Toyota LandCruiser 200 Mark I (2007-2011)

Great vehicle till 300.000 – Not a single problem till all warning lights came on and car went into limp mode at just under 300000 km . Fault code is P004b but cause of problem cannot be found . Have read another review from member Joe from Perth with same problem. Any help would be appreciated Show details

Dusted engine. ABS packed it in – Great car to drive, but I also had a dusted engine at 300000kms. $25k to fix it. It’s a known problem with these cars so second hand buyers beware. Love the car, but parts are expensive. just had the entire ABS system replaced at a cost of $5k. I’ve now gone back to the 100 series for reliability. Show details

Land Cruiser 200 Series V8 Disel - Ultimate tow vehicle but expensive to drive – I purchased a 2008 200 series Land Cruiser GXL (180,000km - $55,000) in Broom when my Nissan Patrol's transmission self destructed towing a 2.7 ton caravan. The Cruiser is most definitely the ultimate tow vehicle. It can pull a van with no effort at all and can pass anything except a service station. If you have to tow a heavy van or trailer… Read more

and want to do it at the speed limit, overtake with ease and cruise in comfort this is the vehicle for you. There are some things you need to know though. When not towing (you wouldn't use 6th gear towing) the cruiser will continually 'hunt' gears which will cause excessive heat in the auto transmission. The transmission change point for 6th gear is set stupidly at a around 105kph but it will hold in 6th when you back off to 100kph. But then if you are in 6th at 100kph and you go up a hill, even a small one, it will kick back to 5th or even 4th then back up to 6th on the down slope, and this will happen constantly, especially with cruise control on but even with it off.

If you drive (not towing) in Select mode rather than Drive, the change point for 6th is a little lower (around 97kph) so 6th is easier to attain and it won't 'hunt' between 5th and 6th as much, but it will still happen. There is no indicator that tells you what gear you are in so FYI if you are doing 100kph and your Tacho is on 1500 your are in 6th. If you are towing a heavy van you will also need to be in Select mode not Drive. You can then select your top gear which for me was 5th (some people even go to 4th). Never tow in 6th (it won't anyway). RPM's will not exceed 2300 in 4th at 100kph when towing. In 5th you will sit on 1700rpm. If the 'hunting' problem between 5th and 6th gear is driving you nuts my advice is to go to a specialist and have them re-map your engine and transmission computers to set change up points that are more suited to your driving style. This costs around $2K with an exhaust enhancement (3") which will improve performance. You can find these specialists on line or go to a Land Cruiser forum for advice. Max fuel range when towing will be not much over 500km so you need to plan your fuel stops if you are in the outback. The fuel tank holds 138L including the reserve. The reserve is combined with the main and there is only one filler point.

Your fuel gauge needle will sit past full for the first 150km then it will start to move. That's your reserve gone. Expect around $170 a fill and much more in the outback. With the van on tow I was drawing 27L per 100km. Around town without a van or trailer on the back expect 14L per 100km so nearly 1000km to a tank. Forget the claimed 10.5. Another reviewer on these pages got much better fuel economy using a torque converter lock. This after market kit will definitely help with fuel and will save your transmission. These are great cars, comfortable, can tow anything and as tough as nails, but you need to accept that you will be putting your hand in your pocket for a lot of fuel and you will have to either fix the transmission problem or get used to either not finding 6th gear all that often or always using Select mode. P.S. The earlier models (pre 2010) also use one to two liters of oil per 5000km but the Dealers say that's just what they do so check the oil every 5000k and don't be surprised by a big cloud of black smoke when you put your foot down. Later models have allegedly fixed this problem.

Now at 400,000 km, going strong – The Cruiser Sahara 200 was purchased for interstate commercial work with lots of towing, up to 3.5 tonnes. My country Dealer, Knights of Leongatha Vic have been fantastic support and I highly recommend them. The big V8 diesel with twin variable vane turbochargers mated to an Aisin 6 speed auto is much better than I could have imagined.… Read more ·  2

Recently I was towing a full load Melb to Sydney and noted a new Ford F350 in front pulling a race car trailer. I estimate it would have been 2.5tonne. When the Ford pulled left on a steep hill, Cruiser moved past and despite his tell tale black smoke from the exhaust, I did not see him again.

