with a more eco-friendly soy-based coating. It's biodegradable, commendable, and a complete disaster for owners. …

    Continue reading article "Rodents Chew Soy-Coated Wires"

What Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

5th Generation (2008–2020) Land Cruiser Key Numbers

  1. 8 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  2. 19 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  3. 15th in reliability

    Overall reliability rank out of 81 eligible generations.

Recent 5th Generation (2008–2020) Land Cruiser News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. There’s a good chance the seatbelt tension sensor is going to fail in the 2008-2019 Land Cruiser.

    And when it goes to the big scrapyard in the sky, multiple airbags that rely on information from that sensor will fail along with it. But more serious trouble arises when the knee airbags, front passenger airbags and passenger seat-mounted side airbags deactivate. Toyota will recall the issue, but because they don’t have fix in place they don’t plan on notifying owners until February 2019.

    Maybe they’re buying time to come up with enough replacement sensors. The trouble is you might see an airbag warning light pop up while waiting around. The problem also affects the Lexus LX 570.

    keep reading article "Faulty Seatbelt Tension Sensor Disabled Airbags in the Land Cruise"

  2. Toyota has blamed a musty A/C smell on microbes [i.e., mold] growing o the evaporator surface and now a lawsuit wants them to do something about it.

    The plaintiffs claim the vehicles have defective heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that cause smells and health problems from mold that collects on the evaporators. Numerous complaints have allegedly been filed with the government, Toyota and Lexus dealerships nationwide since at least 1999.

    This isn't the first time Toyota has been sued for musty A/C units.

    keep reading article "Air Conditioner Lawsuit Complains About Mold Smell From Toyota HVAC"

  5. When Toyota switched away from using plastic or glass-based inulation in favor of soy, it invited in some very unwelcome Toyota loyalisits.

    According to the plaintiff, she learned the hard way about the soy wiring when her Avalon wouldn't start and a look under the hood showed wires chewed, so she had the car towed to a dealer. Toyota told her rodents had caused the damage and it would be no problem to repair the problems as long as she could cough up $6,000 to cover the bill.

    The soy-based wiring is allegedly attracting in rodents, who love to chew it up and use it for nesting material. The lawsuit, Heidi Browder vs. Toyota Motor Corporation, et al. follows a similar lawsuit filed against Honda earlier this year.

    keep reading article "Lawsuit Says Toyota’s Use of Soy-Based Wiring is Attracting Rodent Damage"

  6. If your car or truck has an optional accessory like running boards, chances are Southeast Toyota distributors put them on ... and I use that term loosely.

    The distributor recently admitted that many accessories probably weren't attached with the proper torque and can fall off. Whoops! Since dropping a running board at 70mph on the highway is a serious safety concern, Toyota is recalling 3,942 vehicles to address the problem. That includes some:…

    keep reading article "Optional Accessories Keep Falling Off"