All coolant hoses are original and same for alternator/ steering/ water pump belt.

The vehicle uses 1 litre of oil over 10,000km, same as it was at 20,000km.I uses only CJ4 semi synthetic low ash oil and while it is expensive, it has been very successful.

I would recommend a high miles second hand vehicle in this class.

January 6th 2018 Update: Best vehicle that I have ever owned.

My Landcruiser Sahara 200 series VDJ V8 diesel has been used over 11 years across Australia. The 200 series just clocked up 502,000 km and is towing equipment reliably. The engine has only had 10,000 km oil changes but premium CJ4 grade low ash oil has always been used. This oil is blended by TriTech lubricants of Carrum Downs Vic.The first belt and radiator hoses were fitted at 480,000 and are still usable.

Replacement of all belt idlers and water pump were part of the 500,000 service conducted recently.

A small leak in a radiator top tank prompted replacement and the viscous fan clutch was replaced as well. Only the idlers showed signs of wear.

The vehicle does not use more fuel or oil and is probably due to the fact that diesels are better if worked hard, this car recently tripped to darwin in 2.5 days towing 3.5 tonnes, typical of its worklife.

Dusted diesel engine- design fault needs acknowleging by Toyota – I bought 2007 200 series with 165000k on clock. Did a big desert trip- performed brilliantly-best vehicle I have owned in nearly 40yrs of driving. At nearly 300k-knew the injectors need replacing. Dealer did a compression test first and motor basically stuffed-esp. the left bank. Have since found this is a common problem and I did well to get… Read more

300000k. This is a design fault in the air filtration with the draw of the twin turbos and Toyota will not address the problem. Landcruisers -as promoted by Toyota- are an extreme off road vehicle- NOT an eastern suburbs yuppie vehicle. But this is why Toyota say there is no problem because that is where most of them are and they do not see dust!!! I added a snorkel when I bought the vehicle and I have gravel roads. But I expected to have this car for years- it did not have an oil leak or a rattle and I sold it for salvage at auction (to make sure it was not palmed off to someone unaware of the dusted motor) for way below it's value because Toyota will not acknowledge the deficiency in one part of the vehicle. I have now been told of the motors being stuffed at onwards of 90000km. I will add my dealer is as frustrated with Toyota as me- and they were great in trying to get something out of Toyota.

LC200 GXL 2011 Petrol Extremely Reliable – We purchased the Petrol Landcruiser back in 2014 with 90000kms for half the cost of a Diesel. Just clicked over 228000kms and still going strong. We use this car for everyday commute, and regular trips to Sydney return (8hrs). You can not beat this car for highway and country driving, the petrol V8 is quiet, powerful, and soaks up the poor road… Read more

surfaces in Central NSW. KDS suspension is standard on the petrol V8s and just adds to the exceptional handling of this car. Had timing belt changed as recommended at 120000kms, other than normal services we have had trouble-free motoring.

King of the roads – Powerful Twin Turbo V8 Diesel giving 11L/100km in the city. There is no real competitor to this absolute beast. Extremely reliable, very capable, don’t need much more. Good for offroading and even as the grocery getter. 300,000kms+ and 0 issues other than listed below. However there are some issues that Toyota should be taking accountability for.… Read more

1. Dusting - The Toyota airbox is flawed by design. Toyota have never admitted to this, and if you don’t fix this your engine will be ‘dusted’ meaning you will need a new motor. 2. DPF and injector issues - While it is not an issue on pre 2017 models, the DPF and injectors are also flawed by design and will likely fail. So if you are going for a Landcruiser I recommend do get a PRE-DPF model, so you don’t waste time with that junk.

Big car big budget – I'm unusual here as I have the 2012 petrol V8. I must say I'm quite impressed with the refinement I have only had the car 3 months but travels over 7000kms thus far over the holiday break. I was a bit worried about the petrol motor being very thirsty, but I really should not have been I can easily get 12L per 100 on freeways and city I think… Read more

around the 15L which is only 2L more per 100 kms than the diesel.

Overall the car feels solid and the petrol engine is renowned for its reliability so should get 300,000 to 400,000kms without major expense.

Engine seized unexpectedly – My 2008 Landcruiser Sahara with 170,000 kms Engine Seized unexpectedly, still unsure why but not happy. Engine just stoped going up steep hill loaded only with family and luggage. After reading another review here it sounds a lot the same that the oil pump may have failed. Anyway new Engine (long motor) is just over $17,000 plus labour. So looking at probably $20-22k to have repaired. Will update cause later Show details

Dusted engine – 70000 km in and engine showed signs of dusting ( dust getting past the air filter and causing wear on the internals eg pistons and turbos ) left turbo blew and was told was a problem with the injectors . Replaced them at my own cost and problems continued . Show details

Dusted motor 200 series – My 200 series got a dusted motor at 145000 km I replaced the motor no help from Toyota said it was fine for some dust to pass the filter The new motor has been in for 20000 km and dust problem continued I had to replace the air box with an aftermarket one and also put a snorkel on glad to say that 100% solved the problem  Show details

Best Family Car – We recently bought a 2011 altitude 200 series. It is amazing to drive. I couldn't believe how comfortable they are on the road. It does love it's fuel. Getting around 14.7L per 100km in town. So looking for better economy when doing more driving which we will be doing next year on our big lap of Oz. We will be towing a 22.6 foot Jayco around and we can't wait!  Show details

Great driving experience – Awsome driving experience, quiter than I thought, great steering, excellent on and off road, plenty of space inside, there is nothing to dislike about the interior, easy to clean, and very comfortable for the whole family, it fits everything we need for everyday life or when we go for trips and very affordable running costs, i wish I bought it earlier.  Show details

Never another Toyota of any description – The 200 has potential, but Toyota's attitude leaves everything to be desired. Starting with a vibration problem at 1800-2000 rpm through the steering, floor and windows (not interested in fixing it) to poor fuel economy (especially when towing) and steering that no one has been able to correct, have seriously diminished the driving experience.  Show details

What a great car – We bought a 2008 Landcruiser 200 series to tow our 28ft caravan. What a perfect towing machine. We have been around Australia and our car did not miss a beat. Toyota really did their homework on this one. Loved driving our cruiser in all weather conditions knowing we were completely safe and the car delivered everything we asked of it.  Show details

Sahara nothing but the best – We are super impressed with the 2012 Sahara we bought from Carsales a month ago we are the second owners. It rides beautifully and handles extremely well. The interior is very luxurious with lovely cream leathered seats. It has lots of room to move and I love the quality of the stereo sound. Considering its a V8 turbo diesel she runs like a dream… Read more

and is excellent on fuel we were pleasantly surprised. We also like the Engel fridge plug provided in the back it’s very handy for us. We really are happy with it so far it’s a fantastic vehicle it’s very suitable for our needs.

Best thing since sliced bread! – We bought our 2008, 200 series GXL diesel second hand with about 80000 km's. It was already equipped with OME suspension (shockers and springs) giving it a 2" lift. It now has about 203000 km's on it and has never given us any trouble. We have towed a couple of off-road caravans all over Australia and it returns about 17 l/100km. You hardly notice… Read more ·  1

that there is a 3 tonne caravan on the back even up hills where it leaves Patrols for dead. Some people say that the interior is "basic" for a car that costs about $80000 new, Idon't have any issue with this because the more complex the electronics, in particular, the more problematic and harder to fix they become especially in the outback.

Certainly, I have no problems with reliability, service every 5000 Km's, (grease and oil change) and 10000 Km's, (grease and oil change plus all filters). If you can't afford to do this you can't afford the car.

Top Of The Range – Cannot possibly rate this vehicle any higher! We went from a 2010 Manual Colorado to a 2009 Land Cruiser 200 Series and we are just in heaven <3 We town a race trailer for about 6-8 months of the year which, once packed, is extremely heavy. Our old Colorado was a pain to tow it with but the Cruiser makes it seem as if it weren't there! The space… Read more

provided throughout the car is also a dream! 3 adults can fit comfortably across the back seat; even two adults and a baby seat. Everyone should own this car!

Frustrated with fault nobody seems to be able to fix – Bought a 200 series land cruiser o 2008 excellent vehicle till 2013 when travelling from Perth to Carnarvon towing a caravan. 200klms from Perth all the warning lights came on and we went into limp mode Toyota informed me that i needed a new turbo once we reset the fault code and removed the caravan there was no more trouble and I ran it for 2… Read more

years till we decided to take another trip so I had the new turbo fitted before we left however after travelling the first 200 (roughly) the fault reoccurred. I would like to know if anyone has had this same problem.

This was a Christmas present from my husband. 1st ever 4WD. Great to drive on & off road. Love it – Great to drive with easy steering and surprisingly very quiet. Heaps of leg room in front and middle seats. Love how middle seats can be adjusted. Air con great throughout car and gives you air con vent options from front to back. One annoying thing is the navigation/stereo system is behind the times but you can always upgrade yourself. In my opinion, very enjoyable to drive. Love it.  Show details

Great to tow with – Very plain in side doesn't come with the extras that other brands have over priced in today market very old technology and fuel consumption is at least very high should bring back the 6 cyclinder turbo diesel much better on fuel and eazyer to work on leaves more room around engineering to add the extras.  Show details

Not King off road – Buying the 200 series 2009 Sahara from our local Toyota dealer, with service history. You would expect the car to be workshop checked. Since having the car we have travelled 30k with it. Until 12 weeks ago. Vsc light on . Into dealer 6/8 injectors need replacing, $6200. Insurance company called for fuel related contamination. Not that after 8… Read more

weeks, retrieved car. Took to desiel specialist. Said engine has been dusted. Must have been 90% worn out when we got it.Need new engine. Toyota no help. Will be no change from $20000.

comfortable tough and reliable – A joy to drive tonnes of power and very comfortable. Very comfortable upright seating. Very quite although a mild resonance at about 1800 rpm. Highway economy 11.5 litres per 100k with several mods and lots of extra weight on board. Towed my 3.5 tonne van (around Australia) with ease and ecomony 16 to 20 litres per 100 depending on hills and head… Read more

winds, no reliability issues in 100, 000klm but hard on front tyres around town, bump the pressures up to 40psi will help. Have done some serious off road work e.g Simpson Desert, handles it with ease and without a mark

Turbo issues – Turbo problems between 100,000Km and 200,000Km are not uncommon. This is an expensive repair if it is the RHS or passenger side turbo as some take the motor out while others drop the transmission. I currently have my Sahara in the repair shop and it has been there for more than 20 days awaiting repair. It is in Alice I am in Port Lincoln. I am wondering about possible class action.  Show details

Toyota Deny Problems – Updated report on the reason the engine seized. All 200 series landcruiser owners should be worried ! A piece of metal broke off inside the oil pump which blocked the oil pickup and stopped the flow of oil into the engine. The engine seized immediately without any warning. Toyota complaints shield themselves from the customer by making the… Read more

customer work through the dealer in regards to a claim.

Toyota have denied any liability saying the car has travelled in excess of the warranty of 100,000kms and was 8 years old.

Toyotas argument is true, however, I have all the service records and receipts and my Landcruiser has been serviced and cared for as per the handbook specifications.

It has travelled over 200,000 kims and the majority of those kms were between Sydney to Canberra to Sydney down the freeway.

It is a big diesel engine which every customer would expect to be confident of travelling in excess of 500,000kms without problems, if maintained, because Toyota keep advertising their product reliability.

So I am just unlucky?

How have I contributed to engine failure?

If I have followed the service handbook and a significant part within the engine has failed why is that not Toyotas problem. They designed and built the car.

Even if it has 233,000kms, why is the problem entirely mine ?

So every 200 series 4.5L turbo diesel owner should be very concerned that their oil pump can fatigue and a part will disintegrate from the pump and cause the engine to seize, at their expense.

Which will be at least $15,000.

Not impressed with Toyota hiding behind the dealers and their lack of direct contact with me the customer.

Not impressed with the poor reliability and performance of a part that cant be serviced according to the handbook that failed causing extensive engine damage.

Who knows how many owners have had the same problem as Toyota are clever at covering up the reliability (lack of) issues.

To me its a manufacturing fault and Toyota should compensate me.

Initial diagnosis was the oil strainer was blocked with sludge but this has not been the case.

Certainly high oil consumption over the entire life of the engine BUT something in the bottom end has failed and yet to discover what and why? Will update as information becomes available.

2008 VDJ200R turbo diesel GXL Landcruiser had an oil consumption problem. Dealer rebuilt engine under warranty at 85,000km but I still complained about excessive oil consumption. Dealer tested oil consumption over 5,000km and said consumption was within normal range. I would always keep oil in the vehicle for continual top up. Fuel consumption was excessive as well. At 233,000kms engine seized due to NO OIL as the oil strainer or pickup was blocked. This vehicle has been serviced every 10,000kms as per the handbook using the prescribed oil. So ONLY 150,000kms from a Toyota diesel engine is ridiculous; so much for Toyota tough or King of the OFF Road is correct as it has been sitting in a repair shop for 3 weeks.

My third Cruiser: Not perfect but still awesome – I own a 1998 4 speed 100 series back at home and i just picked up a 2010 LC 200 in the UK. The 200 feels a lot more car like with a lot less body roll and a quicker engine. i don't tow so cant compare the towing performance but I somehow feel the 100's engine is a lot quieter and more refined. Since I own a Jap spec 100 probably one of the first… Read more

lot to roll off the production floor that vehicle even after 18 years is super silent and for some reason the body also feels a lot stronger as compared to a flimsier quality of the 200, the Tail gate for example. The urban mileage is nearly the same in both vehicles.

So far I've had a problem with the blower fan motor and the rear gate lock, both of which have been replaced free of cost within warranty. Other than that it is very reliable as its meant to be and I love it! Definitely a keeper if you can afford one.

200 Series Electrical Problems – I have a 2010 Sahara turbo diesel. The trailer was connected and while I was putting the trailer tail gate up I noticed the lights on the trailer and the car flash. The Cruiser motor was off at this stage although I had the key in my pocket and it had been raining heavily (don't know if this is relevant). After I started the car the emergency… Read more

lights would not turn off, the car remote would not work and the steering wheel stayed out. The interior fan also continued to run. Alarm went off occasionally. To park the car overnight I had to disconnect the batteries. Same problem next day.

Any answers?

Wayne - WA

5 Star ANCAP Safety rating well earned – I recently totalled my '09 Sahara and 3.2 tonne caravan when the van's tow hitch snapped at highway speed. The van immediately jack-knifed and rolled. The van's safety chains wrapped round the tow bar and took the Sahara with it. The police said the car rolled a minimum of 2 times before coming to rest on its front wheels with the rear jacked… Read more

about a metre in the air.

The side curtain air bag saved me a lot of bark when the Crooza bounced and slid on its side, but I think the seat belt pre-tensioner and knee air bag holding me in place were what really saved me from serious injury. I was able to force the drivers door open and get out under my own steam (and then push my way back past the air bags to shut the diesel off.)

When I bought another car a few days later, so I could get all my kit home, there was really no question. Since the old LC200 had kept me alive, a new one should be even better. The Port Lincoln dealer only had 1 GLX and 1 VX in stock, but luckily I liked the colour of the VX (I couldn't afford another Sahara anyway) because I needed to be on my way back West the same day. If you're in the Port Lincoln area and on the lookout for a vehicle, I can heartily recommend Peter Kittle Toyota.

Disappointed – I bought my 2007 LandCruiser secondhand with 68000 ks and have had it for 6 years done 190000 now. Kept up the services every 10000. Just recently it started running rough and I have been told it has had fuel contamination and has also been dusted. Mechanic has said you should run a pre filter on the fuel as they do not like any dirty fuel at all… Read more

in the injectors at all and resetting the fuel light is a recipe for disaster. It needs to be changed immediately. Also the air filters do not seal correctly letting dust into the engine. Long story short, I'm up for about $30, 000 for a complete engine with turbos and rails.

Best towing vehicle – Uses 22 litres of standard unleaded fuel towing 22 foot caravan at 95- 100 klms per hour. Very comfortable, quiet, plenty of power, corners well with KDSS, no issues except drive shaft. travelled 135000 klms. Quieter,smoother and less potential for expensive repairs than a diesel. Downside obviously is fuel consumption but the difference towing is not as big as you might think. I will buy another one in the near future  Show details

Disappointing – I have owned successive land cruiser models since the 60 series. The 2008 GXL has been disappointing. Immediately after purchase I brought to the attention of Toyota the annoying vibrations. First around 1000 and the second around 2000 rpm. After much denial the WA Toyota spokesperson finally agreed it was a problem and that one customer had been… Read more

refunded the purchase price. The fact is there is nothing else on the market that can do the , towing, job I need from a vehicle. The promise at the time was such that I would be first to know when a remedy was found.

I'm still waiting, it's October 2015.

And yes it uses oil. I would have by now updated my cruiser, but not till this problem is resolved . I test them regularly. I am a mechanic.

total waste of money – 2008 TTD have done 160k and have had new injectors fitted $5.5k fuel gauge no longer works dust enters vehicle on gravel roads I do my own services and replace the air & fuel filter every 10000 Ks, replace air filter more often when on gravel roads as dust gets through the filter (I do have a snorkel) fuel 15 lts per 100 k on a good day I would… Read more

gladly go back to a 100 series any day

200 series are good town vehicles just don't take them off road

King Off The Road – Purchased new in 2010, VX Model. I love this car, it has been such a pleasure to own, i started by adding a bull bar, snorkel and suspension upgrade, Diesel power chip and stainless steel exhaust system. Those last two items transformed the car, now achieving around 8L/100km when driving on the hwy and around 11L/100km around town. Nothing… Read more

has gone wrong with the car at all, i take very good care of it though and servicing has been easy through my local mechanic. I take it off road occasionally and have found it excellent but the best part is how it rides on the road and just eats up the kms on the open road.

Found local selling dealer very good - Grand Motors Toyota.

Mine has not had any issues with oil consumption or the tail shaft as i believe these two issues were resolved at the beginning of 2010.

A friend has the petrol version in GXL spec and it has also been outstanding and it tows a large horse float often and they also very happy with it, however it does use more fuel then the diesel. This car is a 2008 and has had the tail shaft replaced under warranty early on but since has had no issues.

No complaints about the car at all and look forward to getting another in a few years time.

Would highly recommend.

happy to have just sold my altitude – Purchased new in late 2011 foe just under $100,000. Just sold for $64,500. Happy it just covered the payout figure. Cost $1,200 per month. Very happy to be out of it after 72,500 klms. A most uncomfortable car to travel in, very hard seats and suspension. Sat nav and phone connections were archaic, cruise control I remember the same in my last… Read more

toyota in the 1990's. Very hard car to understand and get the best out of. Highly overrated and overpriced for the old world electronic technology. The fridge worked well but very small and tight.. never again will I buy another toyota . The other manufacturers are way ahead on product development. Toyota are just value adding and trading on their name. The V8 has grunt but slow overtaking acceleration . Much better 4x4 wagons are out there for the money. Hopefully the new owner enjoys the drive